The Sound Board

A pitch bend compendium

Off-World is a one of a kind sample library based on a Vietnamese Đàn Bầu (monochord), performed in an unconvetional way: bowed with a violin bow, and processed through octave generators, distortion and reverb. The standout feature of the Dan Bau is a bamboo handle controlling the tension of a long metal string, inviting expressive pitch bends, which is the main focus this library 

36 ways

Every pitch bend was sampled up and down, at 4 different lengths and from 1 to 4 semitones in range. Add in the 4 different lengths of bowed non-bending samples, and every note in this library can be played in 36 different ways. To control this a bespoke Kontakt engine was developed, making Off-World a truly playable and inspiring instrument. 

Immersive cinematic sound

The sound design of Off-World was in part inspired by the score for Bladerunner 2049, which features extensive use of expressive pitch bends. The sound of the Dan Bau was fed through a polyphonic octave generator, and from there into distortion and reverb. Because each pitch bend was carefully performed by hand, the result is a huge cinematic soundscape that also has a distinct human feel and fragility about it - a truly engaging sound.

Make it sound like you

Off-World can sound huge and other-worldly out of the box, but it also comes with all the raw and un-processed samples, mapped in the engine. You get the sound of just the Dan Bau but also the sound sent through the octave generator and nothing else. These raw  patches are an ideal starting point for customising the sound with your own preferreded effects, so that it sounds like you. Included in the engine are also a versatile gate sequencer, various effects and a convolutin reverb. 

Available now from Bunker Samples on intro sale for just $29. Sale ends November 20.