For my final MA project at SCAD, I created a sample library of acoustic guitar harmonics. But I retuned the strings in between every note, to always have the 1/2 length strongest harmonic on an open string. I even tuned the bottom string down a 5th, and used a capo going up the top string as high as I could to extend the range to 4 octaves. 

This is a piece from the SNES game Chrono Trigger called Memories of Green that I MIDI re-mapped using my harmonic patch. I also added reverb and delay. This is an example of only using the harmonic patch in a piece, which has quite a magical and dreamy quality, but I think it would sound even better used as a melodic voice over other instruments such as strings.

I recorded 4 dynamics per note, and then copied the bottom three and changed their dynamics in Pro Tools to get 7 dynamics per key. This came out to almost 350 separate audio files that this sampler (Structure) is accessing for this patch!! I used 3 mics to record (body, neck, and 3 ft. out in front of the sound hole), although you're only hearing the best two, mixed together and stereo panned out.

It was a grueling 2 months working on this whenever I could get in the studio, but it was worth it. It is a blast to play around with, and I can't wait to use it in future compositions and scores.

To clarify, I did not compose this piece, but am just using it as an example to demonstrate my sample library.


My Acoustic Guitar Harmonic Sample Library - Sean Redman, SCAD MA Sound Design

Check out my Youtube channel at www.youtube.com/SeanUNT ! I have tons of covers and arrangements of mine on there, many of which are Coheed and Cambria. I play guitar, percussion, piano, mandolin, ukulele, and sing!

SeanRedman

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