Neo Erhu

Neo Erhu is our latest virtual instrument based on Music Domain Synthesis and Hybrid Modeling Technology. It runs under Mac (AU 32-/64-bit, VST 32-/64-bit) and Windows (VST 32-/64-bit).

Music Domain Synthesis is a whole new method used in making digital music instruments. Unlike the sampling and modeling method, it can create digital music instruments out of nothing. Music Domain Synthesis can remove the limitation on sampling and modeling, which makes it easier to build a new digital instrument.

Through Music Domain Synthesis technology, Neo Erhu has enhanced traditional Erhu in many ways. First, Neo Erhu has an extended chromatic range. Traditional Erhu has a chromatic range that is around 30 keys, while 2 octaves are suitable for use in music. Neo Erhu extends this range to 42 keys, while 3.5 octaves can be fully used. These extensions enable Neo Erhu to also cover the chromatic range of Zhonghu and Jinhu, so it can also be used as these two hu instruments.

Neo Erhu also improves the higher octave sounds a lot compared to traditional Erhu. Traditional Erhu has a rather weak and noisy sound in higher octaves, which greatly weakens its usability in high octaves and also limits its ability to provide a steady high frequency string sound in a Chinese orchestra compared with violin in a symphony orchestra. Neo Erhu has a much purer, punch and fullness sound than traditional Erhu in higher octaves.

Neo Erhu also extends to lower octave which also covers Zhong Hu range; however, it has more vivid expressions than Zhong Hu sound in Zhong Hu's range.

Neo Erhu has an enhanced dynamic range than traditional Erhu. So Neo Erhu will have more expressions across ppp to fff velocity. Together with enhanced higher octave sounds, Neo Erhu will not only produce a steadier high-frequency string sound in a full Chinese orchestra. but also can play more techniques and provides more possibility on sound.

We use Music Domain Synthesis to generate Neo Erhu original sound. Then we use Hybrid Modeling technology to represent it to musicians. This arrangement make it easier to make future improvements as both technology will keep developing.

Neo Erhu contains all techniques for Erhu, Zhong Hu, and Jin Hu. It can seamlessly change to any of them with just a preset. This ability makes Neo Erhu not only a new instrument, but also can be used to represent several traditional instruments. Users do not lose any compatibility when using Neo Erhu. This ability adds insurance to users as sometimes, a new creative thing may be at risk of losing the tradition; however, this is not the case for Neo Erhu.