Sam Thomas has recently released a Kontakt instrument library that features the sound of a pitched, synth/guitar hybrid that plays like an organ. The Sound of Love Lost utilizes digital and analog processing to create an effortlessly huge and harmonically encompassing field of force.
The sound of the instrument features in the climax of the song ‘Love Lost’ by Isamaya Ffrench and Sam Thomas, as well as across their album ‘Mantle’ and Sam Thomas’ other work.
It started life as the dirtiest bass sound that kept creeping further and further up the fretboard. It’s been tweaked and refined by Sam over nearly two decades and has now been meticulously sampled (13 times per note and across a full 88 keys/7 octaves) to take full advantage of all the harmonics that can be generated by the velocity-sensitive (or fixed), integrated wah effect. Each note has 20 seconds of natural sustain, achieved with just the force of the sound itself or by utilising an EBow or sustain pedal: the result being a no-compromise, musical hold and natural tail at every velocity. Each note was recorded on a max-character guitar, with guitar/pickup decision appropriate to pitch of note.
After leaving Sam’s distinct pedal configuration it would pass through a blend of choice guitar and bass amps before undergoing yet more harmonic enrichment: through hand-picked outboard EQ’s and saturation/tape effects. As a final stage the full spectrum was EQ’d, widened and optimised/blessed by Sam and mastering engineer/audio priestess, Anni Abigail.
It stretches from a grounded lo-fi organ-ish sound (Love) to a face-melting, unrelentingly beautiful wall of sound (Lost), perfect for huge ambient drones but versatile too. It is HEAVY when needed, but can also be made sweeter and more ethereal: focusing on the lower velocities/upper registers and/or making use of the onboard space sliders.
Available for Kontakt and the free Kontakt PLayer (v6.8.0 or higher), The Sound of Love Lost is priced £37 GBP.
More information: Sam Thomas
