A vast, royalty-free library of rare metal comb music boxes from the Jacobi Collection, recorded in high resolution for authentic period atmosphere in film and media.
Authentic Mechanical Music
This collection captures the sound of 13 historic music boxes, including Symphonion, Polyphon, and a small Britain Salon Piano. These mechanical instruments, dating from the 18th century, use a metal comb and pinned brass roller or disc to produce their distinctive tones. The recordings preserve the natural charm of the instruments.
The library is based on the private Jacobi Collection, assembled over decades by Rolf and Heidi Jacobi. Each box is recorded in multiple configurations, such as open, closed, or padded, giving you direct control over the timbre and room tone. The result is a unique and evocative audio resource.
High-Resolution Recording
The recordings were made with Neumann KMR184 and Schoeps CCM microphones in both stereo X/Y and M/S configurations, capturing a wide and detailed soundstage. The library includes 128 meta-tagged WAV files of 30 songs, with sample rates up to 24Bit/192kHz for maximum fidelity. A 48kHz version is also provided for standard projects.
Each track was gently processed with equalizers and compressors to ensure consistent levels, while avoiding heavy restoration to retain the instruments’ natural mechanical quirks. The recording chain was chosen to deliver clean, high-resolution audio suitable for professional post-production.
Flexible Use Cases
The library is designed for sound designers and composers needing period-accurate music for period films, series, or playful media. Use the open or padded variations to match a scene’s mood or to blend with dialogue and effects. The M/S recordings allow decoding to different spreads, useful for matching to camera perspective.
The songs work as background music or as main cues, and the single-note and short phrases can serve as foley-like effects. With royalty-free licensing, you can place these sounds in any project without reporting to collecting societies, simplifying clearance for independent and commercial work.
Practical Application Workflow
For a period scene, start by selecting a box from the 13 available, then choose a variation (open, closed, padded) to control resonance and proximity. Use the M/S files if you need to narrow the stereo width to fit a close-up. The meta-tags allow quick search in a DAW or sound library manager.
For a film cue, layer a melody from the music box with a low string pad for emotional depth. In games, the padded variant works well for intimate interiors, while the open version suits larger virtual spaces. The 48kHz files reduce loading time for quick iterations.
Key features
- 128 meta-tagged WAV files of 30 songs
- 13 different music boxes from the Jacobi Collection
- Stereo X/Y and M/S microphone setups
- Recordings up to 24Bit/192kHz, plus 48kHz version
- Multiple variations: open, closed, and padded
- Royalty-free for all projects without reporting to collecting societies
- Gently processed to preserve authentic mechanical charm
Best for
Best for sound designers and composers creating period-accurate scenes in film, series, or game audio, especially when genuine mechanical music box character is needed. The library’s variations and high resolution allow flexible integration into both foreground music and subtle background ambience, with royalty-free convenience for professional workflows.