Alien Skies - Music Tech - February 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Sound design is an area of music technology that often features more innovation than most modern genres: one in which extreme sampling, synthesis and processing treatments can combine to create startling results. Alien Skies is the latest pack of twisted textures and hits from Zero-G and is the follow-up to the company’s award-winning Dark Skies and Deep Impact cinematic libraries.
The pack comes on two DVDs – 4.3Gb of 24-bit audio in both ACID WAV and apple Loops formats, plus 810 sampler instruments for Kontakt, NNXT and EXS24. In truth, these sampler instruments are little more than the loops and hits laid out; however, this could be useful for pitching the more melodic pads to your track or playing along to a video cue.
The bulk of the library comprises 36 construction kits in different moods, each of which includes a complete cue plus four-to-ten component parts. Most of the cues are dark and ambient, but there are also some beautiful textures and pads, all of which have been created using a huge collection of organic, metallic and electronic instruments processed using numerous different programs and tools. The rest of the pack is divided into ambiences and drones, hits/stingers, sweeps and swells plus several beat loops, all with a professional finish.
The various sections have evocative titles such as Grotesque, Mysterious, Ethnic and Sacred, plus the names of instruments where appropriate. Each sample has been painstakingly crafted and layered to offer a variety of sounds, ranging from deep, gentle and melodic pads and atmospheres to twisted, dissonant drones. The beat section is a nice addition, with well-programmed grooves at 75-173BPM. However, the style is arguably a little out of place with the overall sci-fi/horror vibe and might be better suited to a Miami Vice or the Fast And The Furious role.
Overall, this is a large collection with a surprising degree of variety and a complex, pristine production sound.
Verdict: Cutting-edge production and creative sound design. Another excellent tool for film and media composers from Zero-G.
Rating: 9/10
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