EastWest Ancient Kingdom is a virtual instrument collection featuring rare world wind instruments, recorded with multi-mic setups and four unique effects signal paths, designed for cinematic and experimental scoring.
Purpose and Instrument Range
Ancient Kingdom focuses on capturing rare wind instruments from around the world, played by Saulius Petreikis. It includes 26 instrument categories with articulations like Long, Short, Effects, Legato, and Keyswitch, covering instruments such as the Armenian duduk, bansuri, fujara, hulusi, shakuhachi, Viking lur, and more.
Each instrument is presented in multiple tunings or variants, like the duduk in A, C, and G, or the fujara in High and Large. This variety allows composers to select specific timbres for cultural authenticity, from the mournful duduk to the bright Irish whistle, offering a broad palette for world music and cinematic scores.
Recording and Signal Paths
The library boasts pristine surround sound recordings, alongside four groundbreaking effects signal paths. These paths use techniques involving amplifiers, vibration enhancers, metallic surfaces, distortion, megaphones, tubes, and rotating speakers, transforming ancient tones into otherworldly textures.
These alternate paths emphasize the attack characteristics of the instruments, providing a bold presence. This design lets users blend traditional recordings with experimental effects, making the library suitable for both authentic scores and avant-garde sound design, expanding its utility beyond conventional sampling.
Interface and Workflow
The interface features a Center Display with 3D instrument models and landscapes, alongside a Left Panel for Mood presets, performance scripts, and MIDI controls. The Right Panel handles FX mixes, convolution reverbs, and channel routing, giving users command over articulations and multi-mic configurations.
This layout streamlines workflow: composers can quickly adjust mood and performance, while producers can shape effects and routing without leaving the main view. The visual representation of instruments and origins aids in selecting the right sound, making the creative process intuitive and focused.
Practical Applications
Ancient Kingdom is ideal for cinematic and world music scores, offering emotive melodies with the duduk or bansuri, and epic fanfares with the Viking lur or war horn. The effects signal paths enable experimental soundscapes, blending ancient timbres with modern textures for trailers or immersive installations.
In traditional compositions, the multi-mic recordings provide spatial depth, while the performance scripts enhance realism. For producers, the alternate paths create unique layers, emphasizing attack for impact. The library suits genres from folk to ambient, allowing users to craft everything from historical dramas to futuristic scores.
Key features
- 26 instrument categories with multiple articulations
- Four effects signal paths using amps, tubes, and rotating speakers
- Pristine multi-mic surround recordings
- Instruments include duduk, bansuri, fujara, hulusi, shakuhachi, and more
- Variants in tunings and types like high, low, or piccolo
- Interface with 3D instrument models and origin landscapes
- Mood presets, performance scripts, and MIDI controls
Best for
Composers and producers working on cinematic scores, world music, or experimental sound design. The library excels in capturing authentic cultural timbres, while the effects paths add modern edge. Ideal for film, games, or ambient projects requiring rare wind voices and innovative sonic textures.