A hybrid virtual instrument blending 11 sampled plucked and mallet instruments with synthesis-style effects, arpeggiator, and deep sound-shaping tools for unique, organic tones.
Purpose and Sound Sources
Plucks & Mallets is a virtual instrument built from 11 organic instruments, each sampled at multiple velocities. The source list includes a concert pedal harp, glockenspiel, chimes, acoustic harmonics, steel tongue drum, cello, electric guitar, and electric piano, among others. These were recorded with attention to natural artifacts, overtones, and harmonics to preserve realistic character.
You can use each instrument solo or layer them in any combination to create hybrid tones. The onboard mixing faders let you balance levels between layers. This design makes it easy to blend familiar plucks and mallet strikes into fresh, original sounds that are not possible with a single physical instrument.
Key Capabilities
Each instrument includes per-instrument effects: pan, width, input delay, EQ, and compression. A global filter offers 10 filter types with resonance. The AHDSR envelope (attack, hold, decay, sustain, release) shapes the amplitude, and three LFOs (gain, pitch, filter) modulate the sound with six waveform options.
The arpeggiator is fully customizable, with hold, latch, and MIDI thru modes. Parameters include step number, rate, octaves, swing, step size, keyboard split range, six patterns (up, down, up-down, down-up, random, chord), and velocity, note length, and pitch offset maps. Five additional effects—drive (8 types), phaser, chorus, delay, and reverb—round out the sound palette.
Workflow and Performance Tools
The arpeggiator and melody builder help you perform patterns that might be difficult to play manually, turning sampled instruments into a performance tool. You can set latch mode to hold sequences, or use MIDI thru to pass through external notes. The keyboard split range allows you to restrict arpeggiation to specific keys.
All important parameters are automation-capable in major DAWs and are fully CC mappable, so you can control filters, effects, and arpeggiator settings from your controller or DAW. The interface includes visualizers for the envelope and filter, making it easier to see how your sound is shaped.
Practical Applications
This instrument is suited for creating cinematic textures, hybrid organic-electronic tones, and rhythmic plucked patterns. The ability to layer harp, steel drum, and electric guitar frees you from the constraints of a single physical instrument. The arpeggiator is great for generating evolving sequences in film scores, ambient music, or pop productions.
The per-instrument and global effects let you craft anything from dry, intimate plucks to lush, reverberant soundscapes. The included presets give starting points, and you can save your own. Whether you need realistic solo tones or otherworldly blends, the instrument supports quick experimentation.
Key features
- 11 sampled organic instruments (3-5 unique velocities per instrument)
- 1,218 samples, about 500MB disk space
- 5 per-instrument effects: pan, width, input delay, EQ, compression
- Fully customizable arpeggiator with hold, latch, MIDI thru, and pattern options
- 3 LFOs (gain, pitch, filter) with 6 shape options
- 5 additional effects: drive, phaser, chorus, delay, reverb
- Over 70 presets; user presets can be saved
- All important parameters are automation-capable and CC mappable
Best for
Best for composers and sound designers seeking hybrid plucked and mallet textures, cinematic arpeggios, and unique layered instruments for film scoring, ambient music, or electronic production. Its deep arpeggiator and effects make it a versatile tool for crafting both realistic solo sounds and innovative hybrid tones.