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Orchestral Dust Review – an Orchestral Underscore and Pad Instrument by Channel Robot

Orchestral Dust is a beast to create unique evolving lively sounds for your orchestral underscore. Some sounds did remind me of certain blockbuster which only speaks to the quality of results this library can produce.

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Orchestral Dust by Channel Robot Main UI

Orchestral Dust by Channel Robot Review

Under Review today is Orchestral Dust by Channel Robot. This new Kontakt library Orchestral Dust is a dual voice ROMpler producing orchestral pads and under-score sounds. Orchestral Dust includes a total of twelve multisampled orchestral instruments sounds, each with its own set of articulations and ensemble sizes.

After a few minutes with Orchestral Dust, it became clear that this was a very musical and flexible type of library, so much so I have been using it for all manner of underscore and more.

While preparing the orchestral dust review I did look into the orchestral style pads, granular synthesis, evolving sounds, and different instruments.

The interface is clean and simple to use but opens up many options like the selection of two separate sets of tuned/untuned pairs (for layering), a simple but effective FX section, and an arpeggiator.

Perfect for when you want to add a more natural feel to your compositions, making the instruments blend in with each other rather than stand out.

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Channel Robot develops a range of software products for Producers, DJs, Musicians and Sample Library Owners. For Producers, DJs, and Musicians Channel Robot makes virtual instruments, normally as VST plug-ins. Channel Robot did send a review copy with no strings attached.

These mostly come with sample libraries as their sound sources. Channel Robot practice on virtual instruments is oftentimes different and always relevant and exciting. See also our Folio Bass 1.1 by Channel Robot Review

Installation

You need to authorize the library after purchase and save the library after you enter the authorization code. The library requires the paid version of Kontakt 5.8.1 (Not the free Kontakt Player). There are snapshots included, you need to copy them into the normal snapshot folder for your Kontakt sampler.

Orchestral Dust by Channel Robot Authorization startingOrchestral Dust by Channel Robot Authorization starting

Sound – orchestral dust review

Orchestral Dust uses the latest version of their innovative granular engine called AGRA. With this engine, you can produce sounds utilizing granular synthesis to deliver amazing absolutely distinctive, and novel orchestral pads and under-score sounds.

To generate these pads 12 distinct sampled orchestral instruments using different articulations and ensemble sizes. You can select in the library these different instruments and the articulation that matches fully your demands.

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Orchestral Dust by Channel Robot Gate TabOrchestral Dust by Channel Robot Gate Tab

Multi Sampled Orchestral Instruments

Instruments recorded and samples and part of the Kontakt Sampler are Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Contra Bass, Flute, French Horn, Oboe, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Viola, and Violin.

Most with a large ensemble, small ensemble & solo, and their particular articulations. In total above 1600 audio files have been used as source material for the Orchestral Dust granular engine.

The sound this library produces reminds me of a mixture between a phrase library and texture/pad engine, several resulting sounds do speak to me and can be used.

Since Orchestral Dust is a Kontakt library, you can use the library with other plug-ins or software for controlling and triggering, etc. You can assign keys to your MIDI keyboard to play it like an instrument.

I did also assign the fade control, and mix control to have that immediate availability when playing.

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You may control the grain playback for each voice using Orchestral Dust. You can choose gain (volume), the file position and pitch of each particle, as well as any custom loops you create.

This is a new, unique technique that may be used to create sounds utilizing granular synthesis to generating sounds and produce some truly unusual and distinct sounds.

Classic Granular Engine Controls

There are also classic granular engine controls like grain size, position, and playback speed. You can also add FX to the sound, like delay, reverb, and distortion.

When I discovered a very odd one I just continue experimenting as it did not fit what I was after at the time. To make up your mind if this is a library for you should listen to their included run through in this article.

Orchestral Underscore Instruments & Pad Instruments

Orchestral Dust contains both Orchestral Underscore Instruments & Pad Instruments

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The library is split up into two separate sections, one dealing with an orchestral underscore and the other dealing with pads. Orchestral Underscore contains small sections of music, almost like a musical stutter. These are very useful for adding tension to your composition without resorting to using drums or having to program these yourself.

User interface & Usability

Using Orchestral Dust is straightforward. You select the instrument and articulation for each voice at the top or alternative start with a preset. Next, you start experimenting with the pad by changing the different Filter, gates, and steps.

Orchestral Dust by Channel Robot Main UIOrchestral Dust by Channel Robot Main UI

The UI is easy to use, the developer Orchestral Dust made several synthesis controls, like Attack, Release, and filters, and in addition further tools available to shape the sound.

