Scandinavian soundscapes
Heddal is a contemporary cinematic exploration of the mythical Scandinavian soundworld, inspired in equal measure by the tales of the Northmen and contemporary Nordic Noir scoring. With a special selection of folk instruments, an array of original and evocative ensembles, and a wealth of processed instruments, Heddal is a rite of transition from ancient to modern musical storytelling. Recorded in a historic stave church, every note is infused with atmosphere and character—perfect for historical drama, fantasy-themed game music, gritty drama, or whatever sagas your next project might need.
Intro offer
€299.00
RRP: €399.00 | Ends June 24, 2026
Nordic tradition through a contemporary lens: Folk instruments, unique ensembles, and sound design.
Highlights
8 traditional Scandinavian instruments + percussion
Ornaments and embellishments for lead instruments
Tuning options for selected instruments
5 unique instrument ensembles including strings and guitar
Evocative throat singers ensemble
59 detailed and layered sound-design patches
Recorded at Heddal Stave Church, Norway
Content of the collection
8 traditional soloists
Get inspired by these new characters for your leads and melodies: Bowed strings, plucked strings, and a range of wind instruments, straight from the mountains and forests, played by experts and instilled with history and tradition. Depending on the instrument, you get legato, a choice of tunings, and characteristic ornaments and techniques.
Evocative ensembles
Heddal offers you 5 unique ensembles, designed specifically to conjure new ideas and connect the ancient and the modern. We combined the nyckelharpa with contemporary strings and accordion, for example, or the langeleik with acoustic guitar—each ensemble performed together, reacting to each other and inspired by the church itself. And although not strictly a key player in Scandinavian folk music, the throat singers ensemble here offers instant magic and wonder.
Soundscapes for storytelling
Further expanding the aesthetic, these 6 groups of processed instruments take you from the traditional into the realms of the imagination. Offering layered detail and expression, these patches put the original Heddal recordings demonstrably in a contemporary cinematic context, full of darkness, mystery, and promise.
The making of modern legends
Heddal was originally conceived by Norwegian composer, orchestrator, and creative producer Martin Raabe Olsen. Together we set out to explore Scandinavian legends and traditions and combine them with contemporary aesthetics—to sidestep clichés and inspire new ideas for modern composers.
We carefully selected a range of traditional instruments, assembled some of the most inspiring and proficient players of those instruments, and designed special ensembles that would place these traditional instruments in less traditional contexts. Finally, we selected a unique recording space that informed every note that was played: Heddal Stave Church.
About Heddal Stave Church
The star of this collection is undoubtedly the recording space itself: Built in the early 13th century, its atmosphere, history, and memories were undeniably present in the performances. Significantly, it’s a ‘transition church’—built to be a bridge from pagan traditions to Christianity. The sound of the space is warm, clear, and beautifully resonant. Many thanks to the team at Heddal Stave Church for sharing this incredible space with us.
Dedicated specialist musicians
All the musicians for the Heddal sessions were carefully selected for their dedication to their craft and deep understanding of traditional and contemporary music. Here are the most prominent performers:
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FAQ
Runs in SINE
Mic merging
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Orchestral Perspectives
Heddal
Scandinavian soundscapes
Heddal Stave Church, Heddal
Works with Orchestral Tools’ SINE Player—NOTE: Latest version required!
Size
70 GB of samples (30 GB SINEarc compressed)
24 bit / 48 KHz patches
SINE system requirements
Mac: macOS 10.15 or higher | Intel Core i5 or similar | Apple ARM chipsets supported | At least 8 GB RAM (16 GB+ recommended)
Windows: Windows 10 | Intel Core i5 or similar | At least 8 GB RAM (16 GB+ recommended)
Formats supported: Standalone, VST, VST3, AU, AAX