1. Ample Guitar LP (Les Paul)
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The best sounds of one of Gibson’s most iconic instruments are housed in this plugin.
The Gibson Les Paul was first introduced in 1952 as a signature model for Les Paul himself. As the years progressed, the instrument got the shape that we know and love today, with two humbucker pickups and solid construction. Ample Guitar brings this instrument to your DAW with good-quality samples and functions, feeling much like the original instrument.
Key Features:
- Vintage inspired
In 1957, the Les Paul guitar saw the introduction of the famous humbucker pickups, but only in 1958 did they get their iconic “burst” appearance.
They switched from gold paint to sunburst, and this reflected not only aesthetics: the wood used in the tops was also improved, with plain selections of awesome maple pieces. This is an important element of the “Les Paul Sound,” and Ample Guitar sought to reproduce the 1958 model as best as possible in this collection.
- Double mode
Sometimes, you may want to double the guitar part in your track for a specific moment or an entire section. Instead of recording it twice, you can simply activate the “Double Guitar” mode and have instant twin guitar melodies from single MIDI input.
- Amp simulation
The electric guitar only makes sense when plugged into an electric amplifier. To cover this, Ample Guitar included six renditions of famous models: “Metal Double” (Mesa Boogie Dual), “Metal Treble” (Mesa Boogie Triple), “Lead 800” (Marshall JCM 800), “Jazz 120” (Roland Jazz Chorus 120), “65 Twang” (Fender Twin Reverb 1965), and “57 Delight” (Fender Deluxe 1957).
- Cabinets
Another crucial aspect of an authentic guitar tone involves the cabinets working alongside the amplifiers. You can opt to load them in 1×12, 2×12, and 4×12 settings, with specific models for each brand included in each configuration.
- Riffer
The “Riffer” is an algorithm created to assist you in creating good-sounding riffs automatically. You can create them randomly through the “Die” symbol, but also choose the pitch tuning, articulations used, specific fingering, and much more.
- Mic selection
You can choose to mic your amp with eight different models: “U87,” “C414,” “MD421,” “SM57,” “E609,” “C414 XLS,” “R121,” and “M160.”
Compatibility:
This plugin is available for macOS 10.9 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It runs in standalone mode and VST2, VST3, AAX, and AU plugin formats.
Summary:
Virtual instruments are hard to capture, especially instruments that depend on their physical construction to resonate. Electric guitars fall into this category, but somehow Ample Guitar managed to achieve a decent result in capturing the nuances behind not only the guitar tone but the techniques and articulations involved when playing one.
The equipment offered in this library is also decent, and if you don’t have a trustworthy guitarist around, this might be a good option to quickly record some guitar parts.
2. Ample Sound Guitar SC (Stratocaster)
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Ample Sound has developed many impressive sampled guitars, and this plugin’s an excellent example.
The Fender Stratocaster is one of the most notorious guitars ever designed. It’s known for its nasally single-coil pickups that suit just about every genre. And the Ample Guitar Stratocaster (AGSC) features samples of the Stratocaster combined with a highly flexible engine.
The samples are divided into three libraries of different pickup setups: neck, neck + middle, and middle + bridge.
As good as the Stratocaster sounds, you might be looking for another instrument. Luckily, Ample Sound has a range of plugins sampling iconic electric guitars like Gibson Les Paul, PRS 24, and even the 9-string Schecter Hellraiser.
The features of most of these plugins are the same as the ones I list below. So, you only need to find out which sound you prefer.
Key Features:
- Tuner
AGSC allows you to tune each string to your liking, although it only lets you tune it down a maximum of 2 semitones. However, it’s enough to achieve popular tunings like Drop-D. The new tuning affects the strummer, tab, and articulations with a natural sound.
- Strummer
The strummer mode lets you create strum patterns by programming strokes such as down strum, up strum, muted down strum, etc., on a step sequencer. You can then play chords, and AGSC will play the pattern you have created (or selected from the presets). You can customize the strum time, velocity, release, timing, etc.
