PERCUSSIVE DISSONANCE

200 unique processed cinematic sound design elements created from 18 real percussion instrument sources and original performances.

Percussive Dissonance explores the darker, more unconventional side of acoustic percussion. Built from real instruments and original recordings, the library transforms physical performances into a wide-ranging collection of dissonance, resonant frequencies, metallic textures, large bowed sounds, friction, transitions and atmospheric movement for cinematic sound design. Total duration of all files - 50 min, 31 sec

Rather than approaching these instruments as a traditional percussion library, each source was explored for the sounds hiding beyond its familiar musical role. Cymbals, drums, bells, chimes, shakers, wood and other resonant instruments were struck, bowed, scraped, shaken and allowed to resonate, capturing everything from subtle movement and delicate overtones to large sustained textures and aggressive metallic energy.

SOUND DESIGN & PROCESSING

Every sound has been treated with reverb at varying degrees, helping place the collection within a cohesive cinematic space while allowing individual sounds to retain their own character.

Processing varies from sound to sound. Some recordings remain relatively close to the original acoustic performance, while others were pitched, delayed, granulated or further manipulated to create darker and more unusual results. A smaller selection was also reversed where the technique complemented the source.

The finished library moves between recognizable acoustic percussion and more heavily transformed material, including dissonant cues, frequencies, resonances, bowed cymbals, large bow textures, metallic overtones, friction, impacts, transitions, tonal movement and evolving atmospheric sounds.

Each of the 200 WAV files is its own unique sound design element, not a velocity-layered variation. Use them individually, combine them with other sounds, or layer and process them further to build larger effects, transitions and cinematic environments.

18 REAL INSTRUMENT SOURCES

The library contains 200 recordings across 18 acoustic sources:

• 3" Tongue Drum | 10 recordings
• 4" Frog Guiro | 9 recordings
• 6" Bell Cymbal | 13 recordings
• 8" Splash Cymbal | 4 recordings
• 9" Claves | 7 recordings
• 16" Djembe | 10 recordings
• 17" Crash Cymbal | 10 recordings
• 18" China Cymbal | 17 recordings
• 20" Rainstick | 8 recordings
• 20" Ride Cymbal | 24 recordings
• 22" Buffalo Drum | 25 recordings
• Chimes | 15 recordings
• Egg Shaker | 8 recordings
• Finger Bell | 7 recordings
• Headless Tambourine | 6 recordings
• Maraca | 8 recordings
• Mini Djembe | 10 recordings
• Mini Singing Bowl | 9 recordings

The combination of metal, wood, drum skins, bells, shakers and naturally resonant acoustic sources gives the collection a broad range of tone and movement, from intimate tension and unstable frequencies to deep resonance and larger cinematic gestures.

MADE FOR DARK STORYTELLING

Created for filmmakers, game developers, video editors, sound designers, composers, music producers, trailer creators, podcasters and content creators, Percussive Dissonance is suited for horror, suspense, psychological thrillers, dark fantasy, trailers, games, experimental scoring and cinematic storytelling.

Use the sounds for tension, transitions, unsettling atmospheres, game audio, impacts, dark ambience, layered effects, musical sound design and scene-building.

200 Unique Processed Sound Design Elements

18 Instrument Sources

Real Instruments • Real Performances

Original Recordings • Original Sound Design

24-bit / 48 kHz Stereo WAV

Royalty-Free License Included

No AI-Generated Audio

(For Universal Category System (UCS) compliant files, head to my More Licensing Options Page)

EXPAND PERCUSSIVE DISSONANCE - Store Exclusive!

Continue the collection with the Percussive Dissonance Expansion Pack, featuring 125 additional processed sound design recordings created to extend the same dark percussion and cinematic sound world. Available only here on my Payhip store.

The expansion adds more material for dissonance, resonance, frequencies, bowed textures, friction, transitions and atmospheric sound design, giving you additional sounds to use independently or combine with the original library.

Original Pack: 200 Sounds

Expansion Pack: 125 Additional Sounds

Combined: 325 Sound Design Elements

BOWED BASS — 20 Cinematic Sound Design Elements for Dark Storytelling

Bowed Bass is a collection of 20 unique sound design elements built from original bass performances and transformed into deep, haunting cinematic textures.

Scrapes, hits and plucks capture the physical character of the instrument, while bowed resonance, low rumbles and shifting frequencies create an ominous sense of weight and tension. Melodic and dissonant cues range from approximately 10 seconds to over a minute, offering longer evolving material for scenes that need atmosphere, suspense and movement.

Each sound is individually performed, recorded, edited and creatively processed using haunting reverb, delay and granular effects. From subtle low end unease to larger atmospheric cues, the collection is designed to bring depth and character without relying on conventional horror effects. Total duration of all files - 17 min, 54 sec

Use the sounds individually or layer and combine them to build tension beds, cinematic cues, transitions, dark atmospheres and evolving soundscapes.

🎬 MADE FOR CREATORS

Designed for horror, suspense, psychological thrillers, dark fantasy, film, games, trailers, video, YouTube, podcasts, music production and cinematic sound design.