The Ui also grants you access to effects tracks and gates. You can use up to four send effects racks, four convolution spaces for each voice, Overhead, Room, Studio, and Hall.

Orchestral Dust by Channel Robot Effect TabOrchestral Dust by Channel Robot Effect Tab

Unique Evolving Lively Sounds

Performing the Velocity of the Grain will cause the sound to become more lively and evolving, if needed you can also lower it.

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Creating your own loops is easy with Orchestral Dust than note-based libraries. You can actually create some very unique sounds that evolve quite nicely for this library.

Uniquely Creative Dual Voice ROMpler With Granular Twist!

This library of the Kontakt sampler is a collection of a wide range of instruments that have been recorded from real players from around the world.

In total there are over 1600 audio files sourced from the library. This library has been created using granular sound effects and can be used for producing some very unusual and distinctive sounds.

The user interface of Orchestral Dust is intuitive and easy to use, with features such as velocity that can be controlled in order to create a more expressive sound.

Rating: Four out of five stars

Orchestral Dust is a beast to create unique evolving lively sounds for your orchestral underscore. Some sounds did remind me of certain blockbusters which only speaks to the quality of results this library can produce.

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It’s a very good interface to control your sound. With the right effects and tweaking of knobs, you can create an unlimited amount of sounds from organic, sci-fi, surreal, weird, wonderful! Orchestral Dust is a wild ride with endless opportunities.

The mad scientists of Orchestral Dust have incorporated AGRA, the company’s newest granular engine, into their program. You may create sounds using granular synthesis to provide astounding completely new and unique orchestral pads and under-score noises with this engine.

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Channel Robot

Channel Robot Essentials Bundle – 86% Off!

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86% OFF Channel Robot Essentials Bundle

For only $18.95 (instead of $135), get all 3 instruments that make up the Channel Robot Essentials bundle (Affiliate Link) featuring KEYz, LEADz & PLUCKz!

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These products part of Channel Robot Essentials bundle (Affiliate Link) were designed to get you to usable, original and inspiring sounds quickly and easily. Featuring over 200 sound sources(multi-sampled instruments) across all three products, you can mix and match any two sound sources to get to your own unique take on sound design.

Added to this are a powerful and easy-to-use set of shaping controls for each sound source including envelopes, LFOs, velocity, unison, pan and pitch controls.

Finally there’s a powerful and useful arpeggiator, a sound randomisation system, a CC Management system where you can further manage your ability to customise your sounds on playback

KEYz

KEYz is a virtual instrument providing fast and easy access to a range of useful key sounds. Keyz features dual-voice playback, and is designed so all the sound controls are on one page – envelopes, filters, effects so you can quickly modify the included presets, or design your all new keyboard sounds.

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LEADz

LEADz is a virtual instrument providing fast and easy access to a range of useful Lead sounds. LEADz features dual-voice playback, and is designed so all the sound controls are on one page – envelopes, filters, effects so you can quickly modify the included presets, or design your all new lead sounds.

PLUCKz

PLUCKz is a virtual instrument providing fast and easy access to a range of useful Pluck sounds. PLUCKz features dual-voice playback, and is designed so all the sound controls are on one page – envelopes, filters, effects so you can quickly modify the included presets, or design your all new pluck sounds.

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Pricing and Availability

Originally $135, you can now get the Channel Robot Essentials bundle (Affiliate Link) for just $18.95 (that’s 86% off!) for a limited time only, hurry and save

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Virtual Instrument Library

Atmosia 2 by Channel Robot – 80% Off

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ATMOSIA 2 Channel Robot

For only $14.99 (normally $75), get Atmosia 2 (Affiliate Link), a standalone VST plugin by Channel Robot!

Atmosia 2 (Affiliate Link) is a 4 voice Atmospheric/Cinematic instrument ideal for film, TV, advertising and video game production as well as ambient and similar genres.

ATMOSIA 2 Key Features

  • A|B voice control – flip between Voice A and Voice B to compare your changes, or load entirely different presets into each slot and morph between them to get new sound output.
  • New Sound Browser – a category based sound selector that uses tagging to quickly narrow your search to the best sound sources for your needs.
  • Improved our randomization system so there are now independent randomization options for Voices, Modelling, and Drones allowing you to tailor your sound design to your needs.
  • Full control for each voice over envelopes, filters, vibrato, tremolo, pitch position, and bend range.
  • Includes the innovative physical modeling engine from A1 but extends it further, with fully independent processing per voice
  • All new per-voice Drone engine, allowing you to configure static drones or drones that move with midi input.
  • Each voice has its own in-line effects, multi-mode filter, waveshaper, and delay as well as a per-voice implementation of our unique Field effect – a convolution effect with over 50 custom-designed IRs, and depth modulation and control.
  • A set of instrument level effects too for Chorus, Phaser, Reverb, Delay, and Limiter.
  • A per-voice arp system so you can run arps for each voice separately(or not at all) with independent DAW-synced tempo controls, step count, octave range, step velocity, and note length.

