Offset Sequencer
By default, Kontakt operates in what’s called DFD (direct from disk) mode. In this mode, only a small section of each sample is loaded into memory as a buffer, and the rest is streamed from the disk. This is a very memory efficient way of doing things and makes it possible for running lots of large instruments all at the same time. There are several other modes, including “sampler” mode, which are much less memory efficient but open up real-time access to the entire sound file and therefore offer greater sound design potential.
On the download page I’ve included four instruments which make use of a script I wrote called the “offset sequencer”. This script, which only works in “sampler” mode, presents the user with an editable graph. Each bar in the graph represents a starting point within the loaded sample. The taller the bar the later the starting point for sample playback. Because the Kontakt scripting language offers no way of accessing the length of a sample, I’ve included an editable “multiplier” variable which lets the user adjust the upper boundary of the graph. While a note is held down, the loaded sample is re-triggered at a selected rate and at the different starting points selected in the graph. Here’s what it sounds like when all four of this week’s instruments are played at the same time.
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One could accomplish the very same effect by chopping up a sample into different lengths and mapping each piece to a different key. One could do this, but as I mentioned in my post “Process = Product” each way of doing things lends itself to certain results. One could play a rhythm using the above mentioned method and then automate the pitch to create melodies. The question is, how likely are you to go through all that trouble? This script makes it easier and therefore much more likely that you would play different pitches. Of course, this script also makes it more difficult to create rhythms of mixed note values.
I would encourage you to try using the script with different samples. The samples I used to make this weeks instruments include my washing machine, my water bottle, and a metal mixing bowl.
I like the effect created by this script quite a lot and have used it frequently in the film score I’m currently working on. In the following excerpts from that score, you can hear this effect come in along with the shakers, near the beginning of the first excerpt, and the bell and the clave sound in the second excerpt are treated with this effect.
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Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.