In the world of modern music, where diverse genres and sound experiments reign supreme, atmospheric textures play a key role in creating unique emotional depth. Often, it is a properly selected piano timbre, processed with time-based effects and modulation, that becomes the foundation for ambient compositions, soundtracks, or simply adds “air” to your mix. Finding a high-quality, and most importantly, free instrument for such needs can be a challenge. But there is a solution!
Atmos 2: A New Breath for Your Music
Introducing Atmos 2 from Electronik Sound Lab – a free VST/AU plugin specifically designed for creating enchanting atmospheric piano sounds. This instrument will become an indispensable assistant for both professional musicians and producers, as well as for beginners who want to add sophistication and space to their compositions. Atmos 2 doesn’t just reproduce a piano; it offers a unique approach to sound formation, making it ideal for ambient, new age, film music, and other genres where atmosphere is important.
The Heart of Sound: How Atmos 2 Was Created
The foundation of Atmos 2 is carefully recorded samples of a Yamaha C3 Grand Piano. The recording took place in November 2019 in a music school on the island of Mallorca, which adds a special acoustic and character to the sound. A Zoom H6 digital recorder, known for its quality recording in field conditions, was used to capture the sound. This approach allowed to capture not only the pure tone of the instrument but also the nuances of the room where the recording took place, which is extremely important for creating a realistic and lively atmosphere.
Features and Characteristics
Atmos 2 is equipped with all the necessary tools for fine-tuning and shaping a unique piano sound. Despite being free, the plugin offers a fairly wide range of functionality:
-
56 high-quality samples recorded from a Yamaha C3 Grand Piano.
-
Two-layer structure (2 Layers), which allows you to combine different samples or processing layers to obtain more complex timbres.
-
Full ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) control – standard volume envelope parameters that allow you to change the character of the sound from sharp and percussive to soft and flowing.
-
LFO (Low-Frequency Oscillator) modulation, which allows you to add movement and “liveliness” to the sound by applying pitch tremor (vibrato), volume (tremolo), or a filter.
-
HP/LP (High Pass / Low Pass) filters that allow you to cut off unwanted low or high frequencies, thus shaping the timbre of the instrument and integrating it into the mix.
These parameters allow you to transform the original piano sample into something completely new – from soft, flowing pads to ringing, transparent textures, ideal for ambient passages.
Compatibility
The Atmos 2 plugin is available in the most common formats, which ensures its compatibility with most modern digital audio workstations (DAW) on different operating systems:
-
Formats: VST, AU.
-
Operating systems: Windows (Win32, Win64), macOS (including macOS Catalina support).
This means you can easily integrate Atmos 2 into your workflow, no matter what platform you’re working on.
Conclusion
Atmos 2 from Electronik Sound Lab is a great free tool for anyone looking for a high-quality piano for creating atmospheric music. The samples recorded from a Yamaha C3 grand piano, flexible customization options with ADSR, LFO, and filters, as well as wide compatibility, make it a valuable addition to your plugin collection. Try Atmos 2 and discover new horizons for your musical ideas, filling them with space, depth, and a unique atmosphere.
