Snapshots

The sound is best played using a single note or just a few notes. Try octaves in the lower register and one or two additional notes in the higher range. Atmospheres can also be atonal or noisy soundscapes and are often more complex than pads.

Polyphonically playable sounds much like typical synthesizer pads. These sounds are not as complex as those in the Atmosphere category but are well suited to arrangements with other instruments.

Contains a sequenced element. The rhythm may be synced to the host clock or free and fluid.

Contain a rhythmic, arpeggiated, or gated Element. Sometimes the rhythm is bound to the host clock and in other cases, it is free and fluid. The Tempo Sync tag enables you to filter for presets that follow the arrangement’s beat

Sounds that have a quality of a musical crescendo commonly associated with the electric guitar. The sound of the note is characterized by an initial attack that produces higher pitched overtones over the top of the fundamental note, followed by a diminution of these overtones.

Sounds especially suited for bass. These are best played monophonically.

Sounds that contain a spectral transition or movement that is either scanned through automatically, synced to the host clock or the transition is the main parameter on the XY pad allowing real-time control of the spectral change.

Keyboard type sounds, which also includes organ and mellotron-like presets. The sounds in this category can be played in a typical keyboard style.

All kinds of sounds that do not contain a loud sustain phase.

All kinds of real-time controlled cinematic sound effects. There is some overlap with Atmospheres and Transitions here but it still makes sense to look at it as a separate category. These sounds are mostly atonal.

Sounds with remarkable subharmonic content. These are best played monophonically or in octaves.

Indicates a representative selection of ASHLIGHT sounds. Listen to these to get a first impression of the product.

Dedicated MPE sounds that use the polyphonic slide modulation assignments.

Steady:

The sounds feature a steady pitch suitable for chords.

Varying:

The sound has a pitch drift, slide, or detuned element.

Multiple:

The sound plays a phrase or changes to a different note over time.

Chord:

The sound plays a chord.

Chaotic:

The sound has no dedicated root pitch and can change continuously, or has dominant noise components.

Intensity control:

The XY pad assignments of the sound is setup to be able to control the ‘intensity’ of the sounds. Often, the Snapshot will sound more dramatic when the Y-axis amount it at the top.

Complex:

Indicates that a higher amount of spectral change over time occurs in the sound. This can be an indicator of how easy it is to combine the preset with other instruments in an arrangement.

Simple:

Indicates that the sound feature a small amount of spectral change over time and is easier to integrate with other sounds in a musical arrangement.

Keyboard Voicing:

Sounds with this tag can be played with a narrow, piano style voicing. You can use this tag to remove Snapshots from the Results list which require a wider voicing, or sound best with few notes.

Wide:

Either stereo spread or depth of dimension are extraordinary in sounds featuring this tag.

Noisy:

The sound contains a remarkable noise amount.

Impact:

The sound contains an attacking element. This can be either at the beginning of the note or within a soundscape or pulsating snapshot.

Soft:

The sound has a damped or soft spectrum and soft volume transition.

Hard:

The sound has a higher or hard spectrum and might contain dissonant elements.

Distant:

The sound has remarkable amount of reverb or delay applied. Attacks might be softened or washed out.

Distorted:

The sound features distortion either in the layer sources or applied via the ASHLIGHT effects chains.

Bold:

Sounds which cover a wide range of the sonic spectrum and might be the main sound in a scene.

Rhythmic:

The sound contains a rhythmic element, which can be either a repeating spectral changes or an attacking or noise-like component.

Tempo Sync:

The rhythmic element either follows the host tempo or the transition speed is synchronized to the DAW’s clock.

Dark:

The sound might be suitable for a sinister scene and often features detuned, modulated, distorted aspects.

Delicate:

The sound is relatively thin and clean.

Dreamlike:

The sound is beautiful or has a utopian, unreal character to it.

Thrilling:

Depending on the voicing, the sound can create a thrilling mood. Thrill is not used in the context of horror here but rather like excitement.

Suspenseful:

Depending on the voicing, the sound can create a mood of suspense and uncertainty.

Eerie:

Depending on the voicing, the sound can create a scary atmosphere and might contain dissonant elements or transitions.

Disturbing:

The sound contains an unexpected, annoying or impacting element.

Dramatic:

Depending on the voicing the sound can be used to increase the level drama by riding the Macros.

Meditativ:

The sound has calm, sometimes slightly repetitive mood.

Positive:

Depending on the voicing, the sound can be used to convey a confident and positive vibe.

Energetic:

Depending on the voicing, the sound has an active, driving mood. Often, a rhythmic elements is involved.

Peaceful:

Depending on the voicing, the sounds create a quite, balanced and beautiful mood.

Ethereal:

Depending on the voicing, the sounds create a light, mystic or arcane mood.

Ambivalent:

Some presets can change their mood quite drastically, depending on the played voicing and the settings of the macro controllers.