Rumba Boxes are a creative collection of large wooden bass kalimbas invented by master instrument creator Bart Hopkin. This library features two distinct handcrafted instruments with eye - catching shapes and unique mechanics. They produce a rich acoustic sound that rings out clearly in every note. It offers a wide range of playable articulations, sound - design textures, pads, drones, and multiple microphone options for fresh musical inspiration. A rumba box, known in the English - speaking Caribbean as a bass kalimba, is typically played by sitting on the box and plucking the tines. Most are chromatic, with tines made of spring - tempered steel. Some tines are reshaped for better tuning, and some have rattles for a distinctive tone. The library includes plucks, picks, and percussion sounds. Arby McCone is a combination of a rumba - box, cajón, and percussion gadgets. It started as a rumba box but also works well as a cajón. Sympathetic resonance in the tines enriches percussion strokes. Bart Hopkin added more percussion sound - makers like spring - mounted metallic sounds, clave sounds, shekere - type beads, shakers, rattletines, and bells, making it a lot of fun to play. It has plucks, mallets, percussive taps, knocks, slaps, and various auxiliary percussion sounds. We've sampled every interesting sound from these instruments with two stereo mic positions. There's also a wide selection of custom FX presets and our signature sound - designed ambient content for complete creative freedom. The Kontakt interface has automation - ready sound - shaping controls for total creative flexibility. You can control swell, attack, release, offset, vibrato, filter, pitch, articulation switching, cross - fading, and layering. There are 20 unique sound - designed custom FX presets. The adaptable LFO system lets you select LFO shape, modulation target parameter, speed, intensity, tempo - syncing, and fade - in time. You can apply 12 low - pass, high - pass, and FX filters with assignable modulation targets. The customizable arpeggiator offers a velocity table and control over arp direction, timing, swing, randomization, and duration. The key and scale lock system helps with easy melodic composition and live performance. The modular FX rack panel has 18 different DSP effect modules that can be arranged in 10 slots as you like. You'll find classic effects like phaser, flanger, delay, distortion, amp and cab simulators, compressors, EQ, rotator, etc. The Reverb effect has our favorite convolution reverb impulse responses from 99 different spaces and 40 custom FX impulses. We've also added a great bank of FX rack chain factory presets to get you started. The library comes with 4 master presets and 20 custom sound - designed FX and ambient presets. There are two unique hand - crafted rumba boxes with 2 mic positions each. It includes plucks, picks, hand percussion, and aux percussion. It's in 24 - bit, 48 kHz Stereo Lossless NCW Format, with 13,719 stereo samples and 7.13 GB installed. It's made for the free Kontakt Player (version 6+), Komplete Kontrol, all S - Series Keyboards and NKS software and hardware by Native Instruments, and works with the Kontakt 'Libraries' browser and Native Access.
Using the Soundiron Hopkin's Rumba Boxes library is easy. First, make sure you have the free Kontakt Player (version 6 or later) installed on your system. If you're using the full retail version of Kontakt, that works too. After installation, register the product online through the Native Access app. Once registered, you can add it to the Kontakt 'Libraries' browser. To start making music, open the Kontakt interface. You have a suite of controls at your fingertips. Adjust the swell, attack, release, and other settings to shape the sound according to your needs. There are 20 custom sound - designed FX presets, so you can quickly try out different effects. You can also use the adaptable LFO system to add modulation. Just select the LFO shape, target parameter, speed, and other settings. For filtering, choose from 12 low - pass, high - pass, and FX filters. The customizable arpeggiator is great for creating interesting patterns. Set the velocity table, direction, timing, and other parameters. The key and scale lock system is useful for melodic composition. It constrains your notes to common scales and keys, making it easier to create good - sounding melodies. The modular FX rack panel allows you to arrange 18 different DSP effect modules in 10 slots as you like. Try out classic effects like phaser, flanger, and delay. The Reverb effect has a lot of options, including 99 different room impulses and 40 custom FX impulses. When it comes to the rumba boxes themselves, you can use different articulations like plucks, picks, and percussion to create a variety of sounds. For maintenance, keep your software up - to - date. Check the Native Instruments website regularly for updates to the Kontakt Player or other related software. Also, make sure your computer has enough storage space as the library is 7.13 GB installed. If you encounter any issues, refer to the official documentation or contact the customer support of Native Instruments.
