Harmonic Tides

Harmonic Tides is an ethereal sound-designed string library created from delicately resonant cello and double bass string harmonics. Soundiron collaborator Pierce Constanti created Harmonic Tides with the specific goal of making a unique, expressive, textural sound-designed instrument, ideal for film composition. His aim was to create a custom composition tool that could be as expressive, versatile and nuanced as a typical orchestral string library. It is perfect for modern arrangements and film/game scores when lush swells and great waves of intense emotion are required.

Harmonic Tides has two primary sound sources. The first is a brilliant, delicate and airy texture derived from layered cello harmonic glissandi. This patch is designed to add organic movement to the music. Each key is sampled with four dynamic layers. The second sound source is a sharp, hollow sound derived from layered samples of playing the afterlength of strings on a double bass between the bridge and the tailpiece. This sound is designed to add subtle tension and movement to the music. Both articulation sets have a wide chromatic and dynamic range, making them capable of being played expressively live with a keyboard or another MIDI controller.

Although Harmonic Tides was recorded using traditional orchestral instruments, the unusual performances and processing conceal their origin. Cellos and basses were closely mic’d to capture as much detail as possible, with as many as eight layers of solo performances panned around the listener. These multi-dynamic instruments can be woven and blended to create nuanced swells and textural waves. Combined with additional creative processing, the result is a sound that is more pad- or drone-like than orchestral and sits well in a variety of mixes and arrangements. Starting from this source, we have expanded the collection outward to explore a deep range of detailed leads, pads, short notes, stingers, evolving atmospheres and rich textures.