Sound Magic has announced the release of Liang's Pipa for Windows and Mac OS X as VST and AU instrument plug-ins along with a Kontakt-format sample library. It costs $99.

The Pipa is a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument which has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets ranging from 12-26, belonging to the plucked category of instruments. The Pipa is able to express a wide range of emotions. It can be bright and harsh when you need to portray battles or great tension. The Pipa can also melt your heart with its warm expressive tones on sad songs or love ballads. Liang's Pipa gives you more than 10 expression controls, allowing a wide range of expression.

The Pipa, also known as the Chinese lute, is one of the most popular Chinese instruments and has been played for almost two thousand years. In comparison to western instruments such as violins or guitars, the Pipa has traditionally been dependent on many performance skills to produce its wide variations in sound. This 2.5GB library covers nearly all existing performance skills of Pipa, with over 15 categories and 60 variations.

To ensure the maximum accuracy and musicality in the reproduction of this complex and beautiful sound, Sound Magic invited the virtuoso from the prestigious Central Academy of Drama in Beijing to record their wide variety of sounds. To make it easier for musicians to sound like one of these world renowned Pipa performers, Sound Magic has developed a simpler set of controls to let users to control all 60 skills on the fly.

By using the best recording gear available on the market, including a Neve console, dCS AD converter and Beyerdynamic MC740 Microphones. Liang's Pipa brings its users super clarity and an expressive sound. Liang's Pipa has over 2000 samples, each recorded with 24Bit/96KHz resolution for maximum fidelity.

Another critical feature in Liang's Pipa VSTi is its use of the powerful Sound Magic Add-on System. Bringing unlimited extension possibilities to the instrument, each Add-on focuses on solving one specific problem with the aim of a thorough - but quick - solution. Every musician has his/her own needs, their own challenges and the Add-on System is the ideal tool, providing solutions with great precision and flexibility. With the Add-on System, Liang's Pipa becomes even more versatile. With the right Add-on, you can even create an electric pipa.

Features:

• High Quality 24Bit/96KHz Resolution Samples.
• VSTi/AU/ Kontakt Format, VSTi supports Sound Magic's Add-on System.
• Patented Multi-Dimension Vector Synthesis (MVS) Technologies.
• Over 2.5GB size and over 2000 samples.
• Key Switch, Mod switch different groups of samples.
• Multi-Layer Velocity Sample provides realistic experience.
• Unique Effects Samples.
• Over 15 categories, 60 kinds of performance skills.