Riot Audio releases Gholem - Aleatoric Strings Textures with Customisable Ensemble Builder for Kontakt Player

4th June 2025 - KVR Audio News

Riot Audio has announced the release of Gholem, a two-layer aleatoric/extended techniques Kontakt instrument focusing on violin, cello, viol da gamba, modified Spanish guitar and a selection of bowed metal and ceramic resonant objects.

Gholem - Aleatoric Strings Textures

Based on multiple 90 second long performances for each instrument, a random sample position function allows for up to 11 unison voices per layer to play at the same time. The considerable aleatoric variation across each of the performances rule out phasing issues between the different sample start points and create a realistic sense of an ensemble performing together.

This approach results in a versatile instrument that can switch from soloist performances to full 22-player ensembles with just a few minor user changes.

Gholem also includes an LFO, a set of custom impulse responses as well as time-stretching capabilities for extensive sound design possibilities well beyond naturalistic playback.

Features Include:

20 high quality sound sources, available in standard and time-stretch modes.
Instrument sources: Cello, Violin, Viol da Gamba, Passerelle (modified Spanish) Guitar, Bowed Chinese Gong, Bowed Metal Drum, Bowed Ceramics, Bowed Plant Pot.
150 ready-made presets including 39 ensembles, 36 sections, 20 soloists, as well as 20. percussion and 35 sound design patches.
5.47 GB uncompressed sample content (3.6 GB compressed).
Up to 22 unison voices with adjustable stereo spread.
Extensive time-stretching controls (from 1% to 800%) for extreme manipulation of the. sample material.
Tempo-synced LFO applicable to the balance between the two layers (with sine, triangle, sawtooth and square shapes).
Custom set of serial Impulse Responses (TRANSMOGRIFY 1-3).
Tempo synced Delay.
Mangled Tape and Mids Attenuation.