Impact Soundworks Shreddage 3.5 Argent [KONTAKT]

Shreddage 3 Argent returns to the metal roots of the Shreddage line, but more intense than ever before: a head-crushing 9-string Schecter Damien Platinum, one of the guitars used by composer Mick Gordon on the Doom 2016 soundtrack. So much scorching detail that it took more than 200 hours to sample it all, combined with the easy-to-use performance of the Shreddage engine, gives it exceptional realism. Brutal, powerful, and nimble, Shreddage 3 Argent inflicts relentless sonic aggression in djent as well as progressive, heavy, death and technical metal.

About the Library

For years, you’ve asked us to deliver something even lower and heavier than our best-selling Shreddage 3 Hydra. We’ve long been fans of the intensely brutal, world-smashing Doom soundtracks, especially the intense genre of metal created by Mick Gordon for Doom 2016. When we decided it was time to bring Shreddage back to its metal roots, we took inspiration from those very soundtracks to create Shreddage 3 Argent.

There’s a particular aggressive single-string rhythm sound distinctive to “Argent metal” that we wanted to capture, which inspired our choice of instrument (a Schecter Damien Platinum), the EMG 808 pickups we selected, and how we approached the sampling process. We set out to make the ultimate chugging rhythm guitar, and we succeeded! But Shreddage 3 Argent is so much more. It’s an extremely comprehensive guitar that is absolutely outstanding for low rhythms and chugs, and it also excels at leads. Throw it at even the most extreme and aggressive parts and it will handle them with aplomb.

Shreddage 3 Argent stands ready to deliver cold-blooded intensity as both a chugging and lead guitar in mockups. It also holds its own with live guitars: use it to easily double track or lay down rhythm parts. If you’re a guitarist yourself, we’d like to think it’s a much more affordable alternative to investing in (and mastering!) a specialty 9-string guitar, without sacrificing realism or control.

With a punishing low end and ability to handle fierce tempos, Shreddage 3 Argent serves up unrelenting badassery for your djent, prog metal and other metal tracks.

Unhinged Sampling Depth

To bring our vision for Shreddage 3 Argent to life, we hunkered down for more than 200 grueling hours, capturing up to four round robins per note, in both up and down strokes. Every one of the nine strings was recorded, across multiple frets, through the EMG 808 bridge and neck pickups.

Low strings are particularly difficult to keep in tune, especially at higher velocities. To meet the challenge of keeping this 9-string guitar in tune, we used an Evertune device to keep the string tension constant. These devices are popular among djent guitarists and give the guitar performance a distinctive signature sound you’ll hear in Shreddage 3 Argent. We had to do a little creative engineering to make the Evertune work on this 9-string monstrosity, but the result is unparalleled perfection.

Complete Articulations

We’ve made sure a realistic performance is fully possible by providing a comprehensive array of articulations, including sustains (with an exhaustive 4x downstrokes, 4x upstrokes, and 3x dynamic layers); hammer on/off; legato slides; mutes; staccatos; power chord sustains; power chord mutes; power chord staccatos; tapping; rakes; chokes; natural, artificial, and pinch harmonics; tremolo; and FX.

We’ve also included release articulations: pitched release, power chord pitched release, and unpitched release.

All articulations are conveniently mapped and editable via our TACT system.

Plug, Play, and Customize

Perform realistically right out of the box – no need to dive into editors. With over 10 years of development behind it, the Shreddage 3.5 engine is optimized for ease and realism. It automatically moves around the neck and frets in the way a live player would, using a natural picking style. You can also quickly audition a huge variety of well-designed tones using the 30 provided snapshots. Each snapshot comes with its own unique signal chain in the Console page as well as specific configurations on the Main page.

We make it easy to pop the hood and start customizing both the performance and the tone. On the Main page, choose specific fret positions and strings to get the just sound you want – the way a live performer would. Further tailor the performance by choosing from several picking modes.

If you’re looking to build a custom tone from scratch, the Console section gives you everything you need. Create your own signal chain for each of the pickups and master channel with over 25 effects, including cabinets, amps, dynamics, IQs, pedals, reverbs, phasing effects, and others. Or send your signal directly into a separate amp sim, such as our Shreddage Amp XTC.

Total Articulation Control Technology (TACT) 3.0

Shreddage 3 Argent includes an updated version of TACT, allowing you to customize how all articulations are mapped and triggered! Everyone has their own preferences for how to perform or write for virtual guitar, and with TACT you can create the perfect setup for your DAW.

Over 31,000 pristine 24-bit samples

Recorded through two separate pickup positions (neck and bridge) DI, so you can make your own tone.

9 string guitar tuned to low C#

Ultra-low tuning gives this beast the ideal sound for djent, argent metal, and other modern progressive genres. But its enormous range and virtuosic playing ability allow it to go far beyond.

All crucial lead and rhythm articulations

Sustains, powerchords, palm mutes, staccatos, natural & artificial harmonics, pinch harmonics, tapping, tremolo, slides, FX, hammer-on, pull-off, rakes, and chokes.

Realistic performances through meticulous sampling

Every string sampled from open up to the highest fret with up to 4x down/4x up strokes per note, 3 dynamic layers, and up to 5 palm mute layers. Our first guitar with 4x down and 4x sustain layers.

76 production-ready tone snapshots

From hi-gain amped options to clean, ambient playing to ULTRA-heavy Argent snapshots crafted by Geoffrey Day (a.k.a. GeoffPlaysGuitar).