我们创建了Koto Nation，希望看到日本传统乐器得到深入彻底的采样处理，就像我们备受赞誉的北印度样品库Sitar Nation一样。当时，尺八和太极出现在许多西方电影的配乐中，但其他传统的日本声音并没有很高的标准。
该库包含大量样本，涵盖了各种传统和扩展播放技术，包括近距离和立体声房间麦克风位置。这三种乐器共有25个主要补丁，涵盖了所有关键的演奏技巧，如拨片、拨弦、八度音阶、多种类型和速度的滑音、颤音、颤音、现代音（音高弯曲）和哑巴，以及无调滑音、手指刮擦、弦乐打击和硬弹等扩展技巧。
每个发音都记录了多个动态和循环层，并在适当的情况下记录了速度或音调的变化；例如，古筝颤音可以以两种主要速度演奏（具有精细的速度控制），现代琴可以设置为全音或半音，滑音可以慢、快、升序、降序或混合顺序演奏，等等。这种令人难以置信的采样深度可以实现无与伦比的真实感，使乐器在独奏和更大的作曲中都能独立演奏。
koto和bass koto是在一个小而精心处理的工作室里用Beyerdynamic录制的
MC834、Neumann TLM-170和两个Neumann KM-184麦克风，通过极其透明的Millennia HV-3D前置放大器运行。我们使用MC834、TLM-170和KM-184话筒通过同一条链录制了三味线。录音完美地捕捉到了古筝的真实声音；设备几乎没有着色。如果你闭上眼睛，想象你在现场表演，声音是一样的——我们并排比较了它们！
仪器
Koto
日本民族乐器，世界上最古老的弦乐器之一！古筝有13根弦，有相同数量的可移动琴桥，允许演奏者调整调音，这通常是分段演奏的。传统上，它是用三根手指拨弦演奏的，但也发展了各种其他技巧，如手指敲击、和声和拨弦。
巴斯科托
低音古筝是20世纪初发展起来的，是标准古筝的一个更大的版本，增加了四根额外的琴弦，可以演奏更低的音高。其深沉、温暖的声音和宽广的音域使其在日本传统音乐和当代音乐中都很受欢迎。
三味线
与古筝一样，这种三弦乐器是在几个世纪前发展起来的，并成为日本音乐不可或缺的一部分，这可能与它在传统戏剧中的作用最为相关，因为它仍然在使用。它通常用大拨片演奏，可以独奏，用于伴奏唱歌或其他乐器。多年来，许多演奏风格都发生了变化——我们录制了一首以古典九塔风格构建和演奏的三味线，而不是摇滚或流行音乐中通常使用的tsugaru风格。
特殊效果
Koto Nation库中还包括一组9个"FX"补丁，这些补丁对核心音频进行处理，使其朝着新的音乐有趣的方向发展。这些声音从颗粒状的垫子纹理到温暖的支撑、无人机、通风的共鸣、撞击声、扭曲的合成器和怪异的氛围。
We created Koto Nation out of a desire to see traditional Japanese instruments receive a deep, thorough sampling treatment, much like our acclaimed North Indian sample library Sitar Nation. At the time, shakuhachi and taiko appeared in many Western film soundtracks, but other traditional Japanese sounds were not readily available at a high standard.
This library includes a massive number of samples spanning a wide variety of both traditional and extended playing techniques, with both close and stereo room mic positions. A total of 25 main patches spread among the three instruments cover all crucial playing techniques, such as sustained picks with a plectrum, pizzicato, octaves, glissandi of multiple types and speeds, vibrato, tremolo, mordents (pitch bends), and mutes, as well as extended techniques such as atonal glissandi, finger scrapes, string hits, and hard plucks.
Multiple dynamic and round robin layers were recorded for each articulation, as well as variations in speed or tonality where appropriate; for example, the koto tremolo can be played at two main speeds (with fine speed control), mordents can be set to whole-tone or half-tone, glissandi can be played slow, fast and in ascending, descending or mixed order, and so on. This incredible depth of sampling allows for unparalleled realism, allowing the instruments to stand alone in a solo context as well as in a larger composition.
The koto and bass koto were recorded in a small, well-treated studio room using a Beyerdynamic
MC834, Neumann TLM-170, and two Neumann KM-184 microphones running through an extremely transparent Millennia HV-3D preamp. We recorded the shamisen using the MC834, TLM-170, and KM-184 mics through the same chain. The recordings perfectly capture the actual sound of the koto; there is very little coloration from the equipment. If you close your eyes and imagine you're at a live performance, the sound is identical — we compared them side by side!
Instruments
Koto
The national instrument of Japan, and one of the oldest stringed instruments in the world! The koto has 13 strings with an equal number of movable bridges allowing the player to adjust tuning, something that is often called for in pieces. It is traditionally played using three finger picks used to pluck the strings, but a variety of other techniques have developed, such as finger tapping, harmonics, and pizzicato.
Bass Koto
Developed in the early 20th century, the bass koto is a much larger version of the standard koto which adds four additional strings and allows for much lower pitches to be played. Its deep, warm sound and large range has made it popular in some forms of Japanese traditional music as well as contemporary music.
Shamisen
Like the koto, this three-stringed instrument was developed centuries ago and became an integral part of Japanese music, perhaps most associated with its role in traditional theater where it is still used. It is typically played with a large plectrum, and can be played solo, used to accompany singing or other instruments. Many playing styles have evolved over the years — we recorded a shamisen constructed and performed in the classical jiuta style, as opposed to the tsugaru style typically used in rock or pop music.
Special FX
Also included in the Koto Nation library is a set of 9 "FX" patches, which apply processing to the core audio to take it in new, musically interesting directions. These sounds range from granular pad textures to warm sustains, drones, airy resonances, percussive hits, distorted synths and eerie ambiances.
|
