Hammered Dulcimer v2: Kontakt Instrument by Cinematique Instruments

The patch includes three articulations. Mallet is the standard sound, with the strings struck by small wooden mallets. Sticks uses a drum stick for a different attack. Muted is played with a timpani mallet while the palm of the hand damps the strings.

Each articulation was recorded in four round robin variations and up to four velocity layers, which gives the notes some variation when played repeatedly. The two microphone positions, one near the top of the instrument and one at the bottom, cover a broad range of sound and can be mixed to taste.

Because each course of strings is tuned in unison but rarely in perfect unison, the instrument has a natural chorus quality, similar to a mandolin.

The developer included two ways to create the hammered dulcimer tremolo. The first duplicates each note when the key is released, giving direct control over the velocity and tempo of the roll. The second uses the mod wheel, which moves the tremolo tempo from slow to fast.

A random factor affects tempo and velocity automatically, which keeps the tremolo from sounding mechanical and makes it easy to switch between single notes and rolls. Reverb, delay, decay, distortion and octave controls are also available to shape the overall sound.