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Phonautograms

WAVKontaktNKSAbletonWin
Demo Video

About

Phonautograms is a unique vocal instrument with a rather remarkable pedigree: chromatically sampled vocal sustains captured over 160 years ago. This original method of recording, called 'Phonautography', was invented in the early 1850s by French inventor Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville. The sounds were captured by projecting the voice into a cylindrical horn attached to a stylus, which transferred the vibration into lines over the surface of oil lamp soot-blackened sheets of paper. These raw archival recordings were preserved by the French Academy of Sciences and finally decoded by First Sounds using laser scanning equipment. The resulting library offers a unique, ethereal quality with a captivating tonal character, perfect for evoking a sense of antiquity and wonder in film, TV, and game scores.

What's Included

  • Orchestral vocal instrument
  • Chromatically sampled vocal sustains
  • Recordings from 1850s 'Phonautography' process
  • Preserved by French Academy of Sciences
  • Decoded using laser scanning technology
  • Delivers an ethereal, antiquated tone
  • 2.0 GB sample library
  • 48 kHz sample rate
  • WAV, Kontakt, NKS, Ableton formats
  • Perfect for film, TV, and game scores

Technical Specs

Format
WAVKontaktNKSAbleton
Sample Size
2 GB
Sample Rate
48kHz
Platforms
macOSWindows

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