Transcending the boundaries of choral performance, experience the human voice in a completely new light. 245 all-new emotive, dynamic techniques performed by 19 world-class singers, captured at AIR Studios with 11 pristine signals — pushed to breathtaking new extremes in our inspiring Evo Grid and game-changing synth engine.

Curated by Grammy-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre, Contrast allows you to build evocative, evolving atmospheres — from visceral human vibrations to otherworldly shimmering beauty — with texture, tone and pitch evolving beneath your fingertips in subtle and dramatic shifts, subject to your own curation. The Evo Grid offers instant inspiration, creating rich, dissonant, multi-layered textures, while our eDNA synth engine transports the organic material into the electronic realm. Recombine techniques to create new hybrid vocal textures, and explore our bespoke range of warps and editable presets — plus a stunning set of bespoke presets from three acclaimed sound artists (Ryan Lott, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith & Clark), with a sophisticated range of in-built controls and FX.

A living, breathing machine of sonic metamorphosis opening the door to limitless sound design possibilities for any genre or setting — from media composition to contemporary electronic music.

At the heart of the library are 245 experimental techniques performed by 19 members of the Eric Whitacre Singers (Soprano 5, Alto 5, Tenor 4, Bass 5) recorded with a comprehensive range of mic positions in the stunning acoustics of AIR Studios, home of countless blockbuster scores. Each technique, curated with the awe-inspiring expertise and precision of Eric Whitacre, is presented with two contrasting tones — ‘Light’ and ‘Dark’ — Light created with an open vowel shape, and Dark with a closed vowel shape. This seemingly subtle change creates a completely different tone and timbre. The techniques themselves — aptly named fragments, shards, divergences, murmuring, prisms — have been carefully curated to subtly (and sometimes dramatically) dance and move beneath your fingertips, moving at different intervals and through varying shifts in dynamic, tone, and pitch.

Techniques

Fragments

Over a short length, all singers crescendo from silence to a fixed dynamic, whilst moving in pitch together.

Shorts

Marcato - Singers perform a bright and sharp "Eh!" sound ("Eh" light, "Oh" dark).

Mist Chimes/Smoke Chimes

Divisi, half of group performs atonal "Ehhh" very breathy, while the other half sustains a soft airy tone over 2-4 beats at 120bpm.

Convergences

Group begins from a microtonal point up to a semitone below or above the target note, crescendo and converge to the target note over two beats, then hold note and fade out.

Divergences

Begin on the target note, then diverge to a microtonal point up to a semitone below or above. Crescendo and portamento over 2 beats, then hold divergence and fade out for two more beats.

Swells

Over 2 different lengths (crotchet, minim, semibreve, 2 bars at 120bpm), all singers swell from silence to a fixed dynamic - to hard stop.

Shards

Over an EVO length (20s), each singer individually ad libs shards (swells from "niente", up to an agreed dynamic, with a hard off).

Shadows

The counterpoint to Shards, altered for a darker, threatening tone.

Crystal

Over an EVO length, each singer individually ad libs crystals ("Tah" with accented vib). Bright and open.

Clouds

The counterpoint to crystals ("Dah"). Dark, menacing.

Chattering

One half singing sustained "Ahh"; the other slow aleatoric "cha, sa, tah" - slow and fast variations.

Murmuring

Divisi — One half singing sustained "Ohh"; the other slow aleatoric "mo, wo, doh" - slow and fast variations.

Held Mist

Divisi — One half singing very quiet "eeee", other semi-random "ehhh" very breathy with high/no pitch (atonal) (slower attack on breaths).

Held Smoke

Divisi — One half singing very quiet "mmm", other semi-random "ohhh" very breathy with low/no pitch (atonal).

Prism Evos

Over an EVO length, each section sings long sustained divisi. Div 1 individually ad lib moving to 1 semitone above the written note with slight cresc. Div 2 stays at written note, moving slowly between vib and non-vib.

Standard Mode

(Tutti // Soprano // Alto // Tenor // Bass - they all contain the below)

• Light Prism 1 (minor 2nd)
• Dark Prism 2 (minor 2nd)
• Light Prism 3 (Major 2nd)
• Dark Prism 4 (Major 2nd)
• Light Prism 5 (Perfect 4th)
• Dark Prism 6 (Tritone)
• Light Prism 7 (Perfect 5th)
• Dark Prism 8 (minor 6th)

eDNA (Warps)

• Dark Pulses
• Dark Vibrations
• Delay Pad (120bpm)
• Elven Horizons
• Elysium
• Eternal Mist
• Ethereal Whispers

Mics & Mixes

Mixes

• Med - A combination of close and room microphones, to give a balanced sound
• Big - A full, broad balance of the various microphone positions on a single fader
• Small - A close, intimate mix with only a hint of the room reverb, all on a single fader

Signals

Close: This is a selection of close mics, artfully balanced down to a single fader for simplicity. Use to get the closest sound of the instruments.

Tree: Situated above the conductor's head, this gives a great representation of the sound. Use as a basis to add other signals to.

Outrigger: Similar amount of room to the tree, but with added width. Use it with the tree for a great room sound.

Mid: A middle distance sound placed between the tree and the close mics. Great for a balance of direct signal and room in a single signal.

Ambient: Up in the gods! This gives the most amount of room, Great to add ambience into a mix, or even pop it into surrounds if you’re in 5.1.

Gallery: The furthest distance microphone set. Use them to add some slap to your mix, or as your main pair for an ambient experience.

Wide Stereo: A wide stereo mix (only present in the Individual Sections).

Sopranos: All the Soprano close signals on one fader. Useful to highlight this specific section in the mix.

Altos: All the Alto close signals on one fader. Useful to highlight this specific section in the mix.

Tenors: All the Tenor close signals on one fader. Useful to highlight this specific section in the mix.

Basses: All the Bass close signals on one fader. Useful to highlight this specific section in the mix.