How Straylight Can Transform Your Film, TV, and Game Scores
Native Instruments Straylight v1.5.0 (KONTAKT)
If you are looking for a powerful instrument to create cinematic soundscapes, transitions, and ambient tones, you might want to check out Straylight by Native Instruments. Straylight is a granular-based instrument that combines specialized grain and sample playback modules with carefully captured sound sources, effects, and a performance-based X-Y modulation matrix. In this article, we will review the features, functions, and benefits of Straylight, as well as show you how to use it in your own projects.
Native Instruments – Straylight v1.5.0 (KONTAKT)
Download File: https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fgohhs.com%2F2tXgSc&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw3bRIssr7noschu-K-Y-GID
What is Straylight?
Straylight is a KONTAKT instrument that was released in 2019 by Native Instruments, a leading company in the music software industry. Straylight is part of the Komplete bundle, which offers a wide range of instruments and effects for music production and sound design. Straylight is designed for sound designers and film, TV, and game composers who need to craft unique cinematic soundscapes, transitions, and ambient tones in real-time. Straylight is ideal for everything from post-apocalyptic sci-fi to gritty thrillers.
Features of Straylight
Granular-based sound design
Straylight uses a granular synthesis technique that allows you to manipulate small fragments of sound called grains. By changing the size, shape, pitch, speed, direction, and position of the grains, you can create new sounds that are different from the original source. Granular synthesis can produce rich, organic timbres that can defy time and pitch, yet still retain the pristine character of the source sounds.
Sound sources
Straylight delivers over 360 unique matched sound sources for the granular and sample modules, with over 300 presets. The sound sources were carefully captured using various playing techniques and materials, such as rubbing a rubber ball on glass, bowing metal strings, or plucking piano wires. The sound sources are categorized into four types: Tonal, Noise, Hybrid, and User. You can also drag and drop your own samples into Straylight for one-of-a-kind sounds.
The granular engine
Straylight has a bespoke granular engine that places the source audio into a powerful and specialized interface. You can control various parameters of the granular engine using knobs, sliders, buttons, and menus. Some of the most important parameters are:
Grain Cursor: This determines the position of the grains within the source audio.
Grain Size: This determines the length of each grain.
Grain Shape: This determines the envelope shape of each grain.
Grain Pitch: This determines the pitch shift of each grain.
Grain Speed: This determines the playback speed of each grain.
Grain Direction: This determines the playback direction of each grain.
Grain Density: This determines the number of grains per second.
Grain Spread: This determines the stereo width of each grain.
Grain Pan: This determines the panning position of each grain.
The granular engine is then paired with a layer from the sample module, which offers similar editing possibilities. You can blend the two layers using a crossfade slider and apply effects to each layer separately or together.
Perform real-time modulation
Straylight features a performance-based X-Y modulation matrix that allows you to modulate multiple parameters at once using your mouse or a MIDI controller. You can assign up to four parameters to each axis of the X-Y matrix and adjust their range and polarity. You can also record your movements on the X-Y matrix and play them back in sync with your project tempo. The X-Y matrix is ideal for creating dynamic changes in intensity and timbre over time.
How to use Straylight?
Installation and activation
To use Straylight, you need to have KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER installed on your computer. You can download KONTAKT PLAYER for free from Native Instruments' website. You also need to have a Native Instruments account and Native Access installed on your computer. Native Access is a software that manages your Native Instruments products and licenses.
To install Straylight, follow these steps:
Open Native Access and log in with your Native Instruments account.
Go to the Not installed tab and find Straylight in the list.
Click on Add Library to add Straylight to your library list.
Click on Install to download and install Straylight on your computer.
Once the installation is complete, click on Activate to activate Straylight with your serial number.
You can also watch this video tutorial for more details:
Interface overview
The interface of Straylight consists of four main sections:
NameDescription
Main DisplayThis shows the waveform of the selected sound source and allows you to edit various parameters of the granular engine.
X-Y MatrixThis allows you to modulate multiple parameters at once using your mouse or a MIDI controller.
MixerThis allows you to blend the granular and sample layers using a crossfade slider and apply effects to each layer separately or together.
Browse PanelThis allows you to browse through presets and sound sources using tags or keywords.
You can also access other functions such as saving presets, locking parameters, randomizing sounds, recording movements on the X-Y matrix using buttons on the top bar of the interface.
Loading and saving presets
To load a preset in Straylight, follow these steps:
Click on Browse button on the top left corner of the interface to open the Browse Panel.
