over:tone (Free Edition), a string-harmonics sample library developed by Venus Theory and Decent Samples, is currently available as a free download.
In this article we cover the giveaway details and give you an overview of what over:tone (Free Edition) actually does.
1. What Is Venus Theory & Decent Samples over:tone (Free Edition)?
over:tone (Free Edition) is the free version of over:tone, a sample library created jointly by Venus Theory and Dave Hilowitz. It samples the harmonics of guitars and other string instruments and turns them into a hybrid string instrument that can be played freely across the entire keyboard, even though those harmonics can normally only be produced at specific positions on the fretboard. With typical sampled guitar libraries, full-note performances tend to feel static inside a sampler and lose the nuance of a real performance. Harmonics, by contrast, have clarity and a natural dynamic movement that makes them stand out as sampling material. over:tone was built to free those tones from their fixed pitch positions and convert them into a fully chromatic, playable instrument engine.
The source material was recorded from a wide range of string instruments including acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, Bass VI and cello. Those live recordings were then processed with hardware resampling, pitch shifting, spectral filtering and a custom effects chain, expanding the tonal palette well beyond traditional string instruments. The result is a library where the pure acoustic ring of natural harmonics and evolving synthetic textures blend together seamlessly.
Key Features
- Guitar and string-instrument harmonics, playable chromatically across the full keyboard
- Recorded from a wide range of string instruments: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, Bass VI and cello
- Original sound design via resampling, pitch shifting, hardware processing and spectral filtering
- Three-layer engine: mix, stack and shape three independent sound layers
- Layer Editors: dedicated controls per layer for individual level adjustment and overall sound shaping
Samples used in the demo video | Splice Sounds
- BT_rhythmic_loop_13_90
- BS_MVSP_90_drum_FILL_spa
2. How to Download and Install over:tone (Free Edition)
This library is a sample library in the Decent Sampler format. To use it you will need the free sample player Decent Sampler.
The download procedure is as follows.
- Go to the official product page linked below.
- Make sure that the variation selector at the top of the page is set to Free Trial (FREE / $0).
- Click the Download Now button, enter your name and email address, and get the library.
- Unzip the downloaded file and save it wherever you like.
- Launch Decent Sampler and load the .dslibrary (or preset file) inside the unzipped folder to start playing.
Summary
That was the free giveaway information for Venus Theory & Decent Samples over:tone (Free Edition).
If you are looking for a string library that goes beyond the usual sampled guitar sound, this harmonics-based instrument is well worth grabbing while it is free.