Musicmakers Vol 2

WALKTHROUGHS

FEATURES

An Epic Collection

The 13 instruments sampled include seven designed and made by the folks at Musicmakers, namely the flagship Epic Harp ►, Ballad Harp, Jolie Harp, Reverie Harp (zither), Hammered Dulcimer, Kantele, Old World Lyre, and Psalmodikon. Five additional instruments sold on their website, a handpan, whistle, and 3 mallet instruments by Freenotes, are included.

Building upon Musicmakers Volume 1, we have more than doubled the sample detail of each instrument, with more velocities and round robins than before, while maintaining the extensive range of articulations and effects.

Realism & Flexibility

Each instrument was sampled across its entire range with a variety of playing techniques, with as many velocity layers as possible, around 5 in many cases. Each velocity layer was recorded a constant dB distance apart within a range of +/- 1.5 dB. This was then normalized to ensure perfectly smooth transitions.

Plucks are sampled with 2-4 RR for variation. Neighbor-borrowing RR is available if desired.

Also sampled are ‘replucks’ or ‘repetitions’, where a note is plucked repeatedly in quick succession. This characteristically results in a note being stopped and replucked while resonances are occurring, a unique sound not possible to capture via any other means. Here we have recorded replucks at all dynamic levels at 2-4 RR as well.

The repluck behavior adds immense realism to any repeating chords or ostinati lost in most harp libraries, as well as enhances solo melodic passages featuring repeated notes, and can be fully configured in time window or disengaged entirely if desired.

Also recorded are a variety of note stopping behaviors, such as stopping with a single finger (“soft”) or stopping all resonating strings (“hard”) as found in Musicmakers Vol 1.

A large array of extended articulations are included, from col legno psalmodikon to vibrato-plucked hammered dulcimer (gayageum-style), expanding the palette of sounds far beyond the scope of typical performance practice.

Harps also include real sampled glissandi, plus individual gliss ‘plucks’ (both with felt and finger) to build custom glissandi with full velocity control.

Complementary Colors

Recorded with the same microphone structure and space as Musicmakers Volume 2, Vintage Xylophone perfectly complements its sound with the unique character of a Degan Xylorimba!

Bowed Psaltery is a deep sampling of bowed psaltery featuring many extended techniques.

The Recorder features 27 true legato recorders from ‘nino to contrabass in a similar studio.

Calderwood Drums includes 42 historical & modern drums and percussion.

INSTRUMENTS

Instrument List

Harps

Epic Harp – 38 String Lever Harp (5.3 oct.)

• Normal (l.v./muted/reps) 4 RR
• Quiet (l.v./muted) 2 RR
• Staccato 4 RR
• Près de la Table (l.v./muted/reps) 4 RR
• PdlT Staccato 4 RR
• Harmonics 4 RR
• Strum (lyre style) 4 RR
• Manual Glissando (finger)
• Manual Glissando (felt plectrum)
• Glissandi (phrases)

Jolie Harp – 34 String Lever Harp (4.8 oct.)

• Normal (l.v./muted/reps) 4 RR
• Quiet (l.v./muted) 2 RR
• Staccato 4 RR
• Près de la Table (l.v./muted/reps) 4 RR
• PdlT Nail (brighter)
• Harmonics 4 RR
• Bass Buzz (plectrum contact)
• Manual Glissando (finger)
• Manual Glissando (felt plectrum)
• Glissandi (phrases)

Ballad Harp – 34 String Lever Harp (4.8 oct.)

• Normal (l.v./muted/reps) 4 RR
• Quiet (l.v./muted) 2 RR
• Staccato 4 RR
• Près de la Table (l.v./muted/reps) 4 RR
• Harmonics 4 RR
• Manual Glissando (finger)
• Manual Glissando (felt plectrum)
• Glissandi (phrases)

Lyres

Old World Lyre – 10 String Iberian Lyre

• Bright (fingertip)
• Soft (harp-style pluck)
• Thumb (very warm)
• Près de la Table
• Harmonics (harp-style)
• Single Strum (individual notes)
• Slow Strum (strummed open 5th)
• Fast Strum (strummed open 5th)
• Effects (hits, glisses, etc.)

Zithers

Reverie Harp – 22 String Fretless Zither

• Nail (5 layers, l.v./muted/reps)
• Nail Quiet (lower layers only)
• Près de la Table (near bridge)
• Half Muted (lightly damped)
• Full Muted (heavily damped)
• Effects (phrases & noises)

The Reverie Harp is mapped two ways, emulating the real layout (ascending outward from the center) and in two separate chromatic ranges (both ascending).

Hammered Dulcimer – 17/16 (modal)

• Hit (7 layers) 2 RR
• Muted 2 RR
• Pluck (both strings) 2 RR
• Pluck (single string)
• Pluck Vibrato (gayageum-style)
• Bounce (ricochet)
• Rolls

Psalmodikon – Fretted Monochord

• Pluck (5 layers, reps) 2 RR
• Muted (damped plucks)
• Arco (3 layer dynamic xfade) 2 RR dn/up
• Tremolo
• Spiccato 4 RR
• Col Legno
• Bowed Effects (bow noises, glisses, etc.)
• Other Effects (taps, brushes, scrapes)

Kantele – 10 String Psaltery

• Pluck (fingertip)
• Thumb (warmer pluck)
• Single Strum (individual notes)
• Harmonics (harp-style)