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| Not just another trumpet. The real trumpet is one of the most versatile, vivid, dynamic, flexible and expressive instruments. But it’s extremely difficult to emulate. It represents a true challenge for a virtual instrument’s developer. That’s why we chose it. And the result… well, it’s not just another trumpet, really. |
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To view the streaming trailer you need Flash Player version 8 or superior.
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 This is not a library, and no additional sampler or player is needed.
The Trumpet is a Kontakt Player 2 Virtual Instrument, working either
standalone, or as a plugin (VST or RTAS for the PC) and VSR, RTAS or
AU for Mac. It employs (and requires) state-of-the-art technology.
The instrument has been developed and thoroughly tested on a PC
with IntelCore2 6600 & 2.40 Ghz, 2GB RAM, Windows XP, 2 SATA
drives, a 24 bit audio card with low latency (<7 msec) Asio drivers, with
a CPU load of approximately 7-12 %. It also works satisfactorily on less
powerful systems. More detailed information about tested systems can be found under benchmarks. A master keyboard with some configurable MIDI controllers, pitchwheel, modwheel, and an expression pedal (or breath controller) mapped to CC11 is also required for real time playing. |
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The base material of the instrument consists of 237 MB of samples, chromatically performed by a professional trumpet player over a very wide dynamic range, in an anechoic environment, and recorded with state-of-the-art technology. All samples are 24 bit, are unlooped, and have a minimal duration of 10 sec. The Virtual Trumpet engine is structured according to an adaptive model, based on the performance “fingerprints” of the real trumpet. The purpose of the model was to minimize the differences between the real phrases and those played by the virtual instrument. Dynamic interpolation is carried out at 32 bit, using a development of our proprietary “harmonic alignment” technology, successfully employed for the Stradivari Violin and the Gofriller Cello.
Proprietary modal resonance IRs, innovative techniques for sample modulation, and advanced AI midi processing are used for real time construction of all articulations and morphing across dynamics, vibrato, legato, portamento, trills, vibrato-like endings, shakes and so forth.
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| It is well known that midi keyboards have different and uneven velocity response, and this may heavily influence the performance of a virtual instrument. To obviate this problem the instrument includes automatic detection of any velocity inhomogeneities or non-linearity emitted by the keyboard, and provides automatic remapping to any desired curve. Remapping of some midi controllers is also provided. This allows for example to remap CC7 to CC11, allowing for use of some high quality, but older keyboards which could output only CC7. Remapping of CC2 to CC11 allows for use of a breath controller, such as Yamaha BC3, provided that your keyboard supports it. |
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| All the controllers needed for proper functioning of the instrument are mapped to virtual knobs in a GUI panel, which can be activated by a drop down menu. This allows those users with keyboards without programmable MIDI sliders or knobs, to fully exploit the expressive capabilities of the instrument. The virtual knobs also allow for monitoring the incoming midi data, and can of course be automated when used as a plugin in an appropriate host application. |
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| This is an outstanding new feature, allowing to create real time articulations which are too difficult to perform with the usual interplay of expression pedal, pitchbend and modwheel. Sforzato, crescendo, decrescendo, realistic pitchbends, vibrato-like endings and different types of release, can be obtained by a simple touch on one of the keyswitches. The intensity of the effect, and its duration, are under player’s control. Please note that these are not just sampled articulations, but they are sample-modeled, indeed. This means that each time each of them will sound slightly different. No machine-gun nor mechanical repetitions here. |
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| A real trumpet may play different types of legato/portamento, with or without valves. The sound is different, since a different harmonic resonance is excited. This is nicely reproduced by our adaptive model. One may choose to perform a continuous half-valve portamento over two octaves by simply overlapping two notes, to split it manually playing intermediate legato notes, or to split it automatically, exploiting the natural harmonic resonances of the instrument, by a keyswitch. One can even choose to perform chromatically-split portamento or automated falls. |
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It includes several instruments belonging to the same family, namely three Bb trumpets (each slightly different, so that they can be played as a section in unison), German Trumpet, Cornet, Flügelhorn and Piccolo Trumpet.
Five different mutes (Bucket, Cup, Harmon, Harmon + stem, and Straight) can be applied to the Bb trumpets.
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The packed size will be approximately 300 MB, corresponding to a download time of about 5 to 30 minutes on a fast Internet connection. A CD package will also be delivered upon request.
The retail price is EUR 149 or USD 240 or GBP 120 (+ VAT, if applicable).
To purchase it, please click on the "order" link on top of the page. |
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The Trumpet is the result of a many-year research carried out by Giorgio Tommasini and Peter Siedlaczek, who also performed all the recordings. The K2 script was written by Nils Liberg, Josef Natterer and Giorgio Tommasini. We are also indebted to Stefano Lucato for co-research work and helpful suggestions.
Special thanks to:
Maciej Mulawa for the wonderful demos and Axel Schlosser for his great cooperation and skillful trumpet performance (Axel plays his custom-built trumpet created by the award-winning manufacturer Klaus Martens).
Thanks also to Arnd Kaiser of Steinberg (Cubase), Steffen Holly and Andre Standke of Magix (Sequoia) and Burkhard Elsner of Mega Audio (DPA Microphones) for their excellent cooperation and support.
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