Atmosia 2 features over 580 sound sources from Atmosia 1, Electria 1, Mechia 1 and Firewalker as well as over 200 all new presets.

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Atmosia 2 features an all new A|B voice control – flip between Voice A and Voice B to compare your changes, or load entirely different presets into each slot and morph between them to get new sound output.

Atmosia 2 features a new Sound Browser – a category based sound selector that uses tagging to quickly narrow your search to the best sound sources for your needs. You can further restrict your sound selection using our text search facility. You can load sounds into any of the 4 voices whilst in the Sound Browser so you can discover and audition new combinations quickly.

In Atmosia 2, the Channel Robot team extended and improved the randomisation system so there are now independent randomisation options for Voices, Modelling and Drones allowing you to tailor your sound design to your needs.

Atmosia 2 has extended the control over each sound source so you have full control for each voice over envelopes, filters, vibrato, tremolo, pitch position and bend range.

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Atmosia 2 includes the innovative physical modelling engine from A1 but extends it further, with fully independent processing per voice, in addition there’s the all new per-voice Drone engine, allowing you to configure static drones or drones that move with midi input.

Each voice has their own in-line effects, multi-mode filter, wave shaper and delay as well as a per-voice implementation of our unique Field effect – a convolution effect with over 50 custom designed IRs, and depth modulation and control.

There are a set of instrument level effects too for Chorus, Phaser, Reverb, Delay and Limiter.

Channel Robot added a per-voice arp system so you can run arps for each voice separately(or not at all) with independent DAW-synced tempo controls, step count, octave range, step velocity and note length.

Pricing and Availability

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For only $14.99 (normally $75), get Atmosia 2 (Affiliate Link), a standalone VST plugin by Channel Robot!

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Channel Robot

Channel Robot – Kick Factory 2

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Channel Robot Kick Factory 2 KickF2 Main

Channel Robot – Kick Factory 2

Channel Robot released factory – a plug-in dedicated to creating great kick sounds. At some point in every producer’s career they want at least one, if not more, unique selling points and (as world-famous producer Trevor Horne says) one of the best ways to stand out from the crowd is to use original sounds, and there’s no more visible and important place for that than in your drum tracks. The factory series, Kick Factory 2 in this case, is set up to easily, quickly, and efficiently get you one-off drum sounds that fit well with your track and stand out (just enough) so you don’t sound like anyone else.

Kick Factory 2 is a sample based instrument – it uses three layers – in each layer you can select any of the 738 meticulously sampled different kick drums (way more than any other Kick Drum module we know of), so the combinations of sounds is huge (it’s actually over 400 Million but who’s counting?). We’ve sampled a wide range of analog drum kits, iconic drum machines as well as some more obscure drum machines too. Each layer then has a number of modules to alter the sound; a multi-mode filter, an FM processor, a wave-shaper, reverb, delay and a compressor. Finally in the sound shaping area there are a set of modulators, for velocity, pitch and filter frequency. All this gives you complete flexibility in getting the sound you are looking for.

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There’s an intelligent randomisation system for the whole instrument – and another for each voice. So getting to new, interesting and useful sounds is enjoyable and really quick.

Every kick drum sound you use in Kick Factory 2 comes in three different snapshots – a powerful facility that gives you three different kick sounds available at the same time. Snapshots are like parameter locks on steroids, you can have two snapshots that vary by just one effect parameter, say filter frequency, or that vary every single parameter – so snapshots can go from subtly different sounds to wildly different sounds – your choice. There’s a “Snapshot Auto-generator” button to make things even easier.

Finally there’s a master volume control and our Infinite Round Robin Engine (IRRE) which modifies the sound on every incoming note, your not stuck with 5, 10 or even 20 round robins – this system produces millions of subtly different sounds – slightly changed for every note played. How different each hit sounds is up to you.

So stand out from the crowd. Get rid of the frustration searching for drum sounds then layering and tweaking to get anywhere near what you are after – in your hands Kick Factory 2 will produce the kick sounds you need and that are like no others.

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Demo

Demo Download (9 instantiations each times out after 15 mins = over 2 hours of demo time)

Pricing and Availability

Kick Factory 2 is available now. List price is $35.00 – but on intro sale for $25.00

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