Unearthed Sampling Sawmonium — Free Download
Unearthed Sampling Sawmonium is a Kontakt instrument with ten cinematic patches created from bowed and struck wood saws and hacksaws, offering eerie textures, tonal staccatos, and gritty growls for horror or mysterious scoring.
Purpose and Sound Palette
Sawmonium transforms ordinary hand tools—a basic woodsaw, a mitre back saw, and a hacksaw—into a sonic arsenal. Using a cello bow, Unearthed coaxed strange, unique effects from the metal, ranging from horrific and quirky to mysterious. The bowed sustains evoke a gritty glass harmonica or a melodic percussion instrument, depending on how you play the attack. The patches include tonal staccatos, creepy growls, and a nod to the Joker motif from The Dark Knight.
Some effects recall the odd FX from Jerry Goldsmith’s 1960s and 1970s scores, giving the library a retro-cinematic flavor. The bowed sustains patch is tuned and loops, ensuring playability for sustained notes. Additional percussive hits from mallets, rattans, and sticks add rhythmic variety. This is not a bread-and-butter library; it is designed for composers seeking distinctive, unsettling timbres.
Key Capabilities and Interface
Sawmonium ships with a robust GUI, similar to other Unearthed releases. The interface includes pitch control, attack and delay control, and an EQ section. A standout feature is a set of 13 custom impulse responses selectable directly on the GUI, allowing you to shape the sound with different spaces or effects without leaving the instrument.
The pitch control enables you to tune patches to your project, while the attack and delay knobs shape the envelope for either plucked or bowed feels. The EQ helps carve out frequencies to fit a mix. These controls are easy to access, making it straightforward to adjust the instrument to your needs. The patches are Kontakt-based, so you will need a full version.
Workflow and Playability
In a typical workflow, you start by selecting one of the ten patches—each offers a different character, from droney sustains to percussive strikes. The bowed sustains patch is particularly playable, letting you perform melodic lines with a gritty edge. Use the attack control to blend between a bowed attack and a more struck percussive onset, changing the instrument’s personality mid-performance.
For cinematic scoring, layer Sawmonium with strings or brass to add texture. The growls and staccatos work well for horror cues, mysterious underscores, or even action sequences. The percussive hits can punctuate moments or drive rhythmic tension. Experiment with the impulse responses to place the sound in a hall, a chamber, or a more abstract space, and use the EQ to fit the patch into a dense mix.
Practical Applications and Limitations
Sawmonium is ideal for film, TV, and game composers working in horror, thriller, or psychological genres. The Joker-inspired patch offers a dark, cackling-like texture for villainous motifs. The tonal staccatos can serve as unusual ostinatos, while the creepy growls add dread. The library also works for sci-fi or experimental music projects.
A key limitation is that it requires the full version of Kontakt, not the free player. The sounds are niche, so it may not suit traditional orchestral or pop productions. The number of patches is limited to ten, but each is deeply programmed. For best results, combine with other instruments to blend the saw timbres with conventional sounds.
Key features
- Ten unique Kontakt patches
- Bowed and struck saw sounds
- Cinematic, eerie, and quirky textures
- Tuned and looping bowed sustains patch
- GUI with pitch, attack/delay, and EQ controls
- Thirteen custom impulse responses
- Retro horror FX inspired by Jerry Goldsmith scores
Best for
Composers crafting horror, thriller, or mystery film cues, as well as game audio for dark or surreal levels. Its unique saw timbres add distinctive texture to impactful moments, villain motifs, or experimental sound design. Best used in Kontakt-based projects where a full version is available.
