NYCKELHARPAS

SCANDINAVIAN KEYED STRINGS

Viola + Cello Instruments
4GB Library
Kontakt Player + NKS

The Nyckelharpa

Familiar yet somehow different, the sound of the Nyckelharpa walks a delicate line. Dating from the middle ages, Nyckelharpa translates as ‘keyed fiddle’ in Swedish.

The pitch of the notes is altered by pressing a wooden key, which frets the string. There are also 12 sympathetic strings, added in the mid 1700s, possibly inspired by the viola d’amore. They serve to add resonance, volume and a general zing to the sound.

This product features two different harpas: the standard viola pitch instruments, and an 'octavharpa', a cello tuned model.

VIDEO:

PRODUCT TOUR | PRESET TOUR | USER VIDEO

THE KONTAKT INSTRUMENT

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL

CLOSE, ROOM, KEY-NOISE CONTROLS
PIZZICATO + LEGATO MODES
SYMPATHETIC RESONANCE CONTROL
EXPRESSION CONTROL

The Nyckelharpas instrument page features comprehensive control over the instrument sound. Mix Close or Room mics, tweak key-off, or key-down/up noises, add sympathetic string resonance, or play pizzicato mode.

EFFECTS PANEL

MODULAR INSERT FX CHAIN
16 EFFECT TYPES
CONVOLUTION REVERB PROCESSOR

A completely user configurable FX chain: choose from 16 different effects in 6 insert slots - in any order you like. The Space processor offers everything from straight rooms and halls to ambient convolution effects.

THE JAMMER PANEL

The latest evolution of our generative arpeggiator - Hold a chord, and let it evolve - or loop a section and jam between 12 sequences.

GENERATIVE ARPEGGIATOR
SCALE FILTER
AUTOMATION READY PRESET DIAL

Instrument Anatomy

Recreating such a traditional, natural instrument requires a forensic approach.

Each element is recorded, every tiny detail captured - and then reconstructed in Kontakt.

Simple characteristics can become creative features once you have control - noises, resonances, plucks.

Take our video tour to learn more about the pieces that make up the whole.

RECORDING THE NYCKELHARPAS

VICKI SWAN

The UKs' 'nyckelmother' - Vicki has done a huge amount to bring Nyckeharpa music to the UK, and was invaluable in helping to create this product.

Hear her music here - www.swan-dyer.co.uk

KEY BOX

The intricate key-boxes are a joy to behold, such is the quality of their craftsmanship. This model was made by O lle Plahn

OKTAVHARPA (CELLO PITCH)

Made by Olle Plahn, with key-box by Annette Osann

NYCKELHARPA (VIOLA PITCH)

Made by Sören Åhker

KEYBOX - VIOLA

MIC SETUP: COLES + U87 PAIRS

The Coles were selected for the viola, due to their more forgiving charachter. The U87s added real bite to the oktavharpa.

STATE OF THE ARK STUDIOS

Preset Library & Sound Design

The detailed, multi-element control available in Nyckelharpas makes it an extremely flexible sound design tool.

Completely natural, organic sound all the way through to abstract evolving drone-scapes.

With noise control, sympathetic resonance, ensemble mode, filters, modulation and effects to experiment with, new hybrid soundscapes are a few tweaks away.

KONTAKT PLAYER COMPATIBLE

This is a Kontakt Player instrument. This means that you do not need to own the full version of NI Kontakt to use it. It will run as a plug-in instrument in any VST/AU/RTAS/AAX/WASAPI,compatible host program or DAW eg: Cubase, Logic, Ableton Live, DP, Reaper, Pro-Tools. No extra purchase necessary.

System Requirements:

Windows 7 or higher (latest Service Pack, 32/64 Bit), Intel Core Duo or AMD AthlonTM 64 X2, 4 GB RAM (6 GB RAM recommended)

Mac: OS X 10.9 or higher, Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM

Requires KONTAKT 5 or KONTAKT 5 PLAYER version 5.6.8 or later

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