A cello thriller library with tons of pad samples, loops, and various string effects to add tension and mystery to your music. Welcome to Shadow Strings, the dark side of cello that can add intrigue, mystery and a sense of uniqueness to any of your compositions. Created by cellist and professional virtual instrument creator Ben Osterhouse (Osterhouse Sounds), this innovative Kontakt sample library pushes the boundaries of traditional cello sounds by offering a rich palette of unconventional textures and effects.
When recording sample libraries, you want to capture the best sounds of the instrument. You’re trying to have clean starts and stops, expressive tone, and balanced dynamics in each sample. Given all this, it can be difficult to maintain a spontaneous, fresh feel in your samples. It can become a chore. The goal in planning and developing this library was to avoid as many routine entries as possible. Everything is played with passion, then carefully curated and edited to bring out the best moments.
Shadow Strings is less about realistically and accurately recreating instrument sounds and more about finding sounds that work well when stretched over time, layered with synths, and passed through effects. Constraints breed creativity, and the cellos and pianos used to create this library were constraints.
At the core of “Shadow Strings” is a diverse set of unusual sounds and effects drawn from the depths of the cello’s timbral palette. From mesmerizing hums to raw pulses, ethereal harmonics to distorted screeches, every sound is imbued with a sense of intrigue and mystery, ready to add depth and character to your compositions.
Designed to inspire creativity, Shadow Strings is equally at home in cinematic soundscapes, ambient electronic music, experimental music and more. Whether you’re scoring a tense thriller, creating atmospheric background tracks, or exploring avant-garde soundscapes, these sounds will take your productions to new heights.