- Publisher: Authentic Soundware
- Product: Space Age Voices
- Release: ViP Team
- Requirements: Kontakt v6.7 or higher
Discover how Authentic Soundware Space Age Voices can revolutionize your music production. Learn about its unique features, vintage sound, and how to incorporate midcentury vocal ensembles into your tracks.
Table of Contents
- Introduction: The Retro Revolution in Modern Music
- The Birth of Space Age Voices: Capturing a Bygone Era
- Key Features of Space Age Voices
- Innovative Technologies and Recording Techniques
- Practical Applications in Music Production
- Space Age Voices vs. Other Vocal Libraries
- Sound Quality, User Interface, and Overall Value
- Conclusion: Why Space Age Voices Belongs in Your Production Arsenal
Introduction: The Retro Revolution in Modern Music
In the ever-evolving landscape of music production, there’s a paradoxical trend that’s been gaining momentum: the fusion of cutting-edge technology with vintage sounds. At the forefront of this movement is Authentic Soundware’s Space Age Voices, a Kontakt instrument that brings the authentic sound of a midcentury studio vocal ensemble right into your digital audio workstation (DAW). This unique library isn’t just another vocal sample pack – it’s a time machine that transports your productions to the golden age of space exploration and optimistic futurism.
The Birth of Space Age Voices: Capturing a Bygone Era
The development of Space Age Voices stems from a growing demand among producers for authentic, vintage vocal sounds that capture the essence of the 1950s and 60s. This era, often referred to as the “Space Age,” was characterized by a sense of wonder, innovation, and a distinctly optimistic view of the future. Music from this period often featured lush vocal arrangements that perfectly encapsulated the zeitgeist.
Authentic Soundware recognized a gap in the market for a high-quality, versatile library that could faithfully reproduce these sounds without resorting to dated recordings or inferior recreations. The result is Space Age Voices – a meticulously crafted instrument that solves the problem of how to incorporate authentic midcentury vocal textures into modern productions.
Key Features of Space Age Voices
Space Age Voices boasts an impressive array of features that set it apart from other vocal libraries:
- Authentic Recordings: Featuring a group of three elite NYC session singers, the library captures the genuine sound and character of midcentury vocal ensembles.
- Diverse Articulations: With 8 nki patches for Kontakt, the library offers a wide range of vocal techniques including:
- Two vocalise patches with dual legato modes
- Sustains, glides, and falls
- Three short syllable patches with auto-repetition mode
- Dedicated unpitched ‘ch’ and ‘cha’ patch
- Various unpitched exclamations, effects, and spoken phrases
- Multiple Microphone Positions: Each patch offers three distinct mic positions:
- Close mic 1 (Neumann U67 > Neve pre > Ampex tape at 30ips)
- Close mic 2 (RCA 77 > Neve pre > Ampex tape at 30ips)
- Stereo room mic (Sear Sound custom setup)
- Vintage Recording Techniques: Recorded at Manhattan’s iconic Sear Sound Studio A using authentic period equipment.
- Kontakt Format: Compatible with all major DAWs, ensuring seamless integration into your workflow.
- Advanced Scripting: Features like the syllable repetition script add extra versatility and realism to your productions.
Innovative Technologies and Recording Techniques
What truly sets Space Age Voices apart is its commitment to authenticity in both sound and production techniques. The library leverages several innovative approaches:
Vintage Recording Equipment
The use of coveted classic gear is central to achieving the authentic midcentury sound. Some of the equipment used includes:
- Original Neumann U67 tube microphone
- RCA DX77 ribbon microphone
- Neve 8038 custom console
- Fairchild limiter
- Ampex ½” tape machine
This combination of vintage hardware imparts a warm, rich character to the recordings that’s impossible to replicate with modern digital gear alone.
Advanced Sampling Techniques
Space Age Voices employs sophisticated sampling techniques to capture the nuances of vocal performances:
- Multiple Legato Modes: Allows for smooth, realistic transitions between notes.
- Poly-glide Articulations: Enables the creation of smooth, gliding chords.
