Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars
Offering a somewhat cinematic alternative to the myriad choir libraries out there, we are informed that Wrongtools Unsung is rooted in Nordic singing traditions. Requiring the full version of Kontakt 6.4.2 or above, each of the 160 patches is presented as a single instrument based on a 4.2GB library comprising 4212 samples.
The instruments are arranged in 11 folders entitled Chatters, Gestures, Loops TM (tempo sync’ed), Percussive, Rituals, SFX, Short, Sustains, Topliners, Trems and Vox Scapes. The Percussive section might equally have been named staccato as it offers mainly short, sharp vocal articulations rather than beatbox‑type sounds. While some of the Sustain examples provide playable choir‑like sounds and pads, the majority of the instruments seem better suited to atmospheric punctuations, from the haunting trills and chants in the Gestures section to the snippets of processed utterances in the Chatters section. There are also atonal clusters, tremulous notes and long atmospheric soundscapes, all performed by female vocalists.
The Wrongtools interface is refreshingly unfussy...
The Wrongtools interface is refreshingly unfussy, with the main views having sliders on the left for Vol, Rev, Dly, LFO, Vib and Glide, as well as a switchable low‑pass filter. To the right are larger sliders for balancing the layers that make up the instrument, the exact number and function depending on the instrument loaded. Clicking the cogwheel icon at the lower left opens up further controls relating to sample start time and envelope, reverb, delay, Pump (which can be tempo locked) and vibrato speed.
Click FX and you get a choice of effects types with an X/Y pad for tweaking the settings. The X and Y settings can be changed with MIDI CCs or DAW automation and depending on the effects you choose, the timbre of the resulting sound can be changed significantly. Some can also add a lot of level, so if clipping looks likely you may need to pull back the level faders.
Unsung is perhaps better suited to a Scandi Noir soundtrack rather than mainstream pop. There are videos on the Wrongtools website that show off the range of sounds available, and it is well worth watching these to learn what Unsung can do.