Review: Cinematic Guitars Organic Atmospheres by Sample Logic

Sample Logic just came with a new Kontakt virtual instrument, and of course, I was dying to try it! Cinematic Guitars: Organic Atmospheres is all about organic atmosphere guitars, very cinematic stuff, and as expected, it sounds just great! Let’s get started, shall we?

Overview

Cinematic Guitars: Organic Atmospheres looks very much like all other Sample Logic instruments, this time, light green-themed, and I can say that it works very much like the Gamelan, CinemorphX and Morphestra 2, all of which I have previously reviewed (check the links).

In the main page you’ll find four different sample slots, which in turn can load two samples each, and lots of morphing possibilities, so you effectively end up morphing up to eight different samples plus the classic Sample Logic effects section.

So, I’m not gonna get into much detail in here, but, each of the four slots works in the same way, there you will find Volume and Pan (each can be modulated via an LFO or an Envelope), Velocity intensity knob, and two sample slots.

There are two ways of modulating between the two samples:

• a knob – you can record and automate movements
• and a 64 steps sequencer – for which you can set the note resolution for each step, and also, there are some very useful presets for the sequencer.

Ok, so, that’s already lots of modulation possibilities, now, multiply that four times, and add a joystick – very much in the prophet VS style, but, with an included step sequencer – and morphing possibilities are almost endless! Of course, the joystick movements can be automated, and there are some great presets for automation.

Then, of course, there’s the effects section, with up to six different effects, plus an X/Y controller, which again, you can sequence or just automate movements. The other page is the “Step Animator” page, where you can sequence notes, velocities, lengths, ARPs, transposes, Durations, stutter, pan, etc, etc, which can make any sound a little more complex (yeah, even more).

All about guitars

This virtual instrument for Kontakt is all about cinematic textures made from guitar samples. It’s focused on ambiences, especially cinematic ambiences. Presets are so cool and so well designed that you can just play any chord and hold it for a while, and you’d really be amazed!

It’s just a wonderful palette of colours for any scene you may imagine! So, if you are making film scoring or music production, I believe this instrument is a must have!

Presets

Unlike other Sample Logic instruments, the presets in the Cinematic Guitars Organic Atmospheres, all fall in the Atmospheres category (well, that’s no surprise), and there are six sub-banks: Bizarre, Dark-Mysterious, Electronic-Effectual, Mixed Emotions, Stingers, and World Organic.

Even though this is meant to be for cinematic stuff, some presets are really great to be used as pads, and they would most certainly add emotion and texture to any production.

Conclusions

As I’ve said, to me, this is a must-have for anyone working with film scoring or even for sound designers as a tool for sculpting sound fx. Again, despite that cinematic feel inherent to the instrument, anyone with some imagination can experiment using this in other more musical productions, as pads or just to add some texture and evolving colours.

To me, Sample Logic has nailed it once again, as this instrument is great, and in fact, I’m already using it in my work!

You can get your copy of this great cinematic instrument directly from the Sample Logic website where is available at an introductory price of only $199.99 (regular $249.99). Note that you need Kontakt 5 Player (free) or Kontakt 5 (sold separately) Version 5.5 or higher, and at least 5GB free disk space.

Download: Cinematic Guitars Organic Atmospheres