Six spooky Halloween sounds to discover in Equator2
Halloween may have slithered away, but we're still feeling its chill. Let's get expressive with ghostly theremins, suspenseful strings, and spine-chilling sound effects, all in Equator2.
Spooky season may have passed us by, but that doesn't mean we can't still enjoy some spine-chilling sounds in our music-making — and Equator2 definitely has a few tricks and treats up its sleeve.
Whether you’re a fan of the classic B-movie horror tropes or grisly, modern sound design, Equator2 is up to the task.
With over 1,400 sounds built in and many more available from the ROLI Sounds store, our do-it-all super synth has plenty of presets to pick from. Below, you’ll find just a small selection of our favorites — and be sure to read on to the end for our top tips on summoning spooky sounds of your own.
Mini Theremin Lead 2
We’re kicking off with a classic here: since the theremin’s invention in 1928 (yes, really) they’ve become synonymous with spookiness. And it makes sense; these hands-free musical boxes must have seemed positively supernatural back then. The sound of a traditional theremin itself approximates a simple sine wave, it’s the level of continuous control that makes these instruments so expressive — and makes Seaboard 2 the perfect controller with which to imitate them. You’ll find this preset built into Equator2’s Factory Library.
Ensemble Mix — Horror Bed
Strings may be less inherently spooky than theremins, but the right strings, used the right way, can have a far more sinister effect. This patch, taken from the Orchestral Ensembles pack, is — as the name suggests — an ensemble comprising strings and brass, but it’s the tremolo strings that stand out, creating an undeniable sense of tension. Whatever is about to happen, it can’t be good.
Cinematic Sequence Creepy Valley
Another entry straight from the built-in factory library, this patch is based on a single sample, illustrating the power of granular processing. In it, metallic scrapes meet raven-like flutters and eerie electronics to create an instant sense of unease. It’s not musical, per se, but simply holding down a few keys is enough to create a foreboding atmosphere fitting of any modern horror movie.
Dream MusicBox
Depending on the context, music boxes can be either charming or creepy — in the context of this list, it’s very much the latter. This spaced-out variation, available in Equator2’s Factory Library, makes for a great contrast to more overtly ominous sounds — try playing simple, sing-song melodies to emphasize the effect.
Horror EP
Mighty M5 is a sound pack that celebrates the Macbeth M5 — an ultra-rare synth hand-built by Scottish synth wizard Ken Macbeth. Horror EP is one of 140 presets included, and pairs two detuned M5 samples with an extra layer of granular textures for added edge. It’s not an explicitly scary sound, but with a few simple chords and a delicate melody, it creates a sense of unease that wouldn't feel out of place in a John Carpenter movie or an episode of Stranger Things.
The Eerieness
Another entry from the Granular Foley pack, The Eeriness sounds about as you would expect, with a metallic drone in the lower registers and a contrasting shimmer in the high end. The core of the sound this time, believe it or not, is a microwave oven — proving that a dose of imagination can turn even the most mundane of sounds into something a little bit special.
Bonus: Home-made horror
Still want more scary sounds? Use Equator2’s search bar to see what you already have installed. You may need to get a bit creative with your search terms, but there are plenty more presets that fit the bill: Souls of the Damned, Haunted Piano, Horror Scrape, Ghostly Piano Motion… you get the idea.
Conjure up your own sounds in Equator2
If you want to go beyond pre-made sounds, Equator2 makes it easy to roll your own — and here’s a simple preset to prove it. All we’re really doing here is dragging in a few samples, adding a synth layer, mapping the controls to Seaboard2, and amping up the atmospherics with a few choice effects. The sound sources are a blend of familiar horror cliches like bowed metal and dragging chains (both using the granular engine) and more standard instrumental sounds; there’s a bowed bass guitar lending weight to the low end and a synth layer helping to hold it all together.
Want to design your own sinister sounds in Equator2? Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Consider control: Equator2 is a sound-design powerhouse, but it’s the level of expression on offer that really makes it unique. It pays to have an idea of how you want your sound to react to your inputs on Seaboard or your chosen controller from the start.
Start with samples: Basing your patch on real sounds has a couple of big benefits for this specific use case: Firstly, you can take advantage of emotional associations various sounds have; if something sends a shiver down your spine, it’s likely to have a similar effect on other people. Secondly, you can capture real-world imperfections that lend themselves to gritty, unsettling sounds — especially when pitched across the keyboard.
Don’t be afraid to detune: Many of the examples above aren’t perfectly in tune. That’s normally something we’d try to avoid, but if eeriness is your aim, it pays to embrace the errors. With Seaboard and other MPE controllers, you can do this naturally, but you can also build a sense of wonkiness into the sound itself. By detuning or modulating the pitch of different layers relative to one another, you create sounds that are out of tune relative to themselves.
Embrace effects: Equator2 has an extensive effects section built right in, many of which are perfect for adding an atmosphere of dread — especially when mapped to one of Seaboard’s Dimensions of Touch. Filters can emphasise the most interesting parts of your sound, distortions up the intensity, chorus and flanging effects add extra layers of detuning, and reverbs help to place it all in a believable sonic space.
More modulation: Whether you’re after a classic vibrato effect for your theremin or a sense of movement for a multi-layers pad, modulation is a great way to keep your sounds fresh and interesting over time. Thankfully, Equator2 has everything you need on tap. The lower half of the interface gives you instant access to macro controls, LFOs, envelopes, MPE mapping, and the incredibly powerful Math module. Simply select a source, click and drag on your chosen destination, then toggle over to the Mod Matrix to keep track of it all.
Explore Equator2
Equator2 is our do-it-all super synth, with a degree of both flexibility and control that makes it unmatched for expressive, evocative horror cues. It comes with Seaboard 2 as standard, and is also available to purchase separately on our site. Need more inspiration? You’ll find all the extra sounds you need for any genre in the ROLI Sounds store.
Share your creations with us
Come up with something good? We want to hear it! Whether it's creepy, scary, ghostly, or downright frightening, share your creations with us on social and tag us at @roli_create.
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