For those who score films, historical documentaries, or period-specific audio dramas, Best Service's Dark ERA will come in handy. This is a virtual instrument, available for download, that offers the sound of the dark ages, evoking classic tropes such as Norse mythology and Viking conquests.
This library offers many period-accurate instruments, such as string harps like the Tagelharpa, as well as gut-string lyres and Nordic bone flutes. Of course, no instrument pack from the dark ages would be complete without the mighty sound of war horns and resonant drums.
Over 50 instruments are provided in total, with more than 20,000 samples provided. The instruments were recorded in Spain's Eldana Studio, using high-quality gear and close miking techniques for a more guttural impact.
As with other entries in the ERA series, you not only get individual, playable instruments, but over 100 pads and soundscapes offering atmospheric, evocative textures for underscoring and other bits of sound design. The sound design patches were programmed by Eduardo Tarilonte, the mastermind behind the ERA series.
These instruments are playable via the Best Service ENGINE 2 Sample Player, which is included in this product. It's compatible with Mac and Windows platforms, and operates in AU, VST, and AAX formats.
Instruments Provided
Bowed Strings
- Tagelharpa
- Jouhikko Small
- Tagelharpa
- Jouhikko Big
- Crwth
Plucked Strings
- Cologne Lyre
- Ancient Lyre
- Trossingen Lyre
- Utrecht Lute
War Horns
- War Horn
- White Horn
- Curved Horn
- Shofar
- Bukkehorn
- Shell
- Long Trumpet
- Big Horn
- Double Flute
- Small Bone Flute
- Vulture Bone Flute
- Pictish Pipes
- Elderwood Flute
- Overtone Fujara
- Didgeridoo
- Wooden Lur
Percussion
- Shamanic Drum Small
- Shamanic Drum Big
- Big Frame Drum
- 5 Square Drums
- 2 Skin Drums
- 2 Skin Snares
- Skin Tom
- Sieves
- Anvil
- 3 Viking Mouth Harps
- Jawbone
- Pan Medium
- Pan Rusted
- 7 Seed Shakers
- Small Bells
- 2 Cowbells
- Bullroarer
- Horseshoe and Bronze Mortar
