Software instrument developer Rigid Audio have revealed their latest creation, Ion Storm, a Kontakt-based instrument designed specifically for creating elements such as the noise-sweeps and ‘risers’ that have become commonplace in modern film and TV soundtracks.
Sounds are generated within the instrument from a collection of five sound engines, with wavetable- and granular-based variants joined by a pair of sample-based options and a noise source. A Mixer page offers a dedicated set of controls for each engine, presenting users with Volume, Pan, Spatial, and Mute parameters, along with Drive and Reso (resonance) controls for a built-in switchable filter.
Ion Storm’s Main page offers access to a wide range of included sounds, comprising 128 percussive elements and 32 wavetables. Users are able to modulate a variety of the instrument’s parameters such as wavetable position, volume, pan, pitch, filter frequency, and effects levels via bar-graph-style sequencer interface. Sequencer time scales ranging from half-bar though to four-bar measures are provided, and the playback can also be mapped to the mod-wheel to allow for manual control.
Compatibility
Ion Storm runs within Native Instruments’ Kontakt sampler software (version 6.4.2 or above), and requires the full version rather than the free Kontakt Player.
Pricing & Availability
Ion Storm is available now, and is currently being offered at an introductory price of $9£8.66 until 15 February 2023, after which it will be priced at $49 £50.99 (prices include VAT).