- Riffer
The Riffer panel lets you create riffs or arpeggio patterns that you can then assign to chords. You can write the pattern the stroking hand plays on each string and assign articulations (mute, open, palm mute, etc.), velocity, vibrato, and legato.
- Tablature
The Tab Player can load and play several relevant tablature file formats, including the ones from Guitar Pro 3+. You can use it to export your tabs as audio files in a DAW. However, you cannot export tabs from MIDI clips in your DAW.
- Amp And Cabinet
The plugin features six amp-simulations ranging from Fender Twin Reverb and Fender Deluxe to Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier and Marshall JCM800. You can also change the cabinets, mics and mix them with room mics.
The amp selections are excellent; they range from soft clean tones to overdriven lead sounds. So, even if you don’t have a dedicated guitar amp simulation plugin, the built-in collection sounds fabulous and works well.
- Effect Processors
AGSC features four effect processors: an 8-band EQ, compressor, delay, and convolution reverb. The EQ is a superb parametric EQ with a sleek interface. The same could be said for the rest of the effects. And the convolution reverb provides four impulse responses: room, studio, hall, and larger hall.
Compatibility:
Ample Guitar SC is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.9 or higher, both 64-bit only. It comes in VST 2/3, AU, and AAX formats.
Summary:
AGSC is one of the most detailed virtual electric guitars available today. It’s also more detailed than other Ample Sound guitar plugins, proven by the multiple libraries for the pickups. So, whether you are looking to play rock riffs or clean trap melodies, you can use AGSC and get instant results.
Furthermore, AGSC provides many presets to get you started, even if you aren’t experienced in programming guitars.
3. Ample Sound Guitar TC (Telecaster)
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Discover the sound of the first commercially successful solid-body electric guitar.
The Fender Telecaster was introduced in 1950, taking the world by storm, and has remained in production even today. It is a versatile guitar, usable for many genres like blues, jazz, rock, country, R&B, metal, etc. Its sound comes from its iconic single-coil pickups, of which the bridge pickup is slanted.
The slant gives a subtly brighter sound to the thinner strings while giving a mellower tone to the thicker ones.
Ample Guitar Telecaster (AGTC) brings renowned sound to your studio in software form. It has two sample libraries dedicated to the pickup positions: neck and bridge. Similarly, you can enable doubling, mono/stereo modes, etc., to change the base sound of your guitar.
It uses key switches to let you program the natural-sounding rhythm and lead parts. Let’s have a look at its other features:
Key Features:
- Customization
You can change the tuning of the guitar by up to two semitones. And you can use multiple capo logics, which provide various fingering algorithms suitable for different performances like solo, rhythm, etc.
- Supports Tabs
AGTC can read tablature files from Guitar Pro, Ultimate Guitar, etc., without converting them into MIDI. You can use this feature to open your guitar arrangements into your DAW and render them as audio.
- Play Riffs And Leads
The Riffer page lets you create riffs and melodies inside the plugin. It features a simple piano roll, where you can write the stroke for each guitar string, resulting in riffs and arpeggio. If you use the articulations like legato, hammer, harmonics, slide, palm muting, etc., you can even write melodic parts without touching your DAW’s midi editor.
- Strumming
You can create strumming parts by creating patterns of strokes like down strum, up strum, muted strums, etc. Then, you can hold chords and change the fret positions as AGTC plays the strumming pattern you have created or loaded from the presets. There are several parameters that humanize and customize the playing too.
- Amplifier
Every electric guitar needs a set of amp and cabinet to sound good. So, AGTC provides you with six amp and matching cabinets: Mesa Boogie Double/Triple, Marshall JCM800, Roland RC120, Fender Twin Reverb, and Fender Deluxe.
Next, you’ll find eight virtual mic options to record the cabinet, including Neumann U87 and Shure SM57. You can mix two mics with the room mics to get the kind of sound you want.
