Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars
I’ve been very impressed with the titles I’ve reviewed from Heavyocity’s Mosaic series over the last couple of years. While each brings a specific theme in terms of the core style of the sound source — Keys, Vocals, Tape, Pluck and Bass — they share a common Kontakt‑based front‑end. As well as some very flexible effects and sound modulation options, it’s the ability to combine three individual sounds into a preset, and the excellent arpeggeiator/pattern features, that make these titles instantly inspiring for the modern media composer.
Heavyocity have now released Mosaic Leads. The focus here is very much on analogue synth‑based sound sources (in contrast to Keys which features electric piano sounds) but you get the same three‑sound‑slot front‑end. The instrument includes over 100 individual sound sources, and these are combined into over 200 snapshot presets. The sounds themselves are excellent and, while the underlying library is a fairly modest (by modern standards) 3GB in size, by making full use of the ability to combine three sounds into a preset, and the impressive filter, effects and modulation options within the engine, Heavyocity’s sound design has created a huge range of synth tones here. Indeed, Mosaic Leads can do classic rich, warm, old‑school analogue, more aggressive, cut‑through‑the‑mix leads, delicate and subtle tones for lighter melodies, moods and noise/sound effects.
...if you are a media composer wanting to generate score cues that span the stylistic ballpark from Terminator to Stranger Things, Mosaic Leads ought to be right up your street.
The snapshot presets are divided into three categories. The Playable category lets you play your own melodic/harmonic parts like any regular virtual instrument. However, it’s the Arp and Rhythmic categories where the most instant gratification is to be found as these make full use of the powerful arpeggiator/pattern‑sequencing engine. For example, with an Arp category preset, you simply play a few notes, adjust the mod wheel (which acts as a macro‑style control for the sophisticated sound modulation engine) and it’s instant cue time. The Rhythmic category also uses the internal sequencing features but emphasising rhythmic elements rather than pitch‑based shifting. Whether as a low‑end pulse or high‑end top‑line, these can easily provide your cue’s rhythmic starting point.
Given these different preset types, combining a couple of instances of Mosaic Leads can take you a long way towards a finished piece of music. And, given the combination of the synth‑based sound set and the powerful modulation/performance options, if you are a media composer wanting to generate score cues that span the stylistic ballpark from Terminator to Stranger Things, Mosaic Leads ought to be right up your street. Individually, the Mosaic titles are very sensibly priced and ought to be within the reach of any working composer. There is also a bundle offer if you want to buy the whole set. If Mosaic Leads falls within your compositional brief, this is top‑notch stuff and a joy to use.
$119
$119