This site is intended to showcase my special collection of professional quality multi-sampled guitars (although I hope to sample other instruments over time). Most sampled guitars use just a few looped samples to remain small enough to use in Soundblaster. However, to create an authentic-sounding sampled guitar, capturing the full harmonic content and natural decay of the instrument, it is necessary to sample extensively across the entire frequency range of the instrument, with the full decay of each note being recorded. With multiple velocity layers, this results in presets closer to 100MB in size (even in 44.1kHz/16 bit format). Fortunately, modern software samplers can comfortably play presets of this size, so there is no longer any reason to compromise your sound by using low quality, looped presets.
My own sampled guitars rival the best ones created by professional sound studios, many of which cost hundreds of pounds. They are normally supplied in 44.1kHz/16 bit format, but I can also supply the original 48kHz/32 bit samples on request. The 16 bit collection is available in Soundfont, Sampletank and Gigasampler formats - between them, these formats will import into the majority of modern software samplers. The complete 16 bit collection now totals just over 1.4GB. The 32 bit samples, totalling around 3GB, are available in .wav file form and presets can be supplied for Halion and Kontakt.
You can find more details of the instruments and presets, demo songs, free demo soundfonts and a copy of the manual by following the links to the left. There is also a further selection of demo songs at the bottom of this page. If you like what you hear and have a Paypal account, I hope you will purchase the instruments. Further details regarding prices and delivery can be found via the "Purchase" link.
I also hope to provide some inspiration for aspiring song-writers/musicians who want to create commercial quality soundtracks at home without hiring a band and without investing huge amounts of money in expensive software, sounds or equipment. If you don't know where to start or need pointing to resources on the internet, follow the "Virtual Band" link, which will hopefully give you some ideas. Please also feel free to contact me at the email address opposite.
The other pages provide links to high quality free and reasonably priced software, plugins and soundfonts. I have spent many hours scouring the internet for these and may be able to help you find particular items which might help you with your music. I may also be in a position to convert between certain different sampler formats for you.
I hope you enjoy the site!
email: paul.chevin@virgin.net
SIGNING OFF
I don't profess to be an expert in the "black art" of mixing, but the following tracks hopefully still demonstrate the quality of the Chevin Sounds sampled guitars and basses as well as the power of MIDI composition software. Most are style-demo songs from Band-in-a-Box, although I have added extra tracks in most cases. "When You're Away" is one of my own pieces, originally composed on guitar - the chord progression was imported into Jammer Pro and a variety of styles used to create the complete song. The MIDI songs were imported into my sequencer and patched with guitars and basses from the Chevin Sounds collection plus acoustic drums, percussion and keyboards from my sound banks. Effects were also added prior to mix-down in most cases. Only a touch of compression has been used on "Favourable"!! Please bear in mind that all demo songs have been compressed to low resolution MP3 files for internet streaming - the original "wav" files have much better definition.
Favourable - Chevin Sounds Dean Classical, 12 String Acoustic and Harley Benton Acoustic Bass.
Tender - Chevin Sounds Johnson/Tanglewood Acoustics, Dean Classical, Aria Pro II A electric and
Harley Benton Bass.
CRBeth - Chevin Sounds Aria Pro II C electric and Vintage 5 String Bass (both with Amplitube plugin).
Gossamer - Chevin Sounds Dean Classical, Johnson Dreadnought and Harley Benton Acoustic Bass.
Folkrock - Chevin Sounds Tanglewood Acoustic, Dean Classical and Vintage 5 String Bass.
When You're Away - Chevin Sounds Aria Pro II B electric, Tanglewood Acoustic and Vintage 5 String Bass.