MODWHEEL
Bass Banjo by MODWHEEL Review
Bass Banjo by MODWHEEL Review
Today we are reviewing Bass Banjo by MODWHEEL. The sampled instrument was handcrafted in the 80s by David Donaldson (MODWHEEL) and performed in the anarchic marching band ‘The Outsiders’, which was basically a protest band, as at the time there seemed quite a lot to protest about. There was still nuclear testing in the Pacific, nuclear-armed and powered warships coming into New Zealand waters and the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior by the French government is some of the issues here at that time. So it’s possibly MODWHEEL’s first political motivated instrument made, just watch the space for the Trumpus instrument.
David built the original and recorded instrument by combining a marching Bass Drum and a recycled double bass fingerboard strung with bass strings. MODWHEEL did send a review copy with no strings attached.
Installation
You download an archive and unpack the library into your Kontakt Library folder. A quick batch re-save and you are ready to use the library in the FULL version of Kontakt 5.6 or higher (the product is not compatible with free Kontakt player).
Sound
Bass Banjo is a string and percussive and synth library. David Donaldson made a based on the original instrument he build himself. Was has been sampled and process from this unusual instruments resulted in a guitar, drum and soundscape alike instrument.
Bass Banjo includes:
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- 2 patches of Bass Banjo with 4 round robins and multiple articulations
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- 5 patches of BangOn Sidekick percussion sounds, drum programming, and Arpeggiator
- 3 synth patches created using the Bass Banjo samples
As you would expect from MODWHEEL the quality of the recorded instrument in Kontakt is of the highest quality, and you get the “normal” weird MODWHEEL vibe from the PADs.
User interface & Usability
MODWHEEL has designed an easy to use UI with numerous articulations and performance key switches. Effects like Delay and Reverb and special sauce effects called “HEAT” can be managed on the front page, for the Apr you change to a different page. The Note off can be dialed for realism, just try it as the result varies on the patch used.
Rating: Four out of five stars
Bass Banjo is an excellent little niche and inspirational Kontakt library with that special vibe you do expect from MODWHEEL. Bass Banjo has a very unique, intense, sonorous character. It is an excellent addition to my composer toolbox and adds interesting percussion and a bass banjo sound I did not have access too before.
Rating: Four out of five stars
Bass Banjo is an excellent little niche and inspirational Kontakt library with that special vibe you do expect from MODWHEEL. Bass Banjo has a very unique, intense, sonorous character. It is an excellent addition to my composer toolbox and adds interesting percussion and a bass banjo sound I did not have access too before.
MODWHEEL
Wreckage MODWHEEL’s New Sample Library: Long, Loud, Grainy Single Events
Do you need some big, nasty sounds for your next production? Look no further than Wreckage MODWHEEL’s new sample library. This collection of long, loud, grainy single events will give your music the edge it needs to stand out from the crowd.
Whether you’re looking for a powerful explosion or a thunderous impact, these sounds will do the trick. So download Wreckage MODWHEEL’s new sample library today and add some serious sonic firepower to your arsenal!
WRECKAGE Loud Sounds in a Large Space
Wreckage is a sample library for Kontakt that captures the sound of loud noises in large spaces. MODWHEEL’s latest performance was something to remember. They set up a valve amp in the middle of the room, cranked it up and plugged in a Fender Precision Bass, mod wheels Korg Polysix synth, and bowed double bass, and played some significant single events with a very long sustain.
The sound was truly incredible. While MODWHEEL was at it, they also hit some prominent percussion, timpani, snare, and bass drums. It was a fantastic performance, and everyone in the audience was blown away. We can’t wait to see what MODWHEEL does next!
Modwheel new Kontakt Library
Modwheel constantly explores new ways to create exciting and unique sounds, and the Stella Maris Chapel proved to be a goldmine of possibilities.
The resonant acoustics of the space allowed us to experiment with different textures and timbres, and Modwheel quickly filled up their hard drives with hours of recordings. sifting through the material, Modwheel selected the most compelling sounds and began working them into musical sketches for their next Kontakt Library. The result is a Kontakt Library that is truly a product of Stella Maris Chapel’s environment.
