Hopkin Instrumentarium: The U – Steel Lamellophone Kontakt Instrument by Soundiron

Rated 4.0/5 on Plugin Boutique (6 ratings)

Hopkin Instrumentarium: The U is a Kontakt instrument from Soundiron that samples a glissy steel lamellophone built by instrument inventor Bart Hopkin. It covers plucks, bowed sounds, glisses, percussion and sound-designed FX.

REQUIRESKontaktHost player sold separately

VST2AUAAXKontaktWindowsmacOS

AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique

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01Overview

The U is a metallic, liquid-toned instrument. Its source is a steel lamellophone with 14 closely spaced tines per note, arranged in twelve tuned groups that form a chromatic scale. Each group spans several octaves, so melodies can be played by accenting specific tines. Soundiron recorded it in wide stereo and with a tetrahedral binaural microphone for a more immersive, first-person perspective. The library runs in Kontakt and includes sound-designed textures and pads alongside the acoustic articulations.

Best for

Ambient and cinematic textures
Melodic metallic plucks
Bowed glisses and pads
Experimental sound design
Percussive layering

Developer: Soundiron
Category: Kontakt Instruments
Requires: Kontakt
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Glissy steel lamellophone built from 14 tines per note
Plucks, bowed shorts, bowed sustains, glisses and percussion
20 sound-designed custom FX and ambient presets plus 2 master presets
7,694 stereo samples in 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless NCW format
Close stereo and tetrahedral binaural microphone recordings
Adaptable LFO system with 12 filter types
Arpeggiator with velocity table and key and scale lock
Modular FX rack with 18 DSP modules and 10 slots

03In depth

Sound Character and Articulations

The instrument is built around playable articulations, including plucks, bowed shorts, bowed sustains, glisses and percussion. Soundiron also includes sound-designed textures, pads and tones that extend beyond the acoustic source.

The library provides 7,694 stereo samples in 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless NCW format. The two microphone positions, a close stereo pair and a binaural capture, let you choose between a direct sound and a more enveloping one.

Kontakt Controls and Effects

The Kontakt interface includes automation-ready controls for swell, attack, release, offset, vibrato, filter, coarse and fine pitch, articulation switching and cross-fading. An adaptable LFO system, 12 filter types and a customizable arpeggiator with scale and key lock add further shaping options.

A modular FX rack offers 18 DSP modules across 10 assignable slots, and the reverb includes 99 convolution rooms, halls and outdoor environments along with 40 custom FX impulses.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Soundiron
Type	Plugin
Category	Kontakt Instrument
Requires	Kontakt
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX, Kontakt
Operating systems	Windows, macOS

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What do I need to use The U?

The U requires Kontakt. It can run in the free Kontakt Player (version 6.1 or later) or the full retail version of Kontakt (version 6 or later).

What plugin formats and operating systems does it support?

The U is available in VST2, AU, AAX and Kontakt formats. It runs on Windows (Windows 7 or higher) and macOS (OS X 10.12 or higher).

Is it compatible with Komplete Kontrol?

Yes. The library is fully compatible with Komplete Kontrol and all S-Series Keyboard Controllers by Native Instruments, and works with NKS software and hardware.