The third release from composer Max Richter’s SRM Sounds captures a 15-piece timpani ensemble performing at his Studio Richter Mahr facility, and includes some additional synth-based content courtesy of an original Minimoog.
Valley Forge is said to draw inspiration from themes including space, the environment and nature, and aims to “explore the relationship between the organic and the technological”. It captures a group of world-class percussionists performing a range of articulations including hits, rolls, clusters, superballs and FX, all of which can be customised using a set of dedicated controls.
The core samples have been processed with a whole host of analogue effects to create unique-sounding drones, and the drums are joined by a collection of sample’s taken from Max’s original Minimoog synthesizer. Users can shape the sound of the library thanks to Close, Tree, Room and Ambient microphone signals, and there’s also a collection of built-in effects that can be used to process both the percussion and synth samples.
Valley Forge runs in Native Instruments' free Kontakt Player, and supports their NKS protocol for in-depth controller integration.
“Valley Forge is a place of sonic exploration. Like all musical instruments, it's an act of the imagination. And in this case, it's a place where these strange sounds exist. Named after the spaceship in Douglas Trumbull’s prescient 1972 sci-fi eco-parable ‘Silent Running’, these sounds are evocative of a spaciousness, with a darkness about them. There's resonance and memory, and a sort of alien warmth in this material. And that comes from the fact that it has mostly organic origins. In a way, Valley Forge is a kind of ode to an imaginary spaceship. And this is what it would sound like.” - Max Richter
Compatibility
Valley Forge runs in Native Instruments’ Kontakt Player (or the full version of Kontakt) versions 6.8.0 and above, which are supported on PCs running Windows 10 or 11, and Macs running macOS 10.14 and above. VST, VST3, AU and AAX plug-in versions are available, along with a standalone application. It also supports NI’s NKS protocol, allowing for in-depth integration with hardware controllers from Native Instruments, Korg, Nektar, Novation and M-Audio.
Pricing & Availability
Valley Forge is available now, and is currently (13 March 2025) being offered at an introductory price of £99, reduced from its full cost of $129. Prices include VAT.