- Processing
The plugin features four effect processors: parametric EQ with eight bands, compressor, six-tap delay, and IR reverb with four impulses. All of these are highly visual and feature sleek interfaces. In most cases, you will not need any other effect plugin in your DAW’s mixer.
Compatibility:
AGTC is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.9 or higher, both 64-bit only. It comes in VST 2/3, AU, and AAX formats.
Summary:
AGTC accurately recreates the sound of the Fender Telecaster, and the realism of the engine is laudable. I love how the built-in amp simulations and the effect processors are high-quality, customizable, and genuinely useful for mixing.
The plugin also features hundreds of presets that help you get started.
4. Ample Sound – Ample Guitar T (Taylor 714CE)
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There’s a reason why there is another plugin by Ample Sound in this list. Ample Guitar T simulates the sound of a Taylor guitar with great detail and clarity at a much lower cost.
The Taylor 714CE guitar needs no introduction, as it is one world-class instrument that costs about $3,000. The guys from the Chinese company Ample Sound decided to recreate it as a virtual instrument. And it worked out, to put it mildly, just incredible.
Ample Guitar T is another excellent plugin that will give you access to a top-notch guitar tone in your home studio.
Ample Guitar T is created through deep sampling and has every possible articulation setting like other plugins from this company. With this software, you can play countries and patterns with your fingers or with a pick.
Thanks to the Customized Parameters Control technology, you can also control all nuances on the keyboard. And Multiple Capo Logics will give you various options of automatic fingering logic to cover different performances such as solo, chorus, etc.
Key Features:
- Play styles
The Ample Guitar T has been sampled with fingering and picking playing styles, adding sustains, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and all sorts of guitar techniques to the mix. The minor subtleties of all these styles of play you can adjust in the settings.
- Riffer & Strummer
In Strummer mode, you will have 14 Strum notes and 28 ways to play each chord. There are also four humanization settings, Strum SEQ with customized rhythm and Delicate presets with MIDI export. The Riffer mode will give you the String Roll Editor and the Random Riff Generator.
- FX
As with other plugins from Ample Sound, you get access to 8-band EQ with intuitive control of frequency response. There’s also a 2-Line Compressor, 6-Tap Echo, and IR Reverb with Room, Studio, Hall, and Larger Hall options.
Compatibility:
The plugin is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.9 or higher, both 64-bit only. It comes in VST2/3, AU, AAX formats, and as a standalone host.
Summary:
Ample Sound’s Ample Guitar T virtual acoustic guitar is probably the best one by them so far, given the fact that it tries to get as close as possible to the sound of a top-quality guitar like a Taylor one.
All possible articulation settings and effects are here so you can get a mix-ready acoustic guitar tone of the highest quality.
5. Ample Guitar M III (Martin D-41)
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Ample Guitar M III is a virtual steel-string guitar instrument by Ample Sound.
The instrument is sampled based and utilizes 4062 samples from a steel-string guitar. It offers a bunch of different controls and parameters that will help you edit and customize the sound of the guitar.
Plenty of playing styles and patterns are also included to help you achieve realistic compositions.
Key Features:
- Realistic sound
Ample Guitar M III offers a realistic steel-guitar sound with plenty of different playing styles and other features. You can select between sustain, hammer on, legato slide, slide in or out, palm mute, slide guitar, natural harmonic, strum, and popping.
All of these are located in the wide range of samples that are included with the instrument and that were recorded by professional players.
- Patterns
You can create realistic compositions with Ample Guitar M III through the player tab. Here, you can set up different strumming patterns, and adjust the release time, stroke volume, velocity, and separation. You can also access a handy graph where you can design your strumming patterns.
You can select from countless chords and strumming techniques per step to add variation and interest to your compositions. Remember, everything came from a professional recording, so it will always sound excellent.
The keys are also tagged on each step so you can stay in key even if you’re not a music theory expert. Finally, you can set swing, quantize, and time signature values through the corresponding knobs.
