Origins Vol.2: Music Box & Plucked Piano – Kontakt Instrument by Sonuscore

The music box is a soft, bright instrument that the developer suggests works well for intense yet subtle emotions, such as a childhood flashback or an unsettling scene with a contrasting tenderness. The plucked piano is different: because the strings are plucked rather than struck by a felt-covered hammer, its tone is harsher and more rugged.

Played together, the two instruments interact rhythmically and build layered textures. Sonuscore presents the pair as a foundation for eerie, anticipation-building or dreamy moods that can be sketched quickly.

The 12 colour presets add further tonal variation. Each colour carries its own effect settings and impulse responses, and the colours can be combined with the arpeggio presets, which the developer says yields over 1200 predefined combinations.

The Multi-Arpeggio Designer (MAD) is the centrepiece of the instrument. Two fully customizable arpeggiators create patterns that combine the timbres of both instruments. Sonuscore says the engine is designed to produce a musically meaningful, human-feeling performance rather than randomly placed notes.

You can load one of the 100+ rhythm presets or build your own arpeggio in as much detail as you need. Every control can be adjusted, so the presets work as a starting point. Designs can also be copied and pasted into other instruments in the Origins series.