Bolder Sounds New Handbell Sample Library

[Bolder]

Bolder Sounds has announced the release of its new Handbells sample library, featuring a 3 octave set of handbells recorded in 9 articulations totaling 1.2 gigabytes in Kontakt 2+ and EXS24 format. The samples are 24 bit stereo and most articulations are presented with 2 round-robins per bell. Flexible Kontakt scripting includes control over Envelope-Amp parameters, EQ, IR and reverb, Location (player perspective or audience) and release samples when applicable. The Handbell library is available at a price of $69.00 until January 1, 2010.


Handbell sampled articulations:

• Handbell Clapper: samples are created with the traditional technique of holding it against the shoulder, bell-upwards, and then swinging the bell through an elliptical shape to cause the clapper to strike the casting of the bell.
• Suspended Handbell with a soft rubber mallet: samples were recorded with the bells suspended from the ceiling of the room while being struck with a soft rubber mallet.
• Suspended Handbell with a hard rubber mallet: samples were recorded with the bells suspended from the ceiling of the room while being struck with a hard rubber mallet.
• Suspended Handbell with a plastic chopstick: samples were recorded with the bells suspended from the ceiling of the room while being struck with a plastic chopstick. This creates a great deal of high frequency content.
• Singing Handbells: The Singing Handbells sound is created by running a wood dowel along the rim of the handbell, similar to the way you can run a wet finger along the edge of a crystal glass to make it sing.
• Plucked Handbells: is accomplished by using the thumb and forefinger to force the clapper head into the casting while the bell is on the table, producing a staccato note.
• Malleted Handbells on a padded table: samples are created by striking the bell with a rubber mallet while the bell is resting on the foam of a padded table. This produces a tone brighter and more percussive than the plucked samples.
• Handbell Shakes: is accomplished by quickly ringing the bell back and forth so that the clapper strikes both the front and back of the bell casting in rapid succession. This creates a continuous tone, as opposed to normal ringing in which the tone decays rapidly after being rung.
• Handbell table hit endings: samples are typically used for the end of a piece of music or at a cadence. Before this sound is heard the bell is already ringing, so you hear just a small portion of the pitch of the bell followed by the percussive hit on the foam table.

We also have numerous FREE sample library offerings at the Bolder Site as well.

Thank you for your time!

Dennis Burns
Bolder Sounds
Boulder, Colorado
http://boldersounds.com/

[xist]

Nice timing! This handbells library is perfect for xmas sounds :-)
That said, the name Bolder Sounds could be new to most members here, but it's worth checking out, especially if you're looking for something different than the usual sample loops. Lots of interesting stuff in its catalog, old, acoustic, traditional, experimental instruments...

As he said here, there are also some free libraries worth downloading on the site. And I like the fact that there are EXS24 versions too (besides the "usual" Kontakt ones).

A few days ago we had an interview with Dennis, the man behind Bolder Sounds. There's some good karma emanating from his words, have a look... thumbsup

Sampling pureness: an interview with Bolder Sounds - AudioNewsRoom

[Rufuss Sewell]

Hey, I bought Boulder Eclectic what 10 years ago? I still use it all the time! Great stuff.

[xist]

Just about "evergreen" products, Bolder has just released the updated version of one of my fav libraries, the Hammered Dulcimer Trilogy. A must for dulcimer and cimbalom lovers :-)

[Farshad]

Their free stuff are great.