Soundiron has released Cymbology 1: Bowed, a scoring percussion, melodic tuned percussion and ambient FX library for Native Instruments Kontakt.

This massive library is built around classic bowed cymbal sounds, but it doesn’t stop there. We captured 20 unique instruments, in all shapes, sizes, alloys and varieties, from crashes and splashes to gongs, bells, trashes and even a stack of spent WWII Howitzer artillery shells. We explored everything from short stabs to long tortured wails and everything in between. These oft sought-after dramatic scoring and sound design building-blocks are perfect for setting dark moods, striking bold transitions, building stingers, weaving soundscapes and manipulating in any number of ways to evoke sonic images both dark and light.

Not content to leave it there, we also delved into strange experiments with dry ice on the cymbal surfaces. The results are just as wildly varied as the bowed articulations, but these squeals, hisses, hums, swells, screeches, drones, screams, rumbles and wails are from an entirely different world.

We recorded both the “Bowed” and “Frozen” sets of sustaining and short cymbal effects in two wide microphone positions, up close for full detail, presence and clarity without room coloration and out in a large hall, for a rich, lush and naturally spacious reverb ideal for epic and orchestral scoring.

Next, we created a collection of extraordinary melodic tuned percussion instruments from the most musically inspiring elements within the library. Each tuned preset has a unique and complex sound, with flowing overtones, broad warmth, clear highs and massive low end. You’ll find flavors ranging from darkly harmonic to pure and crystalline. Lastly, we designed over 1 GB of ambient instruments. You’ll find a spectacular array of pads, drones, synths, swirling dreamscapes, nightmarish hellscapes and complex evolving textures.

We’ve programmed the library with obsessive attention to detail and unmatched playability, with a unique custom Kontakt 4 user-interface and a broad array of easy-to-use sound shaping, layering, filter, LFO, convolution and multi-fx controls to provide an endless range of creative possibility.

Cymbology 1: Bowed features

  • 289 Kontakt 4.2.4 patches (unlocked).
  • 285 Kontakt 3.5 patches (unlocked).
  • 2220 Samples.
  • 5.77 GB Installed.
  • 40 Custom Convolution IR Files.
  • 24bit / 48kHz stereo PCM wav samples.
  • Available now via high-speed cloud-based download and on DVD.
  • Full retail version of Kontakt 3, 4 or 5 required to use this library.
  • The free Kontakt Player does not support this library.

Cymbology 1: Bowed is available to purchase for the introductory price of $79 USD through December 16th, 2011 (regular $99 USD). It is also included in the Drum Collection bundle (download or DVD), which is 40% off until 11:59pm on 16 December, 2011 (PST).

More information: Soundiron / Cymbology 1 Bowed