DARK INSTRUMENT COLLECTION
Explore the darker, stranger and more experimental side of acoustic sound design with the Dark Instrument Collection. Featuring five distinct sound packs and 302 unique sounds, this collection explores the unconventional sonic possibilities of real instruments and human performances.
From dissonant percussion and gritty guitar textures to resonant bowed bass, detuned psaltery and unusual kalimba recordings, each pack offers its own sonic identity, with organic textures, unexpected tonal qualities and distinctive acoustic details for creative audio production.
Created for sound designers, game developers, filmmakers, video editors, composers, music producers and content creators, these sounds can help build immersive environments, create distinctive sound effects, shape atmospheric music, punctuate dramatic moments and bring unconventional ideas to life.
Their dark, eerie character makes them well suited to horror, suspense, dark fantasy, psychological thrillers and supernatural settings. They can also be used in science fiction, action, adventure, cinematic scoring, experimental music and projects across a wide range of genres.
Use the sounds as recorded, layer them into complex soundscapes, shape them into impactful transitions or process them into entirely new textures. Some plucked sounds in Dark Guitar and Broken Kalimba have a sudden, startling quality, making them particularly useful for jump scares, unexpected reveals and sharp sonic accents.
THE FIVE CORE SOUND PACKS
Percussive Dissonance — 200 sounds
Unconventional percussion, dissonant impacts and irregular rhythmic textures, ranging from sharp, abrasive strikes to resonant, unpredictable tones. Ideal for impactful sound effects, gameplay feedback, cinematic hits, transitions, rhythmic layers and tension-building sound design.
Dark Guitar — 25 sounds
Expressive guitar performances, gritty tones and unconventional playing techniques reveal the instrument's darker character. Brooding textures, lingering resonances and sudden, sharp plucks offer material for atmospheric layers, dramatic stingers, jump scares and distinctive musical elements.
Bowed Bass — 20 sounds
Deep, resonant recordings featuring rich low frequencies, sustained notes and textured vibrations. Use these evolving acoustic tones to add weight to environmental ambience, suggest approaching danger, reinforce a sense of scale or deepen cinematic soundscapes and musical compositions.
Psaltery De-Tuned — 32 sounds
Wavering pitches, complex harmonics and eerie acoustic resonances explore the unusual tonal character of a detuned psaltery. These delicate, dissonant textures are suited to mysterious environments, supernatural effects, atmospheric transitions and unconventional musical motifs.
Broken Kalimba — 25 sounds
Irregular tones, delicate transients and unexpected melodic details give these kalimba recordings a distinctive character. From strange plucked textures and startling accents to unusual musical motifs, the sounds can add personality to atmospheric layers, sudden reveals and unconventional sound effects.
ORIGINAL ACOUSTIC RECORDINGS
Every sound originates from a real physical instrument and a human performance, captured through original recording and creative sound design. Natural resonance, imperfections and unexpected details contribute to the individual character of each recording. No AI-generated audio, ever.
AUDIO FORMAT
All sounds are supplied as 24-bit, 48 kHz stereo WAV files, suitable for professional sound design, game audio, music production, sound editing and post-production workflows.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Collection: 5 individual sound packs
- Total sounds across the five packs: 302 unique sounds
- Combined playback duration: 1 hour, 35 minutes, 59 seconds
- License - Royalty Free
- File format: WAV
- Bit depth: 24-bit
- Sample rate: 48 kHz
- Channels: Stereo
Additionally, the Percussive Dissonance Expansion Pack is available as a separate product, adding 125 additional sounds and 32 minutes, 45 seconds of audio for even more unconventional percussion, dark textures and experimental sound design possibilities.
