|  | Using this soundbank in a
sampler, you can play a virtual harpsichord
copied after a 18th century french instrument by Blanchet. It has one
manual, two 8' stops, plus a lute stop. This soundbank is available
in
soundfont,
and Kontakt 2 format. If you
want a version for Hauptwerk,
go to Soni Musicae / Hauptwerk.
The
soundfont version is not
complete,
because it has not the sound of mechanics (that are in
original samples) when the
musician releases the keys of the harpsichord, but the one for Kontakt
has it. |
The keyboard of a harpsichord
is not touch sensitive (dynamic), and
sounds at the
same level whatever you press the keys, but
it seems that it is impossible to obtain this with
the soundfont format... To avoid dynamic differences and respect the
original instrument, you can adjust velocity in your sequencer in a way
that the volume is constantly the highest... The Kontakt 2
version does not need this.
SOUND ESTHETICS
This bank has been created according to the following aims : we tried
to produce the best soundbank possible, without any concession, i.e.
without any consideration of size.
According to this, we have one sample for each note, and it lasts as
long as the sound is audible : the files last between 4 et 15
seconds, without adding the release samples. The
sf2 version weighs 214 MB instead of 250 MB for the full
Kontakt 2 version, which has the release samples.
You may find this recording too dry, not reverberated enough. It is
a deliberate choice, because we want this bank to be used in many
contexts, mainly in a sequencer. So, it is possible to modify its
sound, and add some reverberation or other effects, exactly as the user
likes, what would have been
impossible with a less neutral sound (for ex : church or concert hall).
The harpsichord has been tuned to A 415 Hz and to equal temperament.
But, in order to make it easier to use with most of modern
instruments (in a sequencer for example), we transposed a semi-tone, to
get a 440 Hz tuned harpsichord. So you can play it in your
compositions without problem.
Before
you download the soundbank, please read the license
and conditions of
use
|
| If
you want to hear the sound of this harpsichord soundbank before
downloading it, you can listen two pieces of a french composer,
François Couperin (18th century),
played by midi files. The 4 combinations can be heard
successively
: stop 1, then stop 2, then the lute, and then the two stops together,
in a hazardous order that will horrify harpsichordists ... | | Les
Barricades mystérieuses |
| Les
Papillons |
Please do not give direct link for download on forum or web sites !
| | Download
the sound bank Blanchet-1720 |
|
| |
| |
| The
sf2 version is compressed with sfark. To decompress it, you must use
this software which exists for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux, downloadable
there :
http://melodymachine.com/sfark.htm | |
| This soundbank is free
and will ever be, for you, but not for us. So, if you like it and want
to help us to develop
other soundbanks, or support our work, which takes time and money, you
can make a donation. If
so, send me an e-mail.
If you
want to give us some feedback or any remarks about this soundbank or
anything else, you can do it HERE
| | If
you use Hauptwerk 1 or MyOrgan (free and better than Hauptwerk 1), you
can find the Blanchet 1720 adapted to those softwares here :
Soni Musicae / Hauptwerk
| | | 
Click on the pictures
|
