Everyone’s in such a rush these days, don’t you think? But maybe what your music needs is a software instrument that takes things a little… Slower.
That’s the name of e-instruments’ new tape-based tone generator - a lovingly-crafted Kontakt library that’s based on a carefully curated collection of half-speed samples. Suddenly - but also slowly - you have access to a huge bank of keys, guitars, strings, brass, synth and other sounds of the sort that you’ve simply never heard before.
These were captured using four different types of vintage tape machine - Studio and Portable reel-to-reel, Cassette and Dictaphone - each of which has its own distinct character. The common denominator is that they can all impart the kind of warmth and depth that you simply wouldn’t get from a digital recording.
Why drop these recordings to half-speed, though? To create blissful, rich and pitched-down textures that emphasise those analogue qualities, such as wobble, noise and flutter.
Because e-instruments has gone to such great lengths to hone the source material, your first hours with Slower are going to be spent simply playing these gorgeous sounds. Expect acoustic and electric pianos, guitars of every flavour, evolving strings, breathy woodwinds and brass and classic synths, all with that half-speed twist.
From here, you’ll likely set about experimenting with the various processing options that are on offer. These include 27 effects, sample reversing, modulation tools (LFOs, a step modulator and aftertouch support, for example) and the ability to dial in just the right amount of tape degradation. And if you want to get hands-on fast, there are three macro controls, each of which adjusts multiple parameters with a single fader. They’re perfect for automating and morphing sounds in real-time and for live performance.
And let’s not forget that you can instantly switch between those four different tape machines. Whether you want to go hi- or lo-fi, dirty or clean, there’s a suitable option.
Above all, you’re invited to explore. Whether you’re a producer, musician or composer, this endless supply of atmospheres and soundscapes won’t just help you to finish your current projects - it’ll also inspire whole new ones.
We’d advise you to head promptly, then, to the e-instruments website, then get ready to find out more and take things Slower. Don't delay, though: Slower is currently available at the introductory price of $/€99, rather than the regular $/€149, but this offer is only available between 9 and 13 April.
