Developer Audiomodern has released Spectra Ambient Electronic Bliss, a free instrument for Soundbox.
Audiomodern released the Soundbox platform toward the end of 2024, along with a few interesting libraries/instruments.
Here’s a brief recap:
Soundbox is a fully customizable MPE sampler available in AU, VST, VST3, AAX, and Standalone formats.
At the time of writing, Soundbox has four paid libraries: Voxmotive, Kromium, Cosmo, and Morphia, each costing €39. Alternatively, you can purchase the All Instruments Bundle for €89, saving 45%.
If you want to get a feel for Soundbox before buying anything, you can download the engine and try out the free instruments.
Spectra is the second free instrument, coming after the Mechania synth library.
The tagline “Ambient Electronic Bliss” sums up Spectra perfectly; it produces atmospheric drones, textures, and soundscapes with a dystopian feel.
Dystopian and bliss don’t typically go together, but it’s bliss if you love industrial, futuristic, cinematic sounds.
The Spectra pack features 30 immersive presets crafted by S1gns of L1fe (Chris Bryant), who has a great YouTube channel full of helpful tips and tutorials on all things sound-design-related.
As Chris is a master of atmospheric sounds, the presets are great: lots of rumbling drones with shimmering metallic textures floating above.
The cool thing about Soundbox is that you have lots of customization options to make any sound unique.
Each preset patch comprises up to four layers you can mix, pan, or mute to shape the ideal sound. Automating the pan settings on those shimmering metallic elements can create a highly immersive soundscape.
You also have FX, including Delay, Filter, EQ, and Reverb per layer, Modulation settings, and a Vector X/Y pad that allows you to mix/blend layers intuitively on the fly.
I’ve heard some people say that you can’t edit sounds unless you buy a paid library; I’m not sure if that’s a complete misconception or it just means there are deeper editing functions with paid packs.
But I’m using the free version of Soundbox, and everything mentioned above is available and fully functioning.
Spectra is a lovely addition to any composition toolkit if you’re a fan of atmospheric soundscapes. You definitely get more out of it than just 30 great presets.
Download: Spectra (FREE – Soundbox needed)
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