New from Impact Soundworks, the sample library Koto Nation: Classical Instruments of Japan features the sounds of the koto, bass koto, and shamisen performed exclusively by koto master Masayo Ishigure (Memoirs of a Geisha).
For Native Instruments Kontakt, Koto Nation offers two microphone positions, extensive dynamics and round robins, FX patches, and more. This new sample library includes a massive number of sampled sounds from the koto (hira joshi tuning), the bass koto (C scale), and the shamisen (jiuta style) — all of which cover a variety of traditional and extended playing techniques.
The 9 GB collection features unlocked, editable 24-bit, 44.1 kHz audio content, including close and stereo room mic positions. Its 25 main patches, spread among the 3 instruments, cover all of the important playing techniques, such as sustained picks with a plectrum, pizzicato, octaves, glissandi of multiple types and speeds, vibrato, tremolo, mordents (pitch bends), and mutes, as well as extended techniques such as atonal glissandi, finger scrapes, string hits, and hard plucks.
Multiple dynamics and round robin layers were recorded for each articulation, as well as variations in speed or tonality where appropriate. For example, Impact Soundworks notes that the koto tremolo can be played at two main speeds (with fine speed control); mordents can be set to whole-tone or half-tone; glissandi can be played slow or fast and in ascending, descending, or mixed order; and so forth.
Koto Nation also includes is a set of nine FX patches, which apply online and offline processing to the core audio to take it in new and musically interesting directions. According to the maker, these sounds range from granular pad textures to warm sustains, drones, airy resonances, percussive hits, distorted synths, and eerie ambiances.
Main features of Koto Nation:
- World-class performances by Masayo Ishigure
- Sampled koto (hira joshi tuning), bass koto (C scale), and shamisen (jiuta style)
- Up to 8x round robins and 5x dynamics layers
- Traditional and contemporary playing techniques, such as sustained picks with a plectrum, pizzicato, octaves, glissandi of multiple types and speeds, vibrato, tremolo, mordents (pitch bends), and mutes
- Extended techniques, such as atonal glissandi, finger scrapes, string hits, and hard plucks
- Close and room mic positions
- Special FX patches (pads, sustains, drones, percussive hits, synths, and more)
- Nearly 9 GB of unlocked, 24-bit, 44.1 kHz audio
Impact Soundworks Koto Nation: Classical Instruments of Japan is now available for Kontakt for $99. For audio demos and more details, visit impactsoundworks.com.