It’s Friday baby! You didn’t think I forgot did ya?
No way!
Big Fish Friday yo! Let’s get it!
Today I’m taking a look at a new sound design/experimental instrument from Vir2 called Violence
It’s based entirely off of the violin…I know what you’re thinking, but this is NOT a solo violin or orchestral library
It’s all about the creativity….so let’s check it!
So what is Violence?
It is a library of 80 something patches that cover everything from drum kits, to melodic instruments, pads and fx, and even some tempo synched goodies.
Oh yeah…everything was created from using the sounds of a violin.
Not just traditional playing either, they used various tools and techniques to make noise with the violin, captured that content, then went to work on some looney sound design practices to bring you a pretty unique sound design tool.
It’s a kontakt library of course, and all the patches have controls on the front panel, which change depending on what instrument you have loaded.
Quick Spec
- content: about 1gb of data in 82 kontakt patches
- format: kontakt 4 or kontakt 4 player
- price: $99.95
So how does it sound?
Of course you know this is all that matters, and you also know I love experimental, sound design focused libraries.
This one is pretty interesting, some of the “drum kits” have some really useful stingers and one shots, not really drums in the traditional way, but very percussive style sounds as it relates to their character.
I also enjoyed a lot of the multis, they really had some nice depth and movement going on. The instruments in the melodic folder were pretty cool as well, with things ranging from traditional sounding plucked instruments to smooth and bizarre pad-like contraptions.
The recording is impeccable and the sound programming is awesome, the sounds are small and load fast, always a plus for me!
The inclusion of the measure-based repeated allows for some tempo synched goodies as well that can be a bit of fun depending on what you need.
So what’s the bottom line?
To me, this is one of those fun libraries. Upon opening each instrument you’re not really sure what to expect, but most of the time it will put a smile on your face.
If you’re like me and you like to mess with unique, weird, unusual sounds, that still have a very organic feel then you will like this one.
To me this was Vir2’s first step into the sound design library realm, they have done a great job at being unique and not trying to be a “me too” library.
It’s not the largest library around, in fact it’s under 1gb…which is fine, because to be able to load some creative and evolving patches quickly can lead to some spontaneous experimentation.
I give this library a 4 out of 5 subs, it’s really fun to play with and has a very organic sound to it, no doubt do to the content being created from violin extractions.
With the diversity and amount of different types of content you get, the price is definitely enticing. These sounds would be equally at home in your next short film soundtrack as they would in your next club smash…yes, good sound transcends genre or style.
Checkout the demos over on the site: Vir2 Violence
Leave me a comment below, let me know what ya think!
I am liking this stuff a lot! Big Fish Audio really, really rocks!
@Christopher MacAlpine, they have great stuff!
Me likey! I would put this in the same genre of sound as evolve mutations. One thing that impressed me was the load time and the low cpu hit (it barely moved 1/8 on the meter).
I was just thinking about finally getting Vi One being it’s back on the shelf at my local GC. After this review that might just have to wait, now if they work with me I’d get both. Well with the $99 if you ask me. I can picture using this in some house, dub or dance hall tracks.
Good looking out as always..peace.
@Jamari, word man, it’s a really nice library, I love stuff like this.
This sounds good. I might consider it.
Sidenote: Hey Saintjoe, I see you do a lot of videos and you obviously have skills, where can I check out some of your production and music.
@diggy, thanks for checking it out fam…
personally I don’t put my stuff online really at the moment, I used to a while a go but kinda got out of the habit.
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Great review!
Whether you like the software or not there wasn’t a lot of BS talking just a great demo of the various sounds.
Thanks!
@Mook, thanks for the reply man, just trying to show what’s there ya know, let folks make up their own opinion! Thanks for the comment!
im finsta go explore their site now. even tho u posted this a while ago, i watched the acoustic guitar one first. i jus came here from the link under it. i see a trend and now im interested in wut all they have goin on on their site. good stuff. im assumin they pay u or give u all they products free or both. i keep checkin reviews here and wind up on the other sites.
@oooJASONooo, cool fam, def check it out. I do not get paid from them, just reviewing stuff I enjoy. People send a lot of stuff for me to review, however I only do a video on stuff I personally like/use or think is useful. It would be dope to work for one of these companies though, but I like being open to show off anything from anyone ya know?