The Very Loud Indeed Co. Mobilis Ultimate – the Synth and Software Review

It’s a “Hybrid Scoring Percussion” library for Native Instruments Kontakt sampler

As someone who primarily composes production music for TV and media, I’m always scouting for fresh drum and percussion samples. Mobilis Ultimate, from boutique soundware developer The Very Loud Indeed Co. (Very Loud), is intriguing from that point of view.

This library promises to deliver “hybrid scoring percussion,” which is served up in the form of tastefully processed loops of low-, medium-, and high-frequency material specifically designed to be stacked and layered to create complex rhythm beds.

Mobilis is 4.1GB, in Native Instruments Kontakt 7 format, either the full or Player versions.

Mobilis Ultimate features a simple, no-frills interface with built-in effects for tweaking its sound

Overview

Mobilis Ultimate consists of four modules (I – IV) that were previously sold separately and are now only available in the Ultimate bundle. All of the modules share the same features and general creative concept. The goal is to give media composers and producers a wide range of two-bar loops that share a similar musical aesthetic.

You’ll find adrenaline-fueled kicks and percussion, driving toms, motoring ear candy, insistent ticks, and more – all with a modern production style that’s vaguely organic and synthetic at the same time, a.k.a. “Hybrid.”

To be clear, the term “hybrid” can be ambiguous, and with Mobilis you’re not going to get the hyper-processed, extreme sound that other libraries serve up. Think less “trailer style” and more underscore. Click here to hear some of the developer’s demos. 

According to Very Loud, “Module I is the baseline, a versatile collection of loops that mix synth-based and organic percussion. Module II leans towards recordings of real percussion instruments and feels more organic. Module III is more aggressive – great for tension and horror. Module IV is best suited for action cues and over-the-top sequences.”

Each module includes 364 loops organized into seven banks that are accessible via key switches, amounting to a total of 1,456 loops. Banks and key switches are mapped to be accessible from a 61-note keyboard without needing to shift octaves, which is a smart approach that makes Mobilis Ultimate easy to play for those with smaller setups. 

The first six banks feature loops in 4/4, with triplet loops mapped to the seventh bank, allowing for more flexibility in your compositions. Within each bank, Very Loud has employed the now-familiar approach by assigning low-frequency material to the lower register of the keyboard, mid-range material to the middle, and high-frequency material to the upper register. I appreciate this consistency, as it makes finding the types of loops I’m looking for when I’m writing faster.

Interestingly, the loops can be triggered as one-shots by opening up the mod wheel, so you can program custom patterns by playing the main hits from each loop. (This is how Very Loud arrives at their 2,912 sound files stat on their website: 1,456 loops plus the corresponding single hits via mod wheel.) I found this to be a good way to create alternatives to the pre-programmed grooves.

For further manipulating the loops, Mobilis has a set of global effects that run in series, beginning with a high- and lowpass filter, single-band EQ, reverb, and tempo-synced delay. While I appreciate having these effects built in, I found I often needed to bounce multiple loops as audio and then edit them to fit my tracks. Your mileage may vary, and depending on the situation the onboard effects may be all you need.

Complementing the effects, velocity can be used to modulate the cutoff frequency of a separate lowpass filter, so the softer you play, the lower the cutoff. This makes it possible to coax more dynamics from a combination of loops by playing at different velocities. You can disable this feature, which I tended to do if I wanted to process loops in their “raw” format. Other times, velocity-to-cutoff was perfect for keeping patterns unobtrusive yet able to provide subtle motion. 

Take a look at Very Loud’s brief walkthrough to see Mobilis Ultimate in action: The Very Loud Indeed Co. — MOBILIS ULTIMATE sample library walkthrough

Conclusion

Mobilis Ultimate has a lot going for it. It’s affordable (and often on sale), requires only a small storage footprint, is eminently playable, and offers a wide range of creatively processed and expertly programmed and performed loops that capture the modern, cinematic percussion sound of current soundtracks and underscore.

Kudos to The Very Loud Indeed Co. for delivering an inspiring and inventive collection of loops that will surely find favor among media composers of all stripes. Highly recommended.

Price: $199

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