REFRACTION BY SONORA CINEMATIC

KK-ACCESS REVIEW

Expect the unexpected with this new piano library from Sonora Cinematic, where an otherwise humble upright Yamaha U3 piano gets gifted with some special and transformative abilities enabling it’s stock sound to blossom into gloriously warm and lush cinematic washes, ambient pads, and other worldly atmospheres, making it an ideal creative companion for emotive scoring.

TECH SPECS

Refraction runs in Kontakt version 8.1 or higher, either the full or free Kontakt Player edition.

It is compatible with all versions of Komplete Kontrol hosting the above Kontakt specifications.

The library requires 10GB of disk space for installation, and utilises the Kontakt NKX format for it’s samples.

There is one Refraction master Kontakt NKI preset, with a further 30 Kontakt NKSN snapshots divided between four categories.

DOWNLOAD & INSTALLATION

Refraction is downloaded and installed entirely using Native Access using the provided post purchase serial number, making it a straightforward and simple process.

Running an instance of Komplete Kontrol will then add the preset content to your KK factory browser ready for use.

FULL KOMPLETE KONTROL NKS PARAMETER MAPPINGS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THIS REVIEW FOLLOWING THE MEDIA LINKS

ACCESSIBILITY

As with previous libraries, Sonora Cinematic have made notable efforts to make the library entirely accessible via the featured NKS controls.

There is full access to the available microphones, as well as the resonators (more of which shortly), and other crucial engine parameters, presets, and controls.

REFRACTION RESONANCES

The unique concept behind Refraction lays in passing any sustained note through a series of resonant bandpass filters, the first of which is tuned to the fundamental of the note, with further resonators following the related polyphonic harmonics.

The balance between the raw piano sound and the generated resonance’s can be adjusted using the modwheel by default, allowing the user to either filter out, or blend the pure piano timbres with the resonance’s to produce a rich ambient wash, which beautifully ebbs and flows in reaction to the players style, use of sustain, velocity, and other performance characteristics.

Each harmonic resonance can also be further tailored to increase the level of particular harmonics, or even panned individually to create a wide and rich stereo spread.

REFRACTION MICROPHONES

Sonora Cinematic have used four main microphones to capture the original Yamaha U3 piano, allowing for a more detailed focus on the sound.

The first Close microphone uses a pair of Stereo ribbon microphones , followed by a second single Close mic, then the Back perspective is captured by two microphones positioned at the rear of the piano).

Next the Room option utilises a monophonic ribbon microphone situated to record the ambience), and finally last but not least, as with their Nocturne Electric Piano, a vintage Roland tape echo has been dusted off and employed to add some lo-fi style warble via it’s rather unstable yet atmospheric sounding loop signal.

Refraction also includes some further useful tools to tweak the overall signal bus, and these include some presets such as 1979, Ensemble, & Nostalgia,allowing you to switch the tone.

The reverb offers a typical vanilla stock ambience, or as an alternative, there is a nice option to add an atmosphere to the mix with a controllable amount, choosing between Pink or Red provides a granular or shimmer effect to the proceedings.

The modwheel is assigned by default to allow the player to blend between the pure piano sound in the lower position, whilst gently moving it upward gradually introduces the refraction sound, sending more signal to the resonance’s, it’s even possible to entirely switch off the microphones and have yourself a lush sounding cinematic pad.

REFRACTION PRESETS

As mentioned earlier, the included presets are split across four categories, Atmospheres, Natural Pianos, Processed Pianos, & Resonance’s, all of which serve as great jumping off points for some further personalised sound explorations of your own.

Sonora Cinematic have produced a great walkthrough which explains in more detail the ethos and working principles behind Refraction, this is linked in the media section.

CONCLUSION

There are a number of alternative and contemporary pianos on the market, but Sonora Cinematic have imaginatively come up with their own unique take on the theme.

The concept behind the resonance’s is a different and inspiring approach, being transformative but still managing to retain a natural warmth and beauty, ideal for carrying an emotive melody.

The process even perhaps has a potential to work as an external VST effects plug-in to use on any source, should Sonora Cinematic ever decide to explore that particular route.

The accessibility through Komplete Kontrol and NKS is excellent, there was little if anything that I could find that could not be equally achieved in parity with a sighted user and the traditional mouse driven GUI.

Refraction by Sonora Cinematic is available directly from their website at the introductory price of £59.00 (regular price £89.00).

Refraction Product Page:

Refraction Walkthrough:

KOMPLETE KONTROL NKS PARAMETER MAPPINGS

Page One – bloom, Reverb, Atmosphere, FX

Knob 1 – Bloom Amount
Knob 2 – Reverb Amount
Knob 3 – Atmosphere Type: Red, Pink
Knob 4 – Atmosphere Amount
Knob 5 – FX Presets: None, 1979, Ensemble
Knob 6 to 8 – Unassigned

Page Two – Mixer Volume

Knob 1 – Close Ribbon
Knob 2 – Close
Knob 3 – Back
Knob 4 – Room
Knob 5 – Echo
Knob 6 to 8 – Unassigned

Page Three – Mix Settings

Knob 1 – Close Ribbon On/Off
Knob 2 – Close On/Off
Knob 3 – Back On/Off
Knob 4 – Room On/Off
Knob 5 – Echo On/Off
Knob 6 to 8 – Unassigned

Page Four – Resonators/Volume

Knob 1 Resonators Type: Off, Close, Echo
Knob 2 – Volume F
Knob 3 – Volume H1
Knob 4 – Volume H2
Knob 5 – Volume H3
Knob 6 – Volume H4
Knob 7 – Volume H5
Knob 8 – Volume H6

Page Five – Resonator Pan

Knob 1 – F Pan
Knob 2 H1 Pan
Knob 3 – H2 Pan
Knob 4 – H3 Pan
Knob 5 – H4 – Pan
Knob 6 – H5 Pan
Knob 7 – H6 Pan

(c) Chris Ankin

KK-Access.com

1ST January 2026

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About the Author

Based in Buckinghamshire, England, Chris Ankin has worked as a freelance review writer and contributor with articles published in Sound On Sound, Home & Studio Recording and ST Format Magazines.

He has also successfully worked extensively in and around the music, recording, film Soundtrack scoring, Game & media composition, the creative arts, Charitable trusts,publishing, music streaming and property investments since 1982 whilst continuously and deliberately managing to evade any mainstream recognition under his own name by the use of various pseudonyms.
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