Indiginus Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer for Kontakt & Akai
I buried mention of this on my earlier post about the Indiginus Acoustic Guitar Collection and felt that it deserved a post of it’s own.
I often, due to nothing more than laziness I guess, refer to Tracy’s work as “sample libraries” but in all honesty, they are WAY more than that. Whilst they are indeed fine collections of samples, the detailed and intricate programming that goes into the playback instruments is superb. Be it in the Akai AKP format or Kontakt 3/4, the attention to detail is nothing short of impeccable. The use of Kontakt’s scripting features for the StrumMaker features is brilliant, and even the most ham fisted of keyboard players can sound like a competent guitarist instantly.
The very same attention to detail has been applied to their newest instrument, the Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer. Available in Akai AKP & Kontakt 3/4 formats and in 16/24bit versions, this small, simple instrument has been sampled meticulously as ever, and then the same techniques used as on the AGC. Hit a note softly and it’s a stilted/muted effect. Hit it mid range and it’s a nice firm pluck (steady on!) and hit it hard and you get a lovely bend on the note. Once you have mastered the playing technique for these instruments, you would be hard pushed to tell the difference between a real Dulcimer and a sampled one. I kid you not.
Here’s what Indiginus have to say about the instrument:
The mountain dulcimer is a four stringed instrument usually played on the lap, by strumming or picking with the right hand and fretting with the left. It is normally diatonic, with the frets creating a major (or itʼs relative minor) scale. The tuning is most often D-A-D, with the two highest strings close together and in unison. When the instrument is strummed, the high strings can be used to play melody, while the low strings drone. Or, chords can be formed and strummed guitar style.
As far as anyone can tell, this type of dulcimer originated with the settlers of the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States as far back as the 18th century. Itʼs cheerful sound and characteristic heart-shaped sound holes must have been a comfort in what was, for the most part, a hard life. The instrument has enjoyed a revival in recent decades, and can have a Celtic, Middle Eastern, or Oriental sound. Our sampled Mountain Dulcimer is presented chromatically, and you will see the “in between” notes on the fretboard of the Strummer instruments.
Here’s that demonstration video again:
Brilliant programming like this comes at a price. In the case of Indiginus, a very LOW price!!! This Dulcimer will set you back $30. That’s just shy of £20 and a tad over €22. That, my friends, is what we call in the business extreme value for money.
So what the bloody hell are you waiting for????? Press the BUY BUTTON now!!!
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