REFERENCE MANUAL

REFERENCE MANUAL

SYMPHOBIA 2

VERSION 1.5
INDEX

INTRODUCTION 4 THE INTERFACE 9

INSTALLATION: DOWNLOAD EDITION 5 MULTIS 14

INSTALLATION: USB EDITION 6 CONTACT PROJECTSAM 15

BEFORE YOU READ ON 8 CREDITS 16

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INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on purchasing SYMPHOBIA 2, volume two in the acclaimed SYMPHOBIA series!

After the original SYMPHOBIA, we faced the challenge of taking the SYMPHOBIA concept to the next level. We explored
new instrument colors, orchestrations and possibilities, making SYMPHOBIA 2 the perfect addition to the original, as well
as a great standalone library.

This reference manual explains all about the exciting instruments and features found in SYMPHOBIA 2. It also covers the
installation process of both the Direct Download and USB versions of this product.

We are very impressed by the great music you have composed using our samples. This has been our main drive developing
SYMPHOBIA 2. We want to inspire you by adding new colors to your musical palette.

Enjoy SYMPHOBIA 2!

The ProjectSAM Team

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INSTALLATION: DOWNLOAD EDITION
The installation steps in this chapter only apply to the downloadable edition of SYMPHOBIA 2.

1. USE YOUR CHALLENGE CODE

If you purchased SYMPHOBIA 2 directly from ProjectSAM, you can skip to step 2. If you did not purchase
SYMPHOBIA 2 directly from ProjectSAM, use your challenge code at www.projectsam.com/My-Account to
unlock your download and retrieve the product serial number you need to activate this library.

2. DOWNLOAD
If you haven’t done so yet, download SYMPHOBIA 2 using the ProjectSAM Downloader, available for Mac
or Windows from www.projectsam.com/My-Account.

3. INSTALL KONTAKT PLAYER

SYMPHOBIA 2 runs as a library inside Native Instruments Kontakt Player. If you are new to Kontakt,
download the latest version of Kontakt Player from www.projectsam.com/My-Account and run the installer.
If you already have Kontakt or Kontakt Player installed, you can skip this step.

4. ADD LIBRARY TO KONTAKT

Add SYMPHOBIA 2 to Kontakt Player using the ‘Add Library’ button in the ‘Libraries’ panel near the top-left
corner. Kontakt will ask you to browse to the library’s folder, which is named ‘SYMPHOBIA 2 Library’.
Browse to this folder, select it, and confirm. Note that you do not have to select an individual file. Selecting the folder
it sufficient. After confirming, Kontakt may ask you for your administrator credentials.

5. ACTIVATE
Click the ‘Activate’ button in Kontakt and activate SYMPHOBIA 2 using your product serial number.
This number can be found in your ProjectSAM account at www.projectsam.com/My-Account and in your order
confirmation e-mail. Note: activation inside Kontakt is done using your Native Instruments log in, not your
ProjectSAM log in.

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INSTALLATION: USB EDITION
The installation steps in this chapter only apply to the boxed USB edition of SYMPHOBIA 2.

1. USE YOUR CHALLENGE CODE

If you purchased SYMPHOBIA 2 directly from ProjectSAM, you can skip to step 2. If you did not purchase
SYMPHOBIA 2 directly from ProjectSAM, use your challenge code at www.projectsam.com/My-Account to
unlock your download and retrieve the product serial number you need to activate this library.

2. COPY LIBRARY FROM USB STICK

Insert the SYMPHOBIA 2 USB stick. Copy (drag-drop) the entire folder named ‘SYMPHOBIA 2 Library’
to a local drive on your computer. You can place the folder in any subfolder and on any internal or external drive
that you wish.

3. INSTALL KONTAKT PLAYER

SYMPHOBIA 2 runs as a library inside Native Instruments Kontakt Player. If you are new to Kontakt, you
need to install Kontakt Player. On the USB stick you will find Mac and Windows versions in the ‘Kontakt Player’ folder.
Start the correct installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Version note: a newer version of Kontakt Player might
be available than the one found on the USB stick. To make sure you have the latest version of Kontakt Player,
compatible with the latest operating systems, go to www.projectsam.com/My-Account. If you already have Kontakt
or Kontakt Player installed, you can skip this step.

4. ADD LIBRARY TO KONTAKT

Add SYMPHOBIA 2 to Kontakt Player using the ‘Add Library’ button in the ‘Libraries’ panel near the top-left
corner. Kontakt will ask you to browse to the library’s folder, which is named ‘SYMPHOBIA 2 Library’. Browse to
this folder, select it, and confirm. Note that you do not have to select an individual file. Selecting the folder it sufficient.
After confirming, Kontakt may ask you for your administrator credentials.

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5. ACTIVATE
Click the ‘Activate’ button in Kontakt and activate SYMPHOBIA 2 using your product serial number.
This number can be found in your ProjectSAM account at www.projectsam.com/My-Account and in your order
confirmation e-mail. Note: activation inside Kontakt is done using your Native Instruments log in, not your
ProjectSAM log in.

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BEFORE YOU READ ON
If you are like us then you’d probably rather make music than read instruction manuals. Here is a tip:

Before reading the rest of this manual, take some time to play around with SYMPHOBIA 2 first! Get a feel for the library,
the sounds and the interface. Make sure you try out the Multis. Multis are combinations of multiple instruments, stacked
together to give you as many musical features on one 88-note keyboard as possible: chords, legato lines, effects and even
drums. They will give you a great first impression of what SYMPHOBIA 2 is capable of. After that, we recommend reading
the rest of this manual. Having played with the library first will make it an easier and more enjoyable read!

