Soundiron has released Kalimba version 2.0. The Kalimba is a modernized version of the ancient African mbira. Often called a thumb piano, it has a humble, melodious percussive plucking sound with a marimba-like warmth that works great as a lead instrument. And when used in harmony or unison with pianos and other tuned percussion instruments, it can add a playful innocence to your sound.

Here's what Soundiron has to say about their new release...

Our two kalimbas are  made of wood and coconut, with hammered steel tines suspended over sound holes. The notes span about an octave and a half for the smaller kalimba and over two octaves for the larger one. We recorded in 3 different environments: Up close in a dry recording studio; at medium distance in a small bright chamber; and in a large, long linear hall, at close (1 meter) and far (15 meters) microphone distances.

This newly updated version of the classic Soundiron Kalimba now features 62 unique soundscapes, pads, atmospheres and drones to the library, each crafted by manipulating the source recordings. These organic ambiences make the ideal accompaniment to the acoustic portion of the Kalimba library, due to the natural sonic properties they share. All of it is wrapped up in a customizable performance control system, with lots of sound-shaping tools, arpeggiation sequencing and flexible DSP effects, such as convolution, EQ, resonant filter, chorus, flanger, phaser, delay, amp and speaker simulation, distortion and compression.


This new version 2.0 comes fully-loaded with a powerful user interface system that gives you total control over transient attack, sample start offset, dynamic swelling and dual-layer mixing, tuning and real timing. The master preset includes 7 different sound sets, including plucks and strums. Each sound selection layer is fully independent, but now their controls can be linked together or split with the push of a button. The new version 2.0 now also features our ever popular arpeggiation system, with total customizability, step sequencing, humanization and preset saving and loading. And every knob, slider, menu and button in the Kalimba GUI can be automated with a simple right click of your mouse.

Our full-featured and intuitive FX Rack offers chorus, flange, phase, delay, distortion, compressor, EQ, amp & speaker simulation, as well as flexible convolution reverb, with 70 of our own custom rooms, halls and unique fx impulses. This is a standard open-format library. It includes unlocked wavs and all nki presets require the full retail version of Kontakt 5.1 or later. The free Kontakt Player and Player Libraries rack do not support this open format.

Pricing and Availability:
Kalimba is on sale for only $19 through January 19th, 2014. The price goes to $29 after the intro period ends.

More information:

• Soundiron

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