ERA II Medieval Legends is a 22 GB virtual instrument for Engine Player, featuring over 70 sampled historical instruments and atmospheric soundscapes by Eduardo Tarilonte, ideal for medieval, fantasy, and folk scoring.
Purpose and Scope
ERA II Medieval Legends transports composers to the Middle Ages with an extensive collection of over 70 historical instruments and countless atmospheric soundscapes. Designed by sampling expert Eduardo Tarilonte, this library focuses on authentic period sounds, ranging from flutes and woodwinds to brass, strings, keyboards, percussion, and vocal shouts. It is tailored for the Engine Player, offering a user-friendly interface for immediate creative use.
The library is structured to cover a wide sonic palette, enabling users to evoke medieval settings in film, television, and game scores. It also suits folk music and medieval rock genres. With detailed multi-samples, multiple dynamic layers, diverse articulations, round-robin techniques, and true legato samples, ERA II provides the technical foundation for realistic and expressive performances.
Key Capabilities
ERA II includes 10 flutes, 8 woodwinds, 4 hunting horns, 3 brass instruments, 9 bowed strings, 13 plucked strings, 3 keyboards, 20 percussion instruments, and 1 vocal. This variety allows for complete compositions using period-appropriate ensembles. The library features true legato samples for melodic lines, along with round-robin techniques to reduce machine-gun effects in repeated notes, enhancing realism.
Articulations are diverse, giving performers control over phrasing and dynamics. Multi-samples capture nuances across dynamic layers, from soft intimate passages to bold declarations. The atmospheric soundscapes provide ambient textures, useful for underscoring scenes or linking musical segments. This combination makes ERA II a comprehensive tool for historical music production, supporting both composed works and improvisational exploration.
Instruments and Sound Design
The instrument list is meticulously detailed. Brass includes Cornetto, Natural Trumpet, and Sackbut. Bowed strings range from Bowed Psaltery, Fidule, Nyckelharpa, and Hurdy Gurdy to Viola da Gamba and Tromba Marina. Plucked strings feature Baroque Guitar, Medieval Lute, Gothic Harp, and Psalteries. Keyboards include Organetto, Spinet, and Virginal, while percussion covers Claps, Kettle Drums, Frame Drums, Tambourines, and Church Bells.
Winds span simple flutes like the Gemshorn and Whistle to Renaissance Recorders and Wooden Transverse Flute. Reeds include various Bagpipes, Crumhorns, Shawms, and Bombarde. War horns like Anyafil, Celtiberic War Horn, and Shofar add dramatic effect. Vocal shouts from Tavern Singers provide human energy. This breadth supports historically informed compositions, from intimate chamber pieces to epic battle scenes.
Workflow and Applications
Integrated with Engine Player, ERA II offers a straightforward workflow. Users can browse instruments, load patches, and play immediately. The user-friendly interface allows live performing and MIDI sequencing, making it suitable for composers working in DAWs. For scoring, true legato and articulations enable realistic melodic writing, while percussion and war horns build rhythmic intensity.
Practical applications include scoring medieval-themed movies, fantasy game trailers, and series set in historical periods. Folk music producers can use authentic instruments, while medieval rock bands can blend electric and acoustic sounds. Atmospheric soundscapes are perfect for ambient pads or sound design. The multi-layer sampling ensures expressive control, and the round-robin technique adds natural variation, making ERA II versatile for both solo and ensemble arrangements.
Key features
- Over 70 historical instruments and atmospheric soundscapes
- Detailed multi-samples with multiple dynamic layers
- Diverse articulations and true legato samples
- Round-robin technique for natural note repetition
- Tailored for the Engine Player with a user-friendly interface
- 22 GB library covering instruments from medieval to renaissance periods
- Crafted by sampling expert Eduardo Tarilonte
Best for
Composers scoring medieval or fantasy films, series, and games, as well as musicians in folk, medieval rock, or historical performance. It excels at creating authentic period atmospheres and providing playable solo instruments or full ensembles. Ideal for those using Engine Player and seeking a comprehensive historical instrument library with expressive capabilities.