SYMPHONIC: Hammered Violin for Ableton Live

Most violin sounds come from a bow drawn across the strings. KLANG took a different approach. The developer describes recording a violin struck with a piano hammer and a xylophone mallet, which were already lying around the recording room. The result is a violin tone with a sharper attack and a distinctly rhythmic feel, closer to a struck percussive instrument than a sustained string.

Because the source material is a familiar instrument played in an unexpected way, the sounds can work in both traditional and experimental arrangements. They suit producers looking for textures that feel organic without sounding like standard orchestral strings.

KLANG also programmed a sequencer into the instrument, so you can play rhythmic patterns with the hammered violin sounds. The developer notes that this makes it easy to build pulsing or percussive lines without sequencing them by hand in a separate tool.

The sequencer is most useful when you want the instrument to drive a groove rather than simply play melodies. Patterns can be created in any way you like, which keeps the workflow open-ended.