FOLDS is a new Kontakt-based library from Void & Vista that takes vocal samples to the dark side in beautiful ways. Below is a quick walkthrough of the basic functionality and sound sources.
THE FOLDS GUI
The default interface is black and white, dark and austere, and portends the sounds that emerge from this sonic labyrinth. Along the top are the main section controls which include dynamic, filter, motion, ensemble, LoFi, character, and space. Clicking on each will expose the detailed controls for each section in the center panel.
I love the clarity of the icons used and the black and white aesthetic gives things an edgy feel before you even make a sound. The visual representations of the various processes converge with expected sonic results in very satisfying ways. Below are some of the modulation, LoFi, and Space controls.
Processing control descriptions:
SOUND SOURCES AND EXAMPLES
Looks are not everything and happily, this instrument does not rely solely on visuals to impress the user. There are 32 sound sources (4.5 GB) included which can be blended with two layers. The main controls at the bottom of the interface for sources include the source category, envelope, morphing function (fade style), and pitch control.
The 32 sound sources are organized into three main categories–Real, Effects, and Waves.
The Real category features lyrical and specialized vocal effects. Below are a few examples playing a single note :
Real/Arythmic
Real/Weave
Real/Bloom
The Effects category has more processed sounds, although still rooted in the underlying vocal sources. Examples below:
Coded
Effects/Scattered
Effects/Swarmed
The Waves category features simple electronic waveforms and noise.
The pitch control on the front panel gives fluid control over the sound source with an extended range of plus or minus 3 octaves. The ADSR controls can be linked to pitch, filter as well as amplitude. The two sources can have linked or independent ADSR functions.
There are 3 morph settings for controlling crossfade between the two selected sources.
MODULATION AND PROCESSING
You can go as deep as you want into the processing functions but the Character section is probably the most powerful, offering 3-stage customizable effects chains. There are two main screens in the section–Presets and Controls seen below:
You’ll find an array of modulation sources under the Motion category presented with stunning animated iconography, making this a visually stimulating and fun-to-use instrument.
Clicking the DIN plug icon on the upper right exposes MIDI and global controls. Here you can easily specify CC assignments for effects or use the Learn function to map controls. You can set up to 64 voice polyphony, key ranges, and interestingly, an independent pitchbend range for each sound source. So you can, for instance, have the pitchbend set to 12 steps for one source and 2 steps for the other, creating shifting dissonant effects between the two as the wheel is moved–a nice feature indeed.
PRESETS AND EXAMPLES
The real magic happens when you combine sources and exploring the more than 300 presets or snapshots is a great way to hear what’s possible. Three main categories are included–Highlights, Designed, and Foundations. Additionally, there are full range and natural range settings for the keyboard.
Below are preset examples played very simply by sustaining a C minor chord in two octaves for demonstration purposes:
Highlights/Tired Horses
Highlights/Choppy Voxscape
Highlights/Perspective Shift
Designed/Pads/A Quiet Night
Designed/Drones/Fog of War
Designed/Motions/PeppersBoutique
Foundations/Dynamics/DYN 08_Ethereal
Foundations/Ensembles/ENS 14_Swarmed
Foundations/Tape/TPE 23_Stasis
Visit the Product Page for more examples and video walk-throughs.
CONCLUSIONS
If you’re a film or game composer you likely have one or several vocal libraries so you may think you’re covered. But FOLDS is a unique instrument that combines the stability and predictability of electronic waveforms with the organic fluctuations of the human voice in inspiring ways. This is not your basic choral or solo voice library–although they certainly have their place. This is an instrument that invites exploration, and experimentation and provides a rich palette for creating engaging and haunting vocal textures. Great stuff from Voids & Vista!
EXTRAS
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