- Tab player and articulations
The tab player included in Ample Guitar M III is excellent at helping you create realistic compositions. You can also set different articulation changes to create even more variation within your patterns. This can help you achieve key switches very conveniently.
- Effects
Ample Guitar M III includes a few excellent effects that will help you add space, life, and interest to your guitar sounds. There is a full spectrum parametric equalizer, which looks stunning. You can set up multiple bands and be as surgical as you want to with your cuts and boosts.
There are also delay reverb and compression effects. All of them have full-view interfaces that look amazing and can help you craft the sound and stereo field of your guitar sound with extreme precision.
Compatibility:
Ample Guitar M is available on Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.9 or higher in VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX formats.
Summary:
Ample Guitar M III is a very useful software instrument for the producer who seeks a realistic guitar sound. It comes with a library of huge content that can help you create guitar compositions for almost any genre.
The effects look and sound amazing, and the tab player can help you craft unique and realistic patterns with convenience.
6. Ample Sound Ample Bass J (Fender Jazz Bass)
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If you like the sound of the legendary Fender Jazz Bass, the following plugin will appeal to you. It is Ample Bass J from Ample Sound.
The Chinese company Ample Sound has long established itself in the market of virtual instruments. They are known for the high quality of sampling and, as a result, their software’s excellent sound. They have created a lot of plugins, including bass guitars, electric guitars, folk instruments, and much more.
The Ample Bass J plugin is a virtual instrument based on the Fender Jazz Bass, specifically the John English Masterbuilt. With it, you can create basslines with the keyboard or your MIDI controller or generate them.
Key Features:
- Play Fingers or Pick
You get to switch between playing with fingers and picking. The plugin creators have worked to make the sound as realistic as possible, so there is a rich fingering noise. In general, there are such articulations as Sustain, Palm Mute, Hammer On & Pull Off, Slide in & out, Legato at random length & pitch & poly, Natural Harmonic, Legato Slide, and others.
- A Bunch of Technologies
Ample Bass J uses Customized Parameters Control. It means that the MIDI controller can affect any button or knob. It also features Poly Legato and Slide Smoother technology. In addition, certain types of performances lend themselves to automatic fingering logic thanks to Multiple Capo Logics.
- Fantastic AMP System
The creators of the plugin have added a section of amplifiers and cabinets here. The heads include the available Vintage-15, Bass-500, and Bass-Pro models. As for the cabinets, you can choose between 1×15, 2×10, 4×10, and 8×10. In addition, you’ll have the option to use different microphones like the SM57, U87, MD421, and C414.
- Spice Up Your Tone With Effects
Ample Sound has made sure that you can hone your tone as best you can. That’s why features like 8-band EQ, IR Reverb, 6-Tap Echo, and 2-Line Compressor are present. They all have a lot of settings as well.
- Easy Use of Tablatures
Most Ample Sound plugins are endowed with a Tab Player. Use it to load bass tablature. Moreover, you can even export individual files from it.
Compatibility:
The plugin is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.9 or higher, both 64-bit only. It comes in VST2/3, AU, AAX formats, and as a standalone host.
Summary:
Ample Bass J from Ample Sound is another great plugin from the Chinese company that will give you quality bass sound for your home or commercial studio. The creators have worked hard to capture the richness of the Fender Jazz Bass John English Masterbuilt sound as accurately as possible. The software has enough possibilities to sculpt your unique bass tone.
7. Ample Guitar M Lite II
Ample Sound makes a bold move by delivering a free plugin with virtually no compromises. It is the Ample Guitar M Lite II plugin.
This plugin from the Chinese company Ample Sound is based on the Martin D-41 acoustic guitar, known for its rich sound. Beautiful inlays and the fingerboard make it a dream for many guitarists.
As with their other software, Ample Sound has taken care of deep sampling. The plugin includes Finger Instrument libraries to fit different needs and features rich firing noise, which has become more vivid and realistic. There are Sustain, Hammer-On & Pull-Off, Palm Mute, and Popping five articulations.
