Tongue Drum

Our first specimen. Free to the public.

Summary

DATA POINTS:

Kingdom: Idiophone
Classification: Tonal Percussion