Select a category from the left column such as Cinematic or Pads.
Select a subcategory from the middle column such as Sci-Fi or Fragile.
Select a preset from the right column such as Alien Choir or Crystal Cave.
Click on Load button on the bottom right corner of the Browse Panel to load the preset into Straylight.
To save a preset in Straylight, follow these steps:
Edit or create a sound using Straylight's features as desired.
Click on Save button on the top right corner of the interface to open the Save As dialog box.
Type in a name for your preset in the Name field.
Select a category and subcategory for your preset from the drop-down menus.
Add some tags or keywords for your preset in the Tags field (optional).
Select a destination folder for your preset from the Location drop-down menu or click on Browse button to choose another folder (optional).
Click on Save button on the bottom right corner of the Save As dialog box to save your preset into the selected folder.
Editing and creating sounds
To edit or create sounds in Straylight, you can use the following features:
The Main Display allows you to edit various parameters of the granular engine, such as grain cursor, grain size, grain shape, grain pitch, grain speed, grain direction, grain density, grain spread, and grain pan.
The X-Y Matrix allows you to modulate multiple parameters at once using your mouse or a MIDI controller. You can also record your movements on the X-Y matrix and play them back in sync with your project tempo.
The Mixer allows you to blend the granular and sample layers using a crossfade slider and apply effects to each layer separately or together. You can choose from four different effect types for each layer, such as filter, distortion, chorus, and delay.
The Browse Panel allows you to browse through presets and sound sources using tags or keywords. You can also drag and drop your own samples into Straylight for one-of-a-kind sounds.
Tips and tricks for Straylight
Use the X-Y matrix for expressive control
One of the most powerful features of Straylight is the X-Y matrix, which allows you to modulate multiple parameters at once using your mouse or a MIDI controller. You can assign up to four parameters to each axis of the X-Y matrix and adjust their range and polarity. For example, you can assign the grain cursor speed to the X-axis and the grain pitch to the Y-axis, and then move your mouse or controller from left to right to create a rising transition effect. You can also record your movements on the X-Y matrix and play them back in sync with your project tempo.
Drag and drop your own samples
Straylight comes with over 360 unique matched sound sources for the granular and sample modules, but you can also use your own samples for more creative possibilities. To do so, simply drag and drop any WAV or AIFF file from your computer or browser into Straylight's interface. You can then edit the sample using the same parameters as the granular engine, such as cursor, range, tuning, amp, and effects. You can also use Straylight's randomize function to generate new sounds from your sample.
Randomize and lock parameters
If you want to quickly explore different sounds in Straylight, you can use the randomize function to generate new presets based on the current sound source. To do so, simply click on the dice icon on the top bar of the interface. You can also lock certain parameters that you don't want to change by clicking on the lock icon next to them. For example, you can lock the sound source type and category while randomizing other parameters such as grain size, shape, pitch, speed, direction, density, spread, pan, effects, and X-Y matrix assignments.
Conclusion
Straylight is a granular-based instrument that offers a unique way of creating cinematic soundscapes, transitions, and ambient tones in real-time. It combines specialized grain and sample playback modules with carefully captured sound sources, effects, and a performance-based X-Y modulation matrix. Straylight is ideal for sound designers and film, TV, and game composers who need to craft sounds for various genres and moods. Straylight is part of the Komplete bundle by Native Instruments, which offers a wide range of instruments and effects for music production and sound design.
FAQs
What are the system requirements for Straylight?
You need to have KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER installed on your computer. You also need to have a Native Instruments account and Native Access installed on your computer. The download size of Straylight is 6.4 GB (9.51 GB uncompressed samples).
How much does Straylight cost?
Straylight costs $149 USD as a standalone product. You can also get it as part of the Komplete bundle by Native Instruments, which costs $599 USD for Komplete 13 Select or $1199 USD for Komplete 13 Ultimate.
Can I use Straylight with other DAWs?
Yes, you can use Straylight with any DAW that supports VST, AU, or AAX plugins. You can also use it as a standalone application.
Can I import my own samples into Straylight?
Yes, you can drag and drop any WAV or AIFF file from your computer or browser into Straylight's interface. You can then edit the sample using the same parameters as the granular engine.
Can I save my own presets in Straylight?
Yes, you can save your own presets in Straylight by clicking on the Save button on the top right corner of the interface. You can also browse through presets using tags or keywords.