- Syllable Repetition Script: Facilitates the creation of zippy vocal hooks characteristic of the era.
Authentic Studio Acoustics
By recording in Sear Sound Studio A, Space Age Voices captures not just the sound of the singers, but the acoustic environment of a studio that has hosted countless legendary recording sessions. This adds an extra layer of authenticity to the samples.
Practical Applications in Music Production
Space Age Voices offers a wealth of possibilities for modern music production across various genres:
- Retro-Inspired Pop: Create authentic-sounding backing vocals for tracks inspired by 50s and 60s pop music.
- Film and TV Scoring: Add period-appropriate vocal textures to soundtracks for productions set in the midcentury era.
- Electronic Music: Use the library’s unique sounds to add organic, vintage flavor to electronic productions.
- Advertising Jingles: Craft authentic-sounding jingles that evoke the optimism and charm of the Space Age.
- Experimental Music: Utilize the library’s more unusual articulations and effects to create avant-garde vocal textures.
Here’s a practical example of how you might use Space Age Voices in a modern pop production:
- Start with a retro-inspired beat and chord progression.
- Use the “Ooh” legato patch to create a smooth, flowing melody line.
- Layer in some “Ah” sustains for lush chord pads.
- Add rhythmic interest with the “Zooh” auto-repetition performance.
- Punctuate phrases with the “Bah” falls.
- Use the unpitched exclamations and phrases to add character and personality.
Space Age Voices vs. Other Vocal Libraries
While there are many vocal libraries available, Space Age Voices stands out in several key areas:
- Authenticity: Unlike many libraries that attempt to recreate vintage sounds with modern techniques, Space Age Voices uses genuine vintage equipment and recording methods.
- Specificity: Where many vocal libraries aim for a generic, all-purpose sound, Space Age Voices focuses on capturing a very specific era and style.
- Quality of Performers: The use of elite NYC session singers ensures a level of professionalism and skill that’s rare in sample libraries.
- Recording Location: The iconic Sear Sound Studio A adds a layer of authenticity and quality that’s hard to match.
- Unique Articulations: The library offers articulations and performance styles that are hard to find in other vocal libraries, particularly those focused on midcentury styles.
Sound Quality, User Interface, and Overall Value
Sound Quality
The sound quality of Space Age Voices is nothing short of exceptional. The combination of top-tier performers, vintage equipment, and expert recording techniques results in a library that truly captures the essence of midcentury vocal ensembles. The samples are clean, clear, and full of character, with just the right amount of vintage warmth and charm.
User Interface
While I don’t have specific information about the user interface, Kontakt instruments generally offer intuitive and customizable interfaces. Given the level of detail in the library’s features, it’s likely that Space Age Voices provides a user-friendly experience with easy access to different articulations, mic positions, and performance controls.
Overall Value
Considering its unique focus, high-quality recordings, and versatile feature set, Space Age Voices offers excellent value for producers looking to incorporate authentic midcentury vocal sounds into their work. Its specificity means it fills a niche that few other libraries can match, making it a worthwhile investment for anyone working in retro-inspired genres or period-specific productions.
Conclusion: Why Space Age Voices Belongs in Your Production Arsenal
Authentic Soundware’s Space Age Voices is more than just a sample library – it’s a portal to a bygone era of music production. Its meticulous attention to detail, from the choice of performers and recording location to the use of vintage equipment, results in a tool that can add unprecedented authenticity to your retro-inspired productions.
Whether you’re crafting nostalgic pop hits, scoring a period film, or simply looking to add a touch of vintage charm to your tracks, Space Age Voices provides the sounds and flexibility to bring your vision to life. Its unique focus on midcentury vocal ensembles fills a gap in the market that many producers may not have even realized existed.
By investing in Space Age Voices, you’re not just getting a sample library – you’re gaining access to a slice of music history, recreated with painstaking accuracy for the modern era. It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of vintage sounds and a powerful tool for bridging the gap between past and present in your music production.
So, are you ready to blast off into the Space Age of music production? Download Authentic Soundware Space Age Voices today and start your journey into the sonic landscape of tomorrow… as imagined yesterday!