WRECKAGE Library
The WRECKAGE core library is unrivaled in terms of quality and brutality. It comes with four different patches, each with its own unique sonic character. The three different mic positions allow you to get the perfect sound for your productions.
The scatterbox feature syncs your IRs with the mod wheel, so you can easily create sounds. The tuning knob allows you to pitch the single events wherever needed, making it easy to create the perfect soundscape for your tracks.
Free for A Limited Time
It was a lot of fun to make, and for a limited time, MODWHEEL has decided to make WRECKAGE free to download.
Virtual Instrument Library
Get Excited for Modwheel’s Launch of REPERCUSSIONS: Kontakt Percussive Instruments and More
The REPERCUSSIONS sample library is now available soon. Modwheel has invested countless hours on REPERCUSSIONS, and the result is a high-quality Kontakt instrument that will be one of your go-to tools for percussive sounds. REPERCUSSIONS include loops, hits, feels, and more – tuned instruments as well as untuned ones – all in an easy-to-use interface with stunning visuals.
Microphone Placement
In the chapel, there were microphones placed at various distances from each other. resulting in 52 Kontakt patches made from 86 instruments, up to 6 velocity layers, various articulations, 5 round robins.
Modwheel has invested countless hours on REPERCUSSIONS and the result is high-quality 52 Instrument patches in total. Tuned ones include orchestral bells, tongue drum, kalimba, clock chimes, steel pan, Saxo parps, and angklung.
Orchestral Bells is a Modwheel REPERCUSSIONS patch that includes different new timbres. The timbres are tuned. The sounds are based on the typical creative madness Modwheel is able to produce.
Untuned ones include snare, toms, bass drums, hand drums, Cajon, anvils, shakers, tambourines, triangles, spoons, gongs, cymbals, log drums, metal, and shells. You’ll find several oddities, including a rommel pot, thunder drum, telempong, and a special sub patch.
Modwheel’s Creative Differences series continues with Repercussions, the latest Kontakt library from Modwheel. This collection has been used by a handful of their libraries, including HumDrum, Timphonia, and The Bends. This is a collection of all the other fascinating percussion and percussive instruments from their library, which were recorded in the chapel.
This new sample library brings you all the percussion and percussive instruments from the Modwheel collection of over 30 years.
You may utilize REPERCUSSION with any sort of music style or rhythm.
Pricing and Availability
REPERCUSSIONS is available for purchase on 4 November, 2021
Virtual Instrument Library
Psaltered Zither by MODWHEEL Released
A Psaltered Zither by MODWHEEL
A virtual instrument sample library of world zithers, psaltery,
The sample library is built around the zithers, psaltery and other odd, stringed instruments that we’ve built or collected over the years.
Six different zithers, psaltery, and unfretted folk instruments, lovingly plucked, bowed, scraped, struck, rattled and angrily distressed. Each instrument patch comes with up to six separate articulations that can be mixed and matched. Each articulation has access to pan, envelope and transpose (up or down one octave) control. This allows for layering and combining different sounds giving huge tonal possibilities. When not in use, articulations can be switched off to conserve CPU usage.
Scatter Box
A
Scatter Box contains four sections of handcrafted IRs, (Sync’d, non-sync, reversed and atmospheric). The IRs have been specially created to complement the A
A Psaltered Zither also comes with 127 snapshots of presets, pads, atmospheric, and arpeggiated rhythms.
Each patch has access to a full range of effects, via the FX tab – distortion, rotary, tremolo, phaser, chorus, delay and low pass filter. There are also tabs that take you through to the arpeggiator controls and info section where the functionality of each patch is explained.
A Psaltered Zither is available at the special intro price of US$ 65 (regular US$ 89)
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE – as part of the intro deal you will receive a free virtual instrument, MODWHEEL’s take on the Kalimba. This intro deal is available until 31 March 2019
Note: A Psaltered Zither and Kalimba require a full version of Kontakt 5.6.6 or higher.
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