Void & Vista have been steadily carving out a reputation for making sample instruments that don’t just sound good, but feel creatively inspiring. After Folds and Strands, the company’s latest release — Frames — continues that trajectory with a focus on eclectic prepared instruments, resonated objects, and rich sound design.
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👉 Full Review / Demo: https://youtu.be/lU9x_8bmCn8
👉 ‘No talking’ Demo: https://youtu.be/i5YGfEtoKk4 🎧
What Is Frames?
At its core, Frames is a 16 GB sample-based instrument for Kontakt (full player support, NKS compatible, works best in Kontakt 8). It features:
- 40 different sound sources (instruments, objects, textures, waves, and effected recordings)
- Two-layer sound engine with morphing capabilities
- Extensive snapshot library divided into three categories:
- Highlights – curated presets that showcase the breadth of the instrument
- Designed – deeper sound design explorations
- Foundations – snapshots truer to the raw source recordings
One standout feature is Zone Shift, a clever pitch manipulation tool that alters timbre and rhythmic artifacts while keeping the perceived pitch stable. It’s particularly useful for darker, droney, and cinematic textures where subtle detuning and timbral shifts add huge amounts of character.
Interface & Workflow
Void & Vista have a knack for UI design, and Frames is no exception. The interface is stylish, clean, and inspiring to look at — important when you’re going to be spending hours with an instrument.
The main page provides eight “performance controls” (motion, ensemble, lo-fi, character, space, morph, etc.), all of which can be expanded for deeper sound design. Crucially, the visual feedback isn’t just pretty animation — it shows you exactly what’s happening under the hood as you move parameters or the mod wheel.
The mod wheel mapping is especially well-tuned. Instead of simply adding more reverb or filter brightness, many presets morph into entirely different textures as you push it. That unpredictability can be a huge creative spark — suddenly you’re writing with the instrument rather than just playing it.
Sound & Playability
This is where Frames shines.
- Expressive snapshots – The Highlights folder alone feels like a journey. Presets don’t just “get louder” with dynamics; they evolve, bloom, and sometimes transform into a completely new voice.
- Cinematic depth – Many sounds feel ready for the screen straight out of the box. Dark, lo-fi pads, unsettling drones, unnerving textures, and gorgeously haunting keys all have a finished quality.
- Creative source material – Chairs, gates, bowed foil, macaroni (!) — all turned into playable instruments with surprising warmth or menace. These are not gimmicks; they’re meticulously captured and mixed so they feel musical, not novelty.
- Low-fi character – Fans of Folds will be pleased to hear continuity in Void & Vista’s sonic aesthetic. There’s grit, weight, and vibe baked into the samples, which gives them that elusive “cinematic soul” that’s so hard to fake.
Whether you’re writing dark ambient, cinematic underscore, lo-fi electronica, or experimental textures, Frames feels like a goldmine.
Strengths
- Incredibly inspiring presets — even the first few minutes can spark ideas
- Deep snapshot library with a clear organizational structure
- UI that balances aesthetics with functional clarity
- Expressive morphing via mod wheel, giving a wide range of timbres per patch
- Unique, carefully recorded sound sources that feel musical and not gimmicky
Possible Drawbacks
- Some presets may be too complex or unpredictable if you just want a “set-and-forget” instrument
- A few patches (like the “Vocal Throne”) left me wishing for smoother legato or more lyrical expression — but these can be tweaked under the hood
- At 16 GB it’s compact compared to orchestral libraries, but still a bit hefty if your drive space is tight
Final Thoughts
Void & Vista continue to prove themselves as one of the most creative sample developers out there. Frames doesn’t just give you new sounds — it reshapes how you think while you’re playing. That “inspiration factor” is priceless for composers.
If you’re working in cinematic scoring, dark ambient, or experimental music and you want an instrument that can surprise you in the best way, Frames is absolutely worth your attention.
