The latest addition to the e-instruments line-up presents a variety of instruments that have been captured on four different tape machines, and then sampled while being played back at half speed. Aptly named SLOWER, the Kontakt Player-based instrument includes keys, guitars, strings, woodwinds and brass along with some more unusual offerings such as a dulcimer and harmonium, and comes equipped with a wealth of onboard processing options.
The Machines
SLOWER provides users with four distinct tape machine models. Here’s what e-instruments have to say about them:
- Studio: The Studer A812 and Revox PR99 open reel-to-reel machines offer warmth and fidelity, ideal for polished, high-end sounds.
- Portable: The Uher 4400 Report IC and Monitor models deliver a compact, yet richly detailed tonal palette.
- Cassette: The Tascam Portastudio 424 MkIII embodies the unmistakable warmth and grit of cassette tape.
- Dictaphone: The Sony M650v microcassette provides a raw, lo-fi texture, perfect for adding a nostalgic crunch.
The Instrument
A total of 65 sound sources are included, all of which have been captured on all four machines, and the instrument also packs in an extensive collection of additional synthesised sounds. The captured sounds have all been transformed by the process, with the half-speed playback leaving everything an octave below its recorded pitch, and the wow, flutter and noise of the tape machines helping to add some additional character.
SLOWER is also kitted out with a healthy selection of built-in sound-design features that include 27 effects, envelopes, LFOs, a step modulator, support for aftertouch and more. A five-slot effects system allows users to create their own custom processing chains, and most of the instrument’s parameters can be modulated to create everything from subtle, continuous enhancements to more dramatic transformations. There are reverse samples that allow for the creation of ethereal sounds with a slow attack, and there are dedicated controls that govern the overall amount of the tape machines’ inherent imperfections.
Compatibility
SLOWER runs in Native Instruments’ Kontakt or Kontakt Player versions 7.10.2 or higher, which are supported on PCs running Windows 10 and above, and Macs running macOS 11 or higher. VST3, AU and AAX plug-in versions are available, along with a standalone application.
Pricing & Availability
SLOWER is available now, and is being offered at an introductory price of $€99 until 10 October 2024, when it will increase to its full price of $€149.
