Impact Soundworks

Music Production, Reviews, Software

Ventus Series: Shakuhachi (Review)

September 28, 2016 | Michael Hoffmann | 1 Comment Share this Ventus Series: Shakuhachi (Review)

When creating music with virtual instruments, there are plenty of tools out there for getting authentic acoustic instrument sounds. There’s an almost endless list of software for emulating strings, brass, woodwinds, and other western instruments. However, it can get a little trickier when looking for a specific instruments from other parts of the world. There are ethnic instrument sets out out there, but the libraries rarely allow for the same amount of precise performance control as their western instrument sample library counterparts.

Impact Soundworks is taking a shot at filling this need with their new Ventus: Ethnic Winds series of instruments, the first of which is a sample library of the Shakuhachi. For this review, I’ll be taking a look at the software’s different patches (or default load-outs), the various controls and functions available, and how intuitive the software is for the average user. So without further delay, let’s take a look at the Ventus Series: Shakuhachi. (more…)
Featured, Game Music, Gear, Music Production, Reviews, Software

Super Audio Cart (Review)

June 27, 2016 | Michael Hoffmann | 28 Comments Share this Super Audio Cart (Review)

In the world of game audio there’s often a need for the sounds of the earlier game consoles. Whether this is to help emulate a feeling of nostalgia of the 80s and 90s or to create all new styles of music with the older sounds, the tones of these classic consoles have had a persistent presence in the gaming world. This has been especially true with the rise of the indie game scene and the emphasis on the styles of the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.

Through the years there have been a number of software tools available to composers and audio designers for recreating these sounds. Programs like FamiTracker and Little Sound DJ have allowed composers to generate chiptune music, but they require considerable time to learn the various functions and limitations of the software. Meanwhile different FM synthesizers can be used to create sounds similar to the Sega Genesis, but often didn’t have the same limitations or imperfections of the sounds that you would hear on the original system hardware.

Now after many years of planning and development, Impact Soundworks, in collaboration with OverClocked Remix, has come forward with a collection of samples recorded from the systems themselves. The result is the sample library Super Audio Cart, which aims to provide a simple way of producing the authentic sounds of these consoles, while also presenting tools to let you do some new and complex things with the available instruments. I’ll be taking a look at the core functions of the library and examining how it stacks up against other methods of creating these sounds. (more…)
Game Music, Music Production, Software

Get Your Complete Video Game Sample Set with Super Audio Cart

June 8, 2016 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Get Your Complete Video Game Sample Set with Super Audio Cart Share this

Impact Soundworks has been busy recently in creating the perfect sample library for the retro game music enthusiast; Super Audio Cart! Eight years in the making, Super Audio Cart aims to be the go-to sample library for both retro game music composers and hobbists.

The most complete set of classic video game samples ever produced. Features seven legendary systems from the 70s to early 90s, unparalleled accuracy, and a powerful synth engine to transform them into a limitless variety of modern sounds.

The library features sample from the NES, SNES, GB, 2600, C64, SMS, GEN and over 1,000 presets to be used with Kontakt and recorded with actual console hardware.

“Super Audio Cart is without doubt the best plugin for all your chiptune needs, it’s got the lot and they’re all glorious!! Having all these authentic sounds in one place is the best idea since someone said, ‘Let’s put a rap in Donkey Kong’ … oh wait.” – Grant Kirkhope (Donkey Kong 64, GoldenEye, Banjo-Kazooie)

Super Audio Cart can be purchased for $149.00 with various tutorials already being released by Impact Soundworks to help introduce the basics of the new software to new and seasoned music creators alike.
Music Production, Software

Impact Soundworks Kicks Off Holiday Sale With New Orchestral Colors Sample Library

December 20, 2015 | Michael Hoffmann | Comments Off on Impact Soundworks Kicks Off Holiday Sale With New Orchestral Colors Sample Library Share this

Hopefully you didn’t burn through your entire music tech budget for the year during Black Friday, because Impact Soundworks has launched one of their biggest music software sales. Every one of their sample libraries and virtual instruments, including the bundles, are on sale until December 30th.

The sale coincides with the release of their latest instrument, Rhapsody Orchestral Colors. The new library features samples of brass, woodwinds, strings, and choir ensembles.

There are some special deals related to the Rhapsody instrument series as well. If you already own Rhapsody Orchestral Percussion, you will receive a $50 coupon associated with your ISW account. If you spend $299 or more in one order, you will receive Rhapsody Orchestral Colors for free. So if you’re still looking for deals on music software before the end of this year, be sure to head over to the Impact Soundworks site.
Music Production, Software

Black Friday Deal: Impact Soundworks Orchestral Libraries On Sale

November 24, 2015 | Michael Hoffmann | Comments Off on Black Friday Deal: Impact Soundworks Orchestral Libraries On Sale Share this

Two of the orchestral sample libraries from Impact Soundworks are on sale this week to help kick off Black Friday deals on music software. The first of these is the Bravura: Scoring Brass Complete library for $249 and the second is Rhapsody: Orchestral Percussion for $99.

If you already own any individual instruments or lighter versions of either library you can contact Impact Soundworks to get a special discount on the upgrades to the full versions as well. The Essentials version of the Rhapsody library is also available for $49.

Both the Bravura: Scoring Brass and the Rhapsody: Orchestral Percussion libraries have been reviewed here on OSV. The sale runs until November 30th (Cyber Monday). So if either of these libraries are on your wishlist, be sure to grab them at a discount while you can on the Impact Soundworks website.
Music Production, Software

Guitar Loop Library ‘Acoustic Revolutions 2’ is Out Now

November 4, 2015 | Michael Hoffmann | Comments Off on Guitar Loop Library ‘Acoustic Revolutions 2’ is Out Now Share this

The music software company Impact Soundworks has launched a second volume of their Acoustic Revolutions series titled Acoustic Revolutions 2. The library features loops of an acoustic Taylor guitar and are designed to be useful for a variety of styles and genres. The loops, which are organized by tempo, time signature, and key, do not require a sampler to be played and the WAV files can be dropped and placed into any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).

Acoustic Revolutions 2 is available on Impact Soundworks for $49 and you can buy Acoustic Revolutions 1 + 2 as a bundle for $65. You can head over to the Impact Soundworks website for more details.
Gear, Music Production, Reviews, Software

Bravura: Scoring Brass (Review)

August 31, 2015 | Michael Hoffmann | Comments Off on Bravura: Scoring Brass (Review) Share this Bravura: Scoring Brass (Review)

There have been some great advancements in sample libraries when it comes to brass instruments. As someone who grew up on game soundtracks in the 90’s, I became accustomed to hearing some really terrible MIDI brass in orchestral arrangements in my favorite games. While the other instrument families were by no means brilliant in their attempts at accuracy in those days, I’ve always felt that brass instruments faired the worst in this regard. Over the past few years, with the technology available to produce better and more complex sample collections, it’s become easier and more common to obtain lifelike brass performances for projects without the use of a live ensemble.

One recent addition to the handful of brass instrument collections out there is Impact Soundworks’ latest orchestral sample library Bravura Scoring Brass. The library is focussed on providing lifelike performance for orchestral/classical music composition. Bravura contains collections of ensemble performances, as well as solo performance samples and a selection of aleatoric effects. Today on OSV, I will be taking a look at the full version of Bravura Scoring Brass and giving my overall impression of the software after spending a few weeks using it. (more…)