Ha Noi is a sample-based virtual instrument for MNDALA 2, capturing Northern Vietnamese instruments and urban soundscapes through 80+ presets and 57 sample maps.
Overview and Concept
Ha Noi is a virtual instrument built on the MNDALA 2 engine, created from a creative residency in Vietnam by sound designer Noah Sherrin. It captures the capital’s sonic identity through field recordings and performances by local musicians, offering a curated window into traditional and contemporary Vietnamese music.
The instrument includes 43 instrument sample maps and 14 soundscape maps, organized into six categories. These cover voice, strings, percussion, wind, and effects. Up to seven round robins and two microphone channels add variation, while recordings at 24-bit, 192 kHz preserve detail. The total content is about 4 GB installed, with 8 GB recommended for setup.
Instruments and Articulations
The instrument maps feature traditional Vietnamese instruments with multiple articulations. Voice includes Ca Trù vocal techniques with long and broken styles. Strings cover the Đàn tranh zither with bends and tremolo, the Đàn nhị fiddle with glissando, and an electric Đàn bầu processed through a megaphone amplifier, plus the 3-string Đàn đáy lute.
Percussion includes the Trong Ban hand drum, Chèo drum, and a traditional drum set. Pitched percussion offers the T’rưng bamboo xylophone. Wind instruments include the Sáo Mèo, Sáo Bầu, Tiêu flute, and Sáo Trúc, each with distinct articulations like double tongue, flutter, and overblown effects.
Soundscapes and Effects
The 14 soundscape sample maps present processed field recordings from Hanoi and Ninh Binh. Captured with an LCR microphone array, these include urban wildlife, an oscillating fan, heavy traffic, and various rain conditions from light summer rain to a monsoon. Each undergoes creative processing to blend natural with synthetic textures.
These effects maps serve as atmospheric layers or standalone textures, expanding the instrument beyond melodic use. They are suitable for sound design, film scoring, or ambient composition, offering a direct connection to the acoustic environment of Northern Vietnam.
Workflow and Applications
Ha Noi operates within MNDALA 2, a 64-bit VST3/AU plugin for Windows and Mac OS 10.11 and later, with full M1 chip support. It works in popular DAWs that support VST or AU. Installation requires a registered MNTRA account, with no copy protection beyond unique encryption tied to your system.
This instrument is best for composers and sound designers seeking authentic Vietnamese timbres or immersive ambiences. Its articulations fit melodic writing in folk, film, or electronic contexts, while soundscapes add environmental depth. Recommended use includes layered compositions, hybrid scoring, or standalone soundscape creation.
Key features
- 80+ presets across six categories
- 43 instrument sample maps with up to 7 round robins
- 14 soundscape sample maps with original and processed versions
- Recorded at 24-bit 192 kHz with up to 2 microphone channels
- 64-bit VST3/AU plugin for Windows and Mac OS (10.11+)
- M1 chip support and MNDALA 2 integration
- 4 GB installed, 8 GB recommended for setup
Best for
Composers and sound designers creating Vietnamese-inspired scores, film ambiences, or hybrid music that blends traditional instruments with processed environmental textures. The instrument’s range from solo articulations to urban soundscapes suits detailed cue work and atmospheric layering in DAW-based production.