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THE INTERFACE
MAIN VIEW

1. Memory
Click these buttons to unload an articulation from memory. Click again to reload.

2. MIDI trigger key

MIDI key assigned to select an articulation. In switch mode you can select one articulation at a time (key-switch style). In
stack mode you can enable multiple articulations and play them together (toggle style).

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3. Articulation label
Click to select an articulation. This works the same as using the MIDI trigger keys (see above).

4. Switch or stack mode

Click this button to choose between switch or stack mode. In switch mode you can select one articulation at a time
(key-switch style). In stack mode you can enable multiple articulations and play them together (toggle style).

5. Individual mic channel faders

Use the vertical microphone faders to manually set the level of each microphone set (c for close, s for stage).
Click the c and s labels underneath the faders to unload an entire microphone set from memory (including all articulations
for that mic). Click again to reload.

6. Microphone cross-fader
The horizontal microphone cross-fader allows you to smoothly morph between the available close and stage microphone
sets. It allows you to control both mic sets using one simple fader. If any of the mic sets has been unloaded from memory,
touching the microphone cross-fader will reload it automatically.

7. Octaver
Use the octaver control to add an octave to all notes you play. The position of the control determines the volume of the
added octave. To turn off the octaver completely, turn the control all the way down.

8. Transpose
Use the transpose control to move the entire instrument left or right on the keyboard. Note that this is different from chang-
ing its pitch. Transpose changes the mapping of the samples on the keyboard.

9. Velocity
Use the velocity control to select from a variety of available velocity curves. In its maximum position, the default velocity
curve is used. Lower the velocity control to make it easier to trigger the softer dynamics of the instrument.

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Controls 10, 11 and 12 can be set individually for each articulation.
They display the values for the articulation that is currently selected on the left.

10. Attack
Change the attack envelope (‘fade in’ time) of the currently selected articulation.

11. Release
Change the release envelope (‘fade out’ time) of the currently selected articulation.

12. Speed
Some articulations allow you to control the playback speed, using Kontakt’s Time Machine time-stretching algorithm.
This changes the length of the sample, without altering its pitch. The speed control is greyed when the currently selected
articulation does not allow its speed to be adjusted. Samples with speed control have to be fully loaded into memory
(as opposed to using disk streaming), which is why not all articulations offer speed control.

13. Reverb
Use the reverb control to add convolution reverb to the instrument (in addition to the library’s naturally recorded ambience).
The reverb effect is bypassed when the control is turned all the way down. Note that adding convolution reverb means extra
CPU usage.

14. Limiter
Sets the limiter effect’s input gain. The limiter effect is bypassed when the control is turned all the way down.

15. Click the cogwheel button to switch to the settings view, which replaces the right side of the interface.

16. Enable the on-screen help, offering a summarized description of all controls.

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SETTINGS VIEW

17-20. Master EQ
Master EQ applies a certain amount of equalization to the instrument. Use the button to switch master EQ on or off.
Use the low, mid and high controls to adjust the equalization. By default, the master EQ is set to add a subtle amount
of additional low end and high end for most instruments.

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21. Release trig.
Use this button to enable or disable release trigger functionality. Release triggering allows the natural note ending
and concert hall reverberation to be triggered when you release a note.

22. Round robin

Use this button to enable or disable round robin functionality. This functionality automatically alternates between
multiple takes of the same sample when repeating a note, avoiding the mechanical sample repetition often referred to
as the “machine gun effect”.

23. Sustain pedal

Use this button to enable or disable sustain pedal (hold pedal or cc64) control. When disabled, the instrument will not
respond to any sustain pedal MIDI data.

7. Octaver
Using the octaver control you can add an octave to all notes you play. The position of the control determines the volume of
the added octave. To turn off the octaver altogether, turn the control all the way down.

8. Midi transpose
Transpose the entire instrument up or down by a certain amount of semitones. Note that this is different from changing the
pitch (see Elements tab).

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MULTIS
MULTIS are combinations of multiple instruments, constructed to give you as many musical features on one 88-note
keyboard as possible: chords, legato lines, effects and even drums. Each MULTI has been designed for a specific musical
context or cinematic genre and was given a name that should give you a hint about its use. Kontakt’s on-screen keyboard
shows you the various zones in which instruments are available. One zone may contain low sustained strings, while a
neighboring zone may contain the Horns+Trombones Legato Ensemble, allowing you to perform both musical features
simultaneously.

More MULTIS will be added with each SYMPHOBIA 2 update.

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CONTACT PROJECTSAM
If you have a general question about SYMPHOBIA 2 or a technical issue installing or using it, please go to
www.projectsam.com/My-Account, log in using your ProjectSAM account username and password, and click
‘Technical Support’. This way, all necessary information is sent along with your question.

Alternatively, you can contact ProjectSAM directly by e-mailing support@projectsam.com.

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CREDITS
ProjectSAM team
Maarten Spruijt, Vincent Beijer, Marco Deegenaars, Joep Sporck, Danny van Swieten, Stijn van Beek, Stijn Frishert

Dystopia contributions
Don & Roel Funcken

Graphical design
Tibor den Held

Manual design
Martijn Lammerts

ProjectSAM would like to thank

SteptimeWare (USA), Bestservice (Germany), Time+Space (UK), Crypton (Japan), Joris Holtackers, Dan Santucci and Ray
Chemo at Native Instruments, Rolf van Kreeveld, Jules van Hessen.

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PROJECTSAM
cinematic sampling

Visit our website: www.projectsam.com