Kymera: Horror Sound Instrument by MNTRA Instruments

Rated 4.4/5 on Plugin Boutique (772 ratings)

Kymera is a horror-focused virtual instrument from MNTRA Instruments, built from 30 sample maps of unconventional sounds such as creature growls, door creaks and quakes. It is available as a VST2, AU and AAX plugin for Windows and macOS.

VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS

AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique

Download Now

Opens the store in a new tab

01Overview

Kymera is the first instrument in MNTRA Instruments' new series based on Musique concrète, the approach Pierre Schaeffer developed in the 1940s. The developer describes it as a collection of idiosyncratic sounds recorded at 384 kHz and 32-bit resolution, so recordings can be pitched and manipulated heavily without losing clarity. The sounds range from monster vocalizations and creaking doors to rhythmic sequences, drones and pads built from unusual source material.

Best for

Horror sound design
Creature and monster sounds
Film score textures
Experimental sound design
Ambient drones and pads
Foley and sound effects

Developer: MNTRA Instruments
Category: Virtual Instruments
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

30 sample maps with a horror-themed sound library
Up to 14 round robins per sample map
Recorded at 32-bit, 384 kHz resolution
Proprietary engine included, no extra software needed
3-axis universal controls mappable to any controller
Animation-driven performance interface with hover interactions
60 presets spanning sound effects, drones and pads
Plugin app and samples watermarked to the buyer

03In depth

Sound Character and Sample Library

Kymera's library is organized into three groups: Monsters, Haunted House and Spectres. The Monsters set includes snarls, growls, a bloodcurdling scream, canine sounds and mouth and liquid textures. The Haunted House set covers door creaks, a wail, a trapdoor and a coffin creak. The Spectres set includes groans, industrial rattles and tectonic quakes.

The instrument uses 30 sample maps, and some of them offer up to 14 round robins, which helps repeated notes avoid sounding identical. The developer says the samples were recorded at 32-bit, 384 kHz resolution, which gives room for extreme pitch and time manipulation.

Workflow, Controls and Presets

The plugin includes its own proprietary engine, so no additional software is required. Its 3-axis universal controls can be mapped once to your favorite controller and applied across all plugin instances. The performance interface is animation-driven and responds to mouse hover.

The collection includes 60 presets covering sound effects, environmental sounds, foley, sequences, drones and pads. Sample files and the plugin app are watermarked to the buyer.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	MNTRA Instruments
Type	Plugin
Category	Virtual Instruments
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does Kymera support?

Kymera is available as a VST2, AU and AAX plugin. It runs on Windows and macOS, and the developer lists support for Apple M1 chips on macOS 10.11 and later.

What do I need to run Kymera?

The plugin needs 872 MB of installed space, with 2 GB recommended for setup. The developer lists a minimum of 8 GB of RAM and an i5 or better CPU, with an SSD recommended. It works in any VST, AU or AAX compatible DAW.

What kinds of sounds are included?

The library includes monster vocalizations, haunted house sound effects, groans, industrial rattles and tectonic quakes. Its 60 presets also cover rhythmic sequences, drones and pads made from unconventional sources.