The Dulciano is a grand piano performed with dulcimer hammers, sampled in incredible detail in a modern concert hall setting.
This unique hybrid instrument produces a similar timbre to a dulcimer or cimbalom, but the longer strings and large soundboard of the piano give the instrument a richer tone and longer sustain. The instrument also has a much wider playable range than a standard dulcimer or cimbalom (A0 to E6).
The instrument was recorded in a beautiful concert hall environment using a selection of 14 top-shelf microphones (from DPA, Coles, and Neumann) placed around the piano and further back in the room. From these microphone signals, we created 3 easy-to-use mixes (Close, Mid and Far), giving you the flexibility to craft a custom mix which fits your needs, whether you want a dry ‘studio’ sound, or a spacious sound which sits at the back of a mix.
These signals can be blended with ease using the intuitive ‘perspective’ slider, or controlled with greater precision using the separate microphone faders.
The library also contains a convolution reverb with several IRs to choose from, allowing for even greater control of the space.
As with all our libraries, the goal of this instrument was to make it as easy to play as possible. We captured multiple dynamics, controlled by velocity. The highest velocities trigger short one-shot rolls – an articulation commonly used in dulcimer music. Continuous, sustained rolls are triggered by raising the mod wheel, or by using your keyboard’s aftertouch (channel pressure).
The Dulciano samples have been expertly mixed, so they sound great out of the box, and they are ready to use in your productions. However, we have also provided a few easy controls for shaping the sound further.
The colour control blends between carefully selected EQ settings under the hood and allows you to dial in the perfect tone for your composition.
The damping dial controls the muting of the strings when a key is released, letting you control how long the notes decay.
We are delighted to offer full NKS support for Dulciano. Harnessing the power of Native Instruments’ Komplete Kontrol keyboards, you have full hands-on control of the instrument, using the built-in display and parameter controls on the keyboard. This also means that Dulciano is accessible to blind and visually impared musicians. Furthermore, Dulciano is compatible with the free Kontakt Player, with activation through Native Access, meaning you can use the library without purchasing any additional software. You can download Kontakt Player from the Native Instruments website.