Key Features:
- Technology
The plugin is equipped with Capo Logic technology, which provides intelligent play according to guitar rules. It also has Double Guitar, which means different samples at L & R channel. In addition, Ample Guitar M Lite II has Poly Legato, Slide Smoother, and Alternate Tuner.
- Strummer
This feature will give you unusually realistic strum samples. In total, there are 14 strum notes with 28 different ways to play each chord. In addition, four humanization settings, strum SEQ with customized rhythm, and delicate presets with drag & drop support.
- Tab Player
With the Tab Player, you can download and play several standard guitar tablature file formats. When used in a DAW, the Tab Player also lets you export tablature to an audio file. This feature supports all fingering, loops, chords, articulations, and other markers in the loaded tablature.
Compatibility:
The plugin is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.9 or higher, both 64-bit only. It comes in VST2/3, AU, AAX formats, and as a standalone host.
Summary:
Ample Sound has made it possible for you to have the Martin D-41 acoustic guitar as a virtual instrument for free. You can use the rich sound of this guitar both in your DAW and as a stand-alone host.
Deep sampling and all possible articulations make this software a gift for beginner producers and experienced ones alike.
8. Ample Bass P Lite II (FREE – Fender Precision Bass)
Don’t worry if you don’t have a budget. We’ve got some free plugins for you. The first is Ample Bass P Lite II from Ample Sound.
The Chinese company Ample Sound, from time to time, pleases its users with free products. For example, you can get a virtual instrument based on the Martin D-41 acoustic guitar. Ample Bass P Lite II is also on the list of free plugins.
This software is based on the Fender Precision Bass. More often than not, free plugins can’t surprise you with excellent sound quality. But let’s be honest with you – this one is perfect. At least you can safely try it before you buy similar virtual instruments.
Key Features:
- Over 400 Bass Samples
In total, the plugin uses over four hundred bass guitar samples. It is pretty enough to provide many articulations. Namely, Hammer-Ons & Pull-Offs, Accent, and Sustain. Also, you will hear a rich fingering noise.
- Implemented technologies
The creators have introduced the Auto Buzz system, Capo Logic, Customized Parameters Control, Poly Legato, and Slide Smoother technologies. You can also combine several articulations by pressing a few key switches at the same time.
- Use Your Tabs
With the Tab Player, you can load and play guitar and bass tablature in the plugin. In addition, you can export the file from the Tab Player. This mode supports all necessary articulations as well.
Compatibility:
The plugin is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.9 or higher, both 64-bit only. It comes in VST2/3, AU, AAX formats, and as a standalone host.
Summary:
Ample Sound has given you a fantastic opportunity to try a virtual bass guitar for free. It has enough articulation and pretty good sound quality. Therefore, we do not exclude that you can use this plugin for your music production.
9. Ample Ethno Ukulele (Kamaka HF-3)
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Ample Ethno Ukulele is a ukulele software instrument plugin by Ample Sound.
Another addition on this list by Ample Sound, the Ethno Ukulele plugin, is sampled-based and includes samples recorded from a Kamaka HF-3 uke. The interface is similar to that of previous Ample Sound plugins on this list and features a tab player and an effects page.
Key Features:
- Playing styles
Ample Ethno Uke features plenty of different playing styles, all captured by real performers who brought their knowledge of this instrument to the software version. Choose between palm mute, sustain, natural harmonic, legato slide, hammer on, and pull off.
The playing styles can add great variation to your compositions and transform the same pattern into completely different compositions, excellent for those willing to experiment and tweak the different parameters available.
- Tab player and strummer
The tab player and the strummer work similarly to those on other Ample Sound plugins. You can set the release time, stereo separation, velocity, strum time, and stroke volume. A plethora of chord choices are available to you at all times, all tagged by key and chord mode.
