Originals - Cimbalom

Tuned Percussion Plugin by Spitfire Audio

The Spitfire Audio Originals Cimbalom is a meticulously sampled virtual instrument that brings the evocative, metallic sound of the concert hammered dulcimer to the digital audio workstation. Recorded at the world-renowned AIR Studios in London, this library captures the performances of Greg Knowles, a premier percussionist recognized for his work on major film scores such as The Hunger Games. The cimbalom is a trapezoidal chordophone played by striking metal strings with beaters, producing a shimmering tone that has become a staple in Hollywood for creating atmospheres of mystery and suspense.

This plugin is part of Spitfire Audio's Originals series, which aims to provide essential cinematic sounds in a lightweight and affordable format. The library is housed in a dedicated, intuitive plugin that bypasses the need for third-party samplers like Kontakt. By utilizing three distinct microphone signals—Close, Tree, and the unique Pitched signal—users can blend the intimate mechanical details of the instrument with the natural reverberation of Lyndhurst Hall. The addition of the "Warp" preset and "Pitched" signal allows the instrument to transcend its traditional folk roots, transforming into eerie, frozen textures suitable for modern sound design.

Designed for both professional composers and entry-level producers, the Originals Cimbalom offers a versatile palette of five presets. These range from "Sustained" and "Tremolo" for classic cinematic cues to "Damped" for percussive precision. Whether used as a featured melodic lead or a subtle textural layer within a full orchestral arrangement, the instrument provides a professional-grade solution for achieving the "sound of suspense" popularized by composers like Hans Zimmer and Alexandre Desplat.

Features

• High-Fidelity Sampling: Recorded at AIR Studios, London, using the same world-class signal chain as Spitfire's flagship libraries.
• Expert Performance: Performed by renowned percussionist Greg Knowles (The Hunger Games, Sherlock Holmes).
• Three Microphones Signals: * Close: Captures the immediate detail and transient snap of the beaters.
• Tree: A Decca Tree array providing the lush, natural room ambience of Lyndhurst Hall.
• Pitched: A processed signal pitched down one octave for deep, atmospheric textures.
• Five Performance Presets: Includes Performance, Sustained, Damped, Tremolo, and Warp.
• Dedicated Plugin: Runs in Spitfire Audio's proprietary, easy-to-use plugin (no Kontakt required).
• NKS Compatible: Fully integrated for use with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol and Maschine hardware.
• Dynamic Controls: Simple interface with sliders for Expression, Dynamics, Reverb, Release, and Tightness.
• Compact Footprint: High-quality sound with a disk space requirement of approximately 1.7GB.

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