Sample library developers Orchestral Tools have announced the release of their latest sample collection, Drones by Alexander Hacke. Created alongside the renowned experimental musician (Einstürzende Neubauten, hackedepicciotto, Crime and the City Solution) and designed by Sascha Knorr and Timo Loosli, Drones features a series of instruments chosen specifically for their atmospheric and evocative qualities, providing textures ideal for sound design, avant-garde composition, and film and game scoring.
We've been a fan of Alexander's work for years, so when he approached us to create this collection we were beyond thrilled to bring his ideas to life," said Orchestral Tools CEO Hendrik Schwarzer. "There's a primal power to musical drones that transcends individual musical cultures. And given Berlin's unique relationship with the history of industrial music—including Alexander's—we thought there was an opportunity here to create a collection that would push the sonic boundaries and playability of drones utilizing the power and flexibility we've built into SINEplayer.
Recorded at the Teldex Scoring Stage in Berlin as well as at Silent Green, a former mausoleum chosen for its dark and mysterious acoustic qualities, the library consists of a series of drones assembled from an array of instruments, namely acoustic and electric 6-string and bass guitars, celli and basses, trombones, choir recordings, tanpura, hurdy gurdy, didgeridoo, and synthesizers. All sounds have been captured chromatically for maximum authenticity as well as the ability to stack for chords and cluster effects, and the raw component tones are also available to create custom drones to suit the user's imagination.
In addition to offering some of the longest notes available in a sample library—often a minute or longer—the drones have been recorded in multiple dynamic layers and their intensity is fully controllable by the mod wheel (or dynamics) for expressive playability.
I've always been fascinated by drones as a musical device. A drone is like the bottom layer of a musical pyramid—and their inner movement corresponds to our physical condition as humans. I've carried this idea of a drones collection with me for a long time, and I'm pleased that I found a partner in Orchestral Tools—they immediately understood my ideas. I'm looking forward to hearing what people create with these wonderful drones.
Alexander Hacke
Drones is available from Orchestral Tools for SINEplayer now for an introductory price of €129, with a regular price of €189.
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