It’s the perfect place for people unfamiliar with advanced music theory. Finally, you can create up to eight different sequences in the same Ample Ethno Ukulele instance while switching between them.
- Effects
Ample Ethno Ukulele includes effects similar to those on Ample Guitar M III, with identical delay, EQ, and reverb effects. The interface is gorgeous, and the convolution reverb steals the show with its friendly interface and rich sound.
Compatibility:
Ample Ethno Ukulele is available on Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.9 or higher in VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX formats.
Summary:
Ample Ethno Ukulele is a great depiction of a classic ukulele. The interface is what you’d expect from Ample Sound, and the tab player is extremely useful for creating realistic and rich compositions.
10. Ample Ethno Banjo (Derring Dierra Banjo)
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Ample Ethno Banjo is a virtual Banjo instrument by Ample Sound.
This instrument samples a Deering Sierra Banjo and comes with a 3.9 GB sample library that’s dedicated to bringing realistic and lively Banjo patterns and compositions into your production routine.
Key Features:
- Realistic Banjo sound
Ample Ethno Banjo is dedicated to bringing you a realistic Banjo sound. It achieves that by sampling a Deering Sierra Banjo extensively. The instrument was recorded by four different microphone types, mono, bridge stereo, body stereo, and neck stereo. You can access each one of them and adjust them to achieve different sonic results that will impact the character of your Banjo.
- Articulations
There are nine different articulations inside Ample Ethno Banjo, which are helpful in adding interest and excitement to your Banjo compositions. Choose between sustain, legato slide, palm mute, strum, legato with random length and pitch, natural harmonic, and pop, to name a few.
These articulations can be set up on the tab player and can help you switch the vibe of your pattern at any time.
- Capo and advance bend
The beauty of a Banjo is how the player bends its notes to create its unmistakable sound. With Ample Ethno Banjo, you can extremely bend one string while the rest play at a regular pitch.
The string that’s bent will remain so until it is triggered again, which creates an interesting and realistic effect. There is also a capo algorithm based on a 5-string Banjo capo that offers extra realistic sound.
Compatibility:
Ample Ethno Banjo is available on Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.9 or higher in VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX formats.
Summary:
Ample Ethno Banjo is a great instrument for the producer who needs a Banjo instrument in their production. The sample library is extensive and covers a wide range of sounds, articulations, playing styles, strumming
styles, and Banjo tones while remaining user-friendly at the same time.
11. AmpleSound Ample China Erhu (Sampled on 3 Erhus)
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An erhu ensemble that is very easy to control.
Ample China Erhu features three erhu models tuned differently from one another, perfect for providing a cohesive sonority that these instruments should have when played together. Ying Wang, a Ph.D. erhu major at the Central Conservatory of Music, sampled the sounds of each instrument with exquisite technique and expression.
Key Features:
- Fingerings
Ample China Erhu contains three possible fingerings for your instrument: you can choose between “A String Mode,” “D String Mode,” and “Position Mode,” which captures the realistic fingering regarding a specific position and range.
- Articulation groups
The articulations are crucial to many instruments, even more in an authentic-sounding example like the erhu. You can select “Head,” “Body,” “Legato,” and “Special Effects” main categories.
Inside each group, you’ll find common articulations like “Sustain,” “Staccato,” and “Legato,” and other unusual ones like “Whispering,” “Hoarse,” “Mirroring,” and “Sighing.”
- Intelligent legato
Legato is one of the most important techniques and articulations in stringed instruments, mainly due to how it resonates with the notes. AmpleSound includes an “Intelligent Legato” technology that precisely sets the appropriate timing of each note automatically, thus delivering an organic and realistic performance.
- Mirroring
The “Mirroring” articulation might be a special feature if you need to double your instrument. Differently from simply copying and pasting the same phrase twice, you can benefit from this awesome technology because it accurately recreates the sonority of two erhus playing simultaneously, thus affecting the resulting sound character significantly.
