Refraction is available NOW! Free Instruments w Purchase!
Sonora Cinematic, Edinburgh, Scotland – 16th December 2025. Sonora Cinematic has announced the release of Refraction – a Kontakt Player instrument which combines the realism of an upright piano with spectral shaping for playing and crafting haunting, nostalgic and evolving soundscapes.
Building on the spectral-shaping magic that made the developer’s Harmonic Bloom sound design tool so inspiring, Refraction reimagines the piano as a fluid, instrument – one that blooms, sustains, and morphs in ways no traditional piano library ever could.
Refraction begins with a premium upright piano, captured with a selection of microphones positioned around the piano and prepared with an ultra-thin layer of felt that preserves the full clarity of each note. But it’s what happens after the note is played that sets Refraction apart from any other library…
In essence, the Refraction engine captures the resonances of held notes, sustains them and passes them through a tuned filter bank that tracks the notes being played. The result is a beautiful soundscape shaped from the sound of the piano itself, which can be controlled by playing.
The Mixer
The mixer offers four main microphone positions as well as an echo signal for a vintage vibe. The signals can be mixed and matched, keeping the signals phase-coherent.
The Resonator – Where The Magic Happens
The Resonator’s sliders control a series of resonant band-pass filters. Their centre frequencies are automatically assigned to the fundamental of the note being played and the first six harmonics – polyphonically. The volume and panning position of each harmonic can be shaped independently, making it easy to create wide, lush-sounding pads.
At the heart of the interface is the Resonance Bloom control, mapped to the mod wheel by default. Increasing it boosts selected harmonics while simultaneously enhancing their resonance, adding depth with vibrant high-frequency content for a rich, organic sound.
The Resonator is independent of the main mixer so the piano mics can be muted entirely and the resonance played exclusively – transforming the instrument into exquisite cinematic pads crafted entirely from the piano’s own harmonics.
To manipulate the sound further, Refraction includes three ambiences from intimate spaces to shimmering, cinematic tails, usable in combination for lush, immersive environments.
Whether crafting piano performances, cinematic pads, or hybrid acoustic-electronic beds, Refraction offers a unique palette that blends realism with spectral shaping to deliver haunting, nostalgic, gently evolving soundscapes rich in emotion and atmosphere.
Refraction – Key Features
- Spectral resonator engine for otherworldly textures
- Multi-mic piano capture with phase-coherent mixing
- Resonance Bloom control for dynamic expression
- Three ambiences usable in combination for lush, immersive environments
- 30 carefully crafted inspiring presets
- Full NKS Integration
- Fully compatible with Kontakt Player version 8.1+.
- Library Size: 10 GB
Pricing
Refraction is available to download now for the introductory price of £59 (normally £89) until 31st January 2026. For a limited time, customers can also choose a free Kontakt or Soundbox instrument when they add Refraction to their cart by 5th January 2026.
All prices exclude VAT.
For full details, videos and audio demos visit: https://sonoracinematic.com/products/refraction-by-sonora-cinematic?aff=6