Publisher: Sonica Instruments
Website: sonica
Format: KONTAKT FULL & P’ed 5.7.3+
Installation: added via Add Library
Quality: 24bit 96kHz stereo
Description : KOTO 17, the seventh version in the Japanese Virtuoso series, introduces all music creators to the sounds of the 17-string bass koto, an integral part of modern Japanese music.
Three years after the development of KOTO 13, KOTO 17 features advanced features that bring new tonal qualities to the library.
Naturally, KOTO 17 can be used as a solo instrument. But it complements the 13-string koto and shakuhachi (bamboo flute) extraordinarily well, making it an important component in both classical and contemporary Japanese musical environments. And when paired with other Virtuoso Japanese Series releases such as KOTO 13, KOTO 20 or Shakuhachi, KOTO 17 can form an incredibly powerful ensemble.
The string editor provides independent tuning of all 17 strings.
The koto is played by adjusting the tuning of the 17 strings for each piece of music played. The KOTO 17 has a Scale Performance mode for matching the tones of each string with 17 white keys. This allows the performer to access the instrument as realistically as possible. Plus 20 articulations recreating every aspect of the 17-string koto’s playing style.
KOTO 17 contains 20 different articulations to recreate a varied range of koto musical expressions. These include various nuances created by playing with your thumb, index or middle finger, as well as glissando, tremolo sound, and even pick scratches. All articulations can be controlled independently using key switches.
The three phrase banks of KOTO 17 contain special techniques that are difficult to replicate, from classic koto techniques such as glissando and surizume to the sound effects produced by the bridge. Phrase banks are selectable with key switches and can be triggered from a MIDI keyboard. You can also control the pitch and tempo of each phrase bank.
The library includes 30 reverb bundles, including two impulse responses from the Noh theatre, renowned among musicians for its acoustics. Convolutional reverbs allow you to create high-quality sound in an instrument.
The tonal characteristics of the koto’s sound production vary greatly depending on the finger and the thickness of the string. To accurately reproduce these variations, we have developed a new feature called the Instrument Modeler. With the Instrument Modeler, you can adjust individual parameters, including finger thickness and string thickness (thick, normal, and thin), transient pitch and attack, and noise components. This function allows you to control the character of the sound in any way, from natural playing to very aggressive performance.
The library comes with three alternative pickup articulations to recreate the natural sonic variations that occur when playing a pick sequence. The alternative pickup can be switched with the keyboard switches or the sustain pedal. This feature makes it easy to play realistic tremolo.
The library contains 10 commonly used scales (Chromatic, Ionic, Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Whole Tone), including the Chromatic scale. You can play a wide range of music with presets and key transposition. An additional custom scale mode allows you to create your own for specific compositions. When creating your own scale, you can set the volume and pan for each string, as well as fine-tune each string.
By tuning all 17 strings, you can customize the scales for specific melodies or for your original compositions, allowing you to incorporate koto elements into any piece of music. Custom scales are saved and can be called up at any time.
The recordings were made with the utmost care, using over eight microphones of various types along with mic preamps. All samples from the library were recorded in high resolution 24bit / 96kHz to accurately convey all the nuances.
The samples were recorded with three stereo microphone positions – Direct, Overhead and Room – plus a stereo mix. Full control of the mix is available with individual volume, panning, reverb and EQ settings for each channel. The parallel output bus sends microphone channels to individual DAW tracks for more precise mixing.
Main Features
– Peerless reproduction of every performance nuance from the 17-string koto thanks to meticulous recording techniques and innovative programming
– Exclusive Performance mode maps the 17 strings to adjacent white keys for easy performance of real koto glissandos and phrases
– 20 key-switch-selectable articulations fundamental to the 17-string koto
– Sustain pedal control for natural continuous-picking phrasing
– Newly developed Instrument Modeler reproduces sound variations due to different fingerpicks and strings
– Character selector lets you choose from three fingerpick thicknesses
– String tone selector offers three string tones: Thick, Normal, and Thin
– Includes three banks of quintessential koto phrases, all key-switch controllable
– Plucking control function for full mastery over subtle, natural sounding picked notes
– String editor enables independent tuning adjustments for all 17 strings
– In addition to the 10 preset scales, the User Scale mode lets you create original scales
– All samples recorded in 24-bit / 96 kHz high resolution to capture every tonal detail
– Create your own mixes with the multi-microphone samples and a dedicated mixer with individual controls for Direct, Overhead, Room, and Stereo Mix channels
– Compatible with Kontakt Player / Kontakt Full Ver. 5.7.3 or newer
– NKS ready