- Effects
Some built-in effects are present in Ample China Erhu. They can bring personality and character to your instrument’s voice or be the perfect tool to tweak it to your taste. You can use an 8-band EQ, a two-line compressor, a six-tap echo, and a convolution reverb.
- Microphones
The sample files in Ample China Erhu were recorded with the help of five microphones that can be adjusted and configured freely. You can set the “Mid Low,” “Mid High,” “Front,” “Back,” and “Far” positions to ensure your erhu will resonate the way you want it to.
Compatibility:
This library runs on macOS 10.9 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats and runs in standalone mode.
Summary:
AmpleSound is a developer who is often worried about aspects such as the sample quality, the array of controls, and some nice built-in effects that elude and increment the instrument’s timbre. Ample China Erhu is an immersion into one of China’s most popular instruments that excel in features that make it versatile and good-sounding for any production. Special attention to the multiple articulations and their categories can make the erhu sound like multiple instruments.
12. Ample Sound China Qudi (Jianhong Wang Masterbuilt)
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Capture the essence of a beautiful Chinese instrument instantly with this straightforward plugin.
The qudi is a Chinese transverse flute with a characteristic sound widely used in China’s folk music, opera, and modern orchestras. They are usually made of bamboo and are part of the dizi family of flutes. Although the wooden ones are more common, there are also qudi made from other wood types and stone examples.
Like their Dongxiao plugin, Ample Sound developed a nice collection of well-captured samples featuring a unique Asian instrument and its articulations. In addition, this collection boasts an excellent sound quality, reflecting authenticity when it comes to the samples and flexibility when it comes to how they’re played.
Key Features:
- Articulations
There are three kinds of articulations in China Qudi: the Head Group (blue key switches), the Body Group (yellow key switches), and the Special Effect Group (red key switches). Each occupies one octave in your MIDI controller.
The head group is used to perform grace notes at the head. The body group can not only perform grace notes at the head but also can be used for articulation legatos to express changes in the sound body.
The plugin‘s body group can be used for endless articulation legatos. For example, you can start with a “Sustain,” hold the note, then play the “Expression” key switch (C1) to play legato to an “Expression” note; then play “Marking” key switch (E1) to play legato to a “Marking” note, and then press “Laying” key switch (F1) to play legato to a “Laying” note, and so on. Below you will find all articulations included.Head Group Articulations
Abbreviation |
Full name |
Key switch |
Range |
Sus |
Sustain |
C0 |
G2-E5 |
Ton |
Tonguing |
C#O |
G2-E5 |
GraU |
Grace Up |
D0 |
A2-E5 |
GraD |
Grace Down |
D#0 |
G2-D5 |
PenU |
Pentatonic Up |
E0 |
B2-E5 |
PenD |
Pentatonic Down |
F0 |
G2-C5 |
Rip |
Ripple |
F#0 |
G2-D5 |
TreS |
Short Trembling |
G0 |
G2-D5 |
TreL |
Long Trembling |
G#0 |
G2-D5 |
ScaU |
Scattering Up |
A0 |
B2-E5 |
ScaD |
Scattering Down |
A#0 |
G2-C5 |
Body Group Articulations
Abbreviation |
Full name |
Key switch |
Range |
Exp |
Expression |
C1 |
G2-E5 |
Vib |
Vibrato |
C#1 |
G2-E5 |
Tri |
Trill |
D1 |
G2-D5 |
Flu |
Flutter |
D#1 |
G2-E5 |
Mark |
Marking |
E1 |
A2-E5 |
Lay |
Layering |
F1 |
G2-D5 |
SliU |
Slide Up |
F#1 |
G2-D5 |
SliD |
Slide Down |
G1 |
A2-E5 |
SliF |
Full Slide |
G#1 |
G2-B4 |
SliOU |
Slide Out Upwards |
A1 |
G2-E5 |
SliOD |
Slide Out Downwards |
A#1 |
G2-E5 |
Special Effects Articulations
Abbreviation |
Full name |
Key switch |
Range |
Lick |
Lick |
C2 |
G2-E5 |
Reverse |
Mirroring |
D2 |
– |
- Mic modes
There are two different microphone modes: “Middle Mode” and “Front Mode,” recorded with five microphones. You can adjust the volume and channel EQ of different microphones simultaneously to get a more tailored sound, adjusted perfectly to this unique instrument.
