UKU is a deeply sampled concert ukulele library for the UVI engine, featuring solo and chord modes, a strumming machine, pattern player, song builder, and realistic articulations.
Purpose and Modes
UKU is a virtual ukulele instrument built around a Kala Mahogany concert ukulele in standard GCEA tuning. Unlike many libraries that only play chords or single notes, it offers four performance modes selected via key switches from G5 to C6. Solo mode plays melodies with an automatic hand position algorithm that mimics where a real player would fret, while chord mode enables strumming and finger picking from any keyboard chord.
Pattern mode triggers predefined rhythmic patterns instead of simple strums, and MIDI mode lets you use a MIDI guitar controller across four channels. The instrument is designed to cover everything from melody lines to rhythmic accompaniment, making it a versatile tool for songwriting, production, and live performance within a digital audio workstation.
Strumming and Chord Recognition
The strumming engine is a central feature, capable of upstrokes, downstrokes, mutes, legato, and finger picking, with every parameter adjustable. It uses a chord recognition database of thousands of standard chords to convert any keyboard chord into a playable ukulele voicing. Users can edit existing chords or add new ones, and the chord hammers feature adds left-hand hammer-ons and pull-offs during strumming.
This system was modeled by analyzing real chord performances, aiming to reproduce authentic ukulele behavior. You can tweak strum timing, velocity, and other aspects to shape the sound, providing control over how the instrument responds to your playing.
Patterns and Song Builder
The patterns mode includes 67 realistic patterns for strumming, picking, and advanced styles. Patterns can be looped, adapted to tempo or meter, synced to your host, and even adjusted in real time via a MIDI controller. A dedicated pattern maker lets you create custom strumming, picking, or finger-picking patterns of any length and save them for sharing with other users.
The song builder simplifies chord progressions by assigning a single key to any chord, so pressing one key can trigger a full chord. Combined with patterns, you can play a complete song by holding just two keys. This workflow is designed to speed up composition, especially for keyboardists who are not advanced players.
Workflow and Applications
In solo mode, the automatic hand position decides which string and fret to use for each note, while a legato engine triggers hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides based on interval distance. You can disable the hand position simulation or use key switches for palm mutes, harmonics, and percussion sounds. The preference panel allows adjusting release, fret, and pre-note volumes, plus a three-band EQ and a reverb module.
Practical uses include sketching song ideas quickly with the song builder, adding realistic rhythmic ukulele to tracks, or performing live with a MIDI guitar. The library’s depth, with 53 samples per fret and articulations like slides, mutes, and ghost notes, supports detailed production work.
Key features
- Four modes: solo, chord, patterns, and MIDI guitar
- Strumming engine with chord recognition and adjustable parameters
- 67 realistic patterns plus a pattern maker for custom strumming and picking
- Song builder to assign chords to single keys for quick composition
- Legato script for hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides
- 53 samples per fret across all 18 frets per string
- Includes reverb module and advanced scripting interface
Best for
UKU is best for composers, producers, and performers who need a realistic ukulele for melodic lines, rhythmic strumming, or pattern-based accompaniment. Its song builder and pattern tools make it especially useful for quickly writing full tracks, while the depth of articulations suits detailed studio production.