Pan Drum

"if you're on the lookout for new sounds I suggest you buy a copy before it gets plastered over umpteen movie soundtracks.."

Sound on Sound June 2008

"..The Hangs were sampled at many different dynamics using palm slaps, knuckles and fingers hits, resulting in 2.47GB of data. The finger strikes were performed in three zones round each of the dimpled 'tone fields', the central zone giving the plummiest tone. There's a choice of keyboard mappings, including one that arranges the samples chromatically across nearly three octaves. Alternatively, you can limit yourself to the Hang's original pitches and use a handy Kontakt control to transpose them into any key. A hugely entertaining 'Hang Jammer' script generates endlessly-repeating notes at a user-selected rhythmic value, with total control over the tempo, degree of pitch variation, randomisation and octave range â€” a great way of creating unpredictable, slightly deranged, gamelan-like grooves.Â

Despite my views on capital punishment, this is one Hang I'm happy to see brought back. There's nothing quite like it on the market, the producers have done a diligent and exhaustive sampling job and it's sensibly priced, so if you're on the lookout for new sounds I suggest you buy a copy before it gets plastered over umpteen movie soundtracks.."

5 Stars - Dave Stewart, Sound on Sound Magazine

'This is definitely the most sophisticated sample set I own, of any instrument."

Analog IndustriesÂ , Sept 2007

"..Soniccouture's library comes in two flavors, the Hang Mk1 (the 8-dimple variety), and the newer Hang Mk2, with 7 dimples. I'm loath to go in to great detail about what's provided, as we'll be here all day, and that's not really the purpose of this website. Suffice to say that if it's possible to make a particular sound with a hang drum, Soniccouture sampled it, at multiple velocity layers, and three samples of each. Literally every single possible sound has a round-robin layer, so you don't get the typical "I'm whackin' this key over and over again" vibe. At all. This is definitely the most sophisticated sample set I own, of any instrument.

Where Soniccouture really shines, as usual, is in the Kontakt skripts. The way they've set the initial patch up, you can literally make your settings (root key, note speed, and how much randomization you're in the mood for) and mash down a bunch of keys on your keyboard, and you have Cool Shit. It is so easy to get something interesting out of this.."

Chris Randall