Summary

Korven is an orchestral virtual instrument library focused on creating acoustic textures of terror and unease, developed in collaboration with the folk horror composer Mark Korven. It offers a vast collection of playable acoustic sounds and experimental patches designed to evoke fear, tension, and apprehension, using unique instruments and sound design techniques.

Key Features

• Contains 622 playable instruments and patches including 49 layered instruments and 83 processed patches.
• Features sounds from the Apprehension Engine — a unique, handcrafted acoustic instrument designed for eerie and unsettling sounds.
• Includes specially orchestrated experimental string and wind quintets and the unique 8-foot Symphonae instrument.
• Additional rare instruments such as the hurdy-gurdy, oktav harpa, mega bass waterphone, and Aztec death whistle.
• Provides a special selection of risers, downers, pulses, and plucks for sound design.
• Five microphone positions plus a mix for processed patches allow flexible sound shaping and mixing.
• Developed and recorded at Revolution Recording in Toronto by Mark Korven, a renowned composer for horror film scores.

Instruments and Sounds

The library centers around acoustic, organic sources with sound design that emphasizes experimental and atonal elements to create an atmosphere of fear and mystery. Notable instruments include:

• The Apprehension Engine: A complex acoustic instrument blending strings, steel rods, a hurdy-gurdy, and spring reverberation to produce eerie, atonal sounds.
• Symphonae: A unique 8-foot instrument designed for drones and effects, played with a rosined-wheel bow.
• Aleatoric string and wind quintet: An ensemble improvising experimental sounds that contribute to layered patches.
• Hurdy-gurdy, Oktavharpa, Mega bass waterphone, and Aztec death whistle: Instruments providing raw, untamed, and haunting sound textures.

Processed and Layered Patches

Processed patches extend the acoustic sounds with studio effects for more experimental and organic textures. Layered patches combine two complementary sound layers with crossfade control, enabling detailed sound design possibilities.

Compatibility and System Requirements

• Works with Orchestral Tools’ SINE Player (latest version required).
• Formats supported: Standalone, VST, VST3, AU, AAX.
• Sample size: 37.5 GB (20.6 GB compressed), 24 bit / 48 kHz.
• System requirements include macOS 10.15 or higher (Intel/ARM), Windows 10 (Intel Core i5 or similar), with at least 8 GB RAM recommended.

About the Creator

Mark Korven is a Toronto-based composer acclaimed for his horror film scores including "The VVitch," "The Lighthouse," and "The Black Phone." He is also a multi-instrumentalist known for his experimental approaches and collaboration in creating the Apprehension Engine instrument.