- Wind setting
The “Wind” option refers to the sound of air blowing in the dizi tube. This sound was extracted from each actual sample to enable the independent control of this element.
The sound of any dizi without the “Wind” is very pure, but moderately controlling its volume will make some changes during the performance, increasing the feeling of “dirty” and breath to improve the realism.
- Legato smooth
In the actual performance of the qudi, the legatos are ever-changing, sometimes hard and sometimes soft. Legatos with no changes cannot wholly simulate actual performance, so Ample Sound focused on recreating an appropriate technique to deliver a more realistic experience. You can adjust the “Legato Smooth” in the settings to suit different legato needs.
Compatibility:
This plugin is available for macOS 10.9 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST2, VST3, AAX, and AU plugin formats and runs in standalone mode.
Summary:
Focusing on a sole instrument, Ample Sound’s China Qudi is a beautiful recreation of an equally wonderful instrument that showcases delicacy and a unique timbre.
You have a lightweight sample library here – about 4.4GB of files – making it more appealing than similar plugins.
However, the many features, such as the mic modes and the articulation library, reinforce how adaptive this instrument can become in any track, adding the perfect distinctive flavor to make it stand out.
Bonus:
Ample Sound – Ample China Zheng (Dunhuang Guzheng)
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Or Buy Here (Support Integraudio)
Your virtual China Zheng that has many articulations and features 8GB of sampled content.
The zheng is a very popular Chinese instrument that belongs to the zither family. They are usually plucked, with all the strings stretched across their thin, flat body.
Ample Sound used a Dunhuang Guzheng 694L instrument to capture all aspects of its sonority, containing 21 strings and made with professional-grade paulownia soundboard and backboard.
Key Features:
- Special bend system
One of the most natural aspects of stringed instruments is the string bending technique. It can be achieved by slightly bending the string up or downwards, augmenting or diminishing the pitch of the current note being played.
To simulate this effect, you can bend each string individually while keeping the others regular while changing the sound and velocity according to how you prompt its use.
- Three play modes
This unique instrument was recorded to permit multiple “Play” modes to be used effortlessly. There are three distinctive modes: “Keyboard,” which can be played just like a piano, with 12 semitones; “Gliss,” showcasing an original technology that simulates two-hand glissandos as if played by two different hands; and an “Instrument” mode, designed specifically for playing pentatonic scales.
- Four mic modes
There are five separate microphones included in Ample China Zheng: “Left,” “Right,” “Body,” and “Stereo” (L & R) room microphones. However, the four different modes (“All,” “AB,” “left MS,” and “right MS”) can create various new sounds according to the position you decide to keep each one of them.
- FX selection
Some cool effects included can help increase even further the functionalities of this plugin. You can count with a high order 8-band EQ with intuitive control of the frequency response, a 2-line compressor with soft knee, auto release, and auto makeup support, a 6-tap echo that allows you to tweak the parameters of six different echo points individually, and a convolution reverb with IR simulation.
Compatibility:
This plugin is available for macOS 10.9 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST2, VST3, AAX, and AU plugin formats and runs in standalone mode.
Summary:
Ample Sound has some fantastic offers regarding different and ethnic-oriented instruments, with this collection bringing a great example of such unique musical devices right to your screen.
Ample China Zheng is the perfect recreation of a zheng instrument, captured down to the tiniest details. You can expect great clarity, enormous attention to detail, and unique configurations to make it sound like you want.
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Integraudio is an audio blog made specifically for musicians and those seeking audio knowledge.