🎧 WHAT YOU GET

✓ 20 unique sound design elements

✓ 24-bit / 48 kHz Stereo WAV

✓ Original bass performances and recordings

✓ Scrapes, hits, plucks, melodic and dissonant cues, transitions, bowed resonance and low rumbles

✓ Professionally edited and processed sound design

✓ Royalty-Free License Included

✓ No AI-generated audio

(For Universal Category System (UCS) compliant files, head to my More Licensing Options Page)

DARK GUITAR — 25 Cinematic Sound Design Elements for Dark Storytelling

Dark Guitar is a collection of 25 unique sound-design elements created from original electric guitar performances and transformed into a cohesive palette of unsettling tones, textures, cues and transitions.

Bowed strings, scrapes, hits, strange sliding tones, above- and below-bridge plucks, resonant frequencies, and ascending and descending sul ponticello tremolo/glissando techniques push the instrument far beyond conventional guitar sounds. Dissonant melodic elements provide additional material for building tension, atmosphere and darker musical moments.

Each sound is individually performed, recorded and creatively processed using reverb, delay and granular effects, ranging from more immediate, intimate textures to wet, atmospheric designs. Total duration of all files - 11 min, 40 sec

Every element is distinct, yet the collection shares a cohesive sonic character—making it easy to layer, stack and combine sounds into larger transitions, textures, cues and evolving soundscapes.

🎬 MADE FOR CREATORS

Designed for horror and suspense, thrillers, dark fantasy, film and video production, games, trailers, YouTube, podcasts, content creation, music production and cinematic sound design.

🎧 WHAT YOU GET

✓ 25 unique sound-design elements

✓ 24-bit / 48 kHz Stereo WAV

✓ Original electric guitar performances and recordings

✓ Production-ready sound design

✓ Cohesive palette designed for layering

✓ Royalty-Free License Included

✓ No AI-generated audio

(For Universal Category System (UCS) compliant files, head to my More Licensing Options Page)

PSALTERY DE-TUNED — 32 Cinematic Sound Design Elements for Dark Storytelling

Psaltery De-Tuned is a collection of 32 unique sound design elements created from original psaltery performances, capturing the eerie contrast of de-tuned metal strings and resonant wood.

Haunting plucks, sinister strums and scrapes bring out the instrument's unstable tuning and metallic character. Bowed performances reveal eerie resonance and sustained dissonance, while darker cues and transitions provide movement for tension, reveals and unsettling cinematic moments.

Each sound is individually performed, recorded, edited and creatively processed using haunting reverb, delay and granular effects. The result is a cohesive collection that moves between intimate metallic details, dark musical textures and atmospheric sound design. Total duration of all files - 9 min, 24 sec

The sounds can be used individually or layered and combined to build larger cues, transitions, tension beds and evolving soundscapes.

🎬 MADE FOR CREATORS

Designed for horror, suspense, psychological thrillers, paranormal projects, dark fantasy, film, games, trailers, video, YouTube, podcasts, music production and cinematic sound design.

🎧 WHAT YOU GET

✓ 32 unique sound design elements

✓ 24-bit / 48 kHz Stereo WAV

✓ Original de-tuned psaltery performances and recordings

✓ Plucks, scrapes, sinister strums, dissonant cues, bowed resonance and transitions

✓ Professionally edited and processed sound design

✓ Royalty-Free License Included

✓ No AI-generated audio

(For Universal Category System (UCS) compliant files, head to my More Licensing Options Page)

BROKEN KALIMBA — 25 Cinematic Sound Design Elements for Dark Storytelling

Broken Kalimba is a collection of 25 unique sound design elements created from original kalimba performances, capturing the contrasting character of resonant wood and imperfect metal before transforming those performances into haunting cinematic sound design. Total duration of all files - 6min, 30 sec

The damaged character of the metal tines gives the plucked elements a distinctive broken, unstable quality. Delicate and musical at times, warped, dissonant and unpredictable at others. Metallic plucks and bowed tones are contrasted by taps and impacts across the wooden body, adding organic percussion, resonance and texture to the collection.

Bowed performances draw out unusual sustained tones and metallic harmonics, while dissonant cues combine the instrument's fragile character with darker musical ideas. Together, the wood, metal and imperfect tuning create sounds that can move between intimate details, unsettling accents and larger atmospheric moments.

Each sound is individually performed, recorded, edited and creatively processed using haunting reverb, delay and granular effects. Some retain the close, physical character of the wood and metal, while others expand into spacious, decayed and atmospheric designs.

Every element is unique, yet the collection maintains a cohesive sonic identity. The sounds can easily be layered, stacked and combined into larger cues, textures, atmospheres and evolving soundscapes.

🎬 MADE FOR CREATORS

Designed for horror and suspense, psychological thrillers, paranormal and supernatural projects, dark fantasy, film and video production, games, trailers, YouTube, podcasts, content creation, music production and cinematic sound design.

🎧 WHAT YOU GET

✓ 25 unique sound design elements

✓ 24-bit / 48 kHz Stereo WAV

✓ Original wood and metal kalimba performances and recordings

✓ Plucks, taps, bowed textures and dissonant cues

✓ Professionally edited and processed sound design

✓ Royalty-Free License Included

✓ No AI-generated audio

(For Universal Category System (UCS) compliant files, head to my More Licensing Options Page)