We covered the coolest electronic music gear under $100. We put together the guide to fantastic holiday electronic music gear deals.
Times are tight, though, even in Synthtopia, so we’re going to keep bringing you the coolest free music software, too – and Native Instruments‘s Christmas freebie is no exception!
Native’s Holiday Selection 2009 is a free software synth/virtual instrument collection of 45 instruments and multi-effects sounds with 360 sound variations. The instruments are build on Kore 2’s integrated Absynth, FM8, Guitar Rig, Kontakt, Massive, Reaktor and effects sound engines.
Be prepared for a pretty hefty download, though, it’s about a 500 MB sound library.
Give it a try and let me know what you think!
Here Torley demos the available sounds in Holiday Selection 2009.
The sounds are taken from these NI instruments:
- ’57 DRAWBAR ORGAN – The legendary 1957 Hammond™ C3 drawbar organ
- KONTAKT RETRO MACHINES – The sounds of seminal synths and drum machines from the 70’s and 80’s
- KONTAKT SAX & BRASS – Saxophones, trumpets and trombones from KONTAKT
- DEEP RECONSTRUCTIONS – Highly creative, unconventional effects
- ESSENTIAL BASS – Ready-to-use instrument containing classic synth basses to sampled uprights
- URBAN ARSENAL 2 – Second installment of the complete hip-hop production toolkit
- ACOUSTIC REFRACTIONS – Original sampled sounds, combined with advanced processing
- MASCHINE DRUM SELECTION – Groove construction tool and library taken from MASCHINE
- EVOLVE MUTATIONS – Rhythmic suites, percussive kits and unconventional instruments/ FX
- ABSYNTH SPECTRAL EXPANSIONS – Newly designed sounds from the modern legend ABSYNTH
- ABSYNTH TWILIGHTS – From ethereal, enchanting pads to dark and foreboding soundscapes
- SONIC FICTION – Brilliantly bizarre musical instruments inspired by Sci-Fi culture
The short answer is that it shows off a lot of pretty interesting sounds with fewer than average throwaways. The Kore Player is pretty solid for what is essentially a product demo; it's useful and stable, comes with a decent library and this is the second (third?) free soundpack release for it. I think Sonic Fiction is the standout soundpack represented here, though many of the sounds show some very thoughtful and original sound design. Not sure why the Hammond was included, it didn't even approach the sound of the B4 demos I had heard in the past. I also expected more from Sax & Brass and Acoustic Refractions. But considering there are only 40 sounds there (not counting variations) there's plenty to talk about. I ended up writing a longer review than I intended – check my website for a more complete version.
The short answer is that it shows off a lot of pretty interesting sounds with fewer than average throwaways. The Kore Player is pretty solid for what is essentially a product demo; it's useful and stable, comes with a decent library and this is the second (third?) free soundpack release for it. I think Sonic Fiction is the standout soundpack represented here, though many of the sounds show some very thoughtful and original sound design. Not sure why the Hammond was included, it didn't even approach the sound of the B4 demos I had heard in the past. I also expected more from Sax & Brass and Acoustic Refractions. But considering there are only 40 sounds there (not counting variations) there's plenty to talk about. I ended up writing a longer review than I intended – check my website for a more complete version.