Aska Matsumiya - Crystal Bowls

Spitfire Audio collaborates with acclaimed composer and multi-instrumentalist Aska Matsumiya to bring you Crystal Bowls, a unique virtual instrument capturing the ethereal and resonant tones of high-purity quartz crystal singing bowls. This library goes beyond traditional applications, aiming to transport these instruments, often used in meditation and sound therapy, into the cinematic and contemporary music realm. Recorded in the distinct acoustic space of the Hackney Round Chapel in London, Crystal Bowls offers a detailed and diverse range of performance styles, from shimmering percussive hits to deep, long-sustaining resonances.

At its core, Crystal Bowls features a seven-piece set of rare crystal singing bowls, tuned to the notes of the C Major scale (C, D, E, F, G, A, and B) at a frequency of 432Hz. This specific tuning, often associated with healing frequencies, can be easily adjusted to concert pitch (A=440Hz) within the Kontakt Player if desired. The recording process leveraged various traditional mallets, contemporary drumsticks, and brushes to capture a wide spectrum of timbres and attack characteristics. This allows for both delicate, organic textures and more pronounced, percussive sounds, making the library versatile for different musical contexts.

The intuitive interface of Crystal Bowls provides simple yet powerful controls to shape your sound. Beyond the core samples, the library includes two tuning fork sounds for higher, sharper tones, and a collection of six "Warped" presets. These warped sounds are derived from processing the original crystal bowl recordings through guitar pedals and granular synthesizers, offering a unique palette of alien-like textures and evolving soundscapes. Whether you're scoring for film, crafting ambient pieces, or looking to add a distinctive, otherworldly touch to your music, Crystal Bowls offers a rich and inspiring sonic journey.

Features:

• 7-piece set of rare high-purity quartz crystal singing bowls: Tuned to C, D, E, F, G, A, and B.
• 432Hz Tuning: Captured at a healing frequency, with easy adjustment to 440Hz.
• Recorded in Hackney Round Chapel, London: Utilizes the chapel's unique, resonant acoustics.
• Five Crystal Bowl Playing Styles: Includes Brushes, Soft Mallet, Sticks, Rubber Mallet, Plastic Mallet, and Hot Rods.
• Two Tuning Fork Sounds: Provides higher, sharper tones.
• Six Warped Sounds: Processed through guitar pedals and granular synths for unique textures.
• Intuitive Controls: Simple interface with Attack, Release, Offset, and Reverb controls (using a captured IR of the Round Chapel).
• Kontakt Player Compatible: Runs in the free Kontakt Player (version 6.7.0 or higher) and the full Kontakt version.
• NKS Compatible: Fully integrated with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol and Maschine hardware.
• Compact Size: Approximately 2.1 GB download size.

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