What is Tenebra?
For media composers and sound designers working in the horror, thriller, and suspense genres, Tenebra is a specialised sound design instrument built in the acclaimed Solar Engine (Mercury, Jupiter, BBC Radiophonic Workshop) that provides exclusive access to unique instruments, bespoke recordings and over 100 of The Newton Brothers' signature, production-proven sounds from their acclaimed score. It delivers an unparalleled palette for crafting chilling atmospheres and terrifying moments, born from the creativity of today's leading horror composers.
Tenebra offers a huge variation of sounds, from solo instruments recorded in their studio to full-scale orchestral sessions from world-class stages, all meticulously processed to create their signature sonic identity. More than 100 sounds, split into Bells & Glass, Drones, Guitar Dulcimer Citole, Humanity, Orchestral, Percussion, Synths, Woodwinds and Warps, expertly crafted into over 130 presets by the Newton Brothers themselves. .
Synths:
A vast suite of pulses, pads, and aggressive textures sourced from The Newton Brothers' personal synth collection. Sounds were created using an ARP 2600, Moog Matriarch, DFAM, Prophet Bass, Polygogo, Lyra, Theravox, Oberheim X, Folktek Resonant Garden, Folktek Mescaline, Super Gemini, Solar 42 and an expansive Eurorack modular system. This category forms the electronic backbone of the library, featuring everything from evolving pads and surreal realities to growling pulses.
Ethereal Voices & Winds:
A raw, intimate collection of haunting vocal and wind textures that blur the line between human and unearthly. Morphed choirs, pained whispers, and unique global instruments combine to provide the library’s most chilling sounds in the form of evolving pads and otherworldly leads. This includes the ethereal "Black Flute" (a custom bass ocarina) blended with vocals, siren phrases, and flutter textures. It also features processed human vocals, alongside unconventional instruments like the Southeast Asian Khaen and various bird flutes.Orchestral Mutations:
The traditional orchestra, deconstructed and re-imagined. This category features full-scale orchestral recordings—from strings to the rare Nocturna—warped into ghostly textures, chaotic gestures, and unsettling risers.Drones & Atmospheres:
Build psychological terror with a wide range of atmospheric beds and drones. The foundation of slow-burn dread. A wide range of atmospheric beds designed to create a palpable sense of unease, from organic, airy textures to complex, multi-layered synth drones.Unconventional Instruments & Percussion:
A selection of uniquely performed instruments, including a bowed medieval Citole, bowed Dulcimer, and a "perfectly imperfect bowed piano". The percussive elements feature a trio of drums, resonant garden percussion, and the iconic Waterphone, presented as deep booms, soft hits, and unsettling moans.
Why can't I see a 'Tenebra' plugin in my DAW?
This library is housed in our Solar plugin, so instead of seeing a 'Tenebra' plugin, you will need to select the 'Solar' plugin in your plugin list.
Owners of Mercury, BBC Radiophonic Workshop and/or Jupiter by Trevor Horn will need to ensure you install Tenebra to the same location as your Mercury, BBCRW and/or Jupiter folder, as they will share a plugin. Please see the following article for more information:
Is there any shared content with Solar - Mercury, Solar - Jupiter by Trevor Horn or Solar - BBC Radiophonic Workshop within this product?
No, this library does not share any sounds and contains all new content from The Newton Brothers and Spitfire Audio.
What are the System Requirements for this product?
MAC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS 11 to OS 15
Minimum: 2.8GHz i5 minimum (quad-core), 8GB RAM.
Recommended: 2.8GHz i7 (six-core), 16GB RAM.
Apple Silicon computers are supported and 64 bit DAW required.
(32 bit DAWs not supported)
PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Windows 10 and Windows 11 (latest Service Pack, 64-bit)
Minimum: Intel Core 2.8GHz i5 (quad-core) or AMD Ryzen 5, 8GB RAM
Recommended: Intel 2.8GHzi7 (six-core) or AMD R7 2700, 16GB RAM - 64-bit DAW required
(32-bit DAWs not supported).
How does your Dedicated Plugin work?
Our dedicated plugin libraries work as standalone instruments in your DAW, meaning that no serial number is provided and the authorisation process happens during your download. We provide an AU, VST2, VST3 and an AAX, so as long as your chosen DAW supports one of those plugin formats, you’re good to go.
Is this product available with an Educational Discount?
Yes, this library will be available with an educational discount. Request your educational discount here. The Educational Discount will apply to the full MSRP of the library, not the introductory offer, so any codes received during the promotional period will only “top up” the discount to 30%.
Can I use this library on more than one computer?
Yes, our license allows for up to two installations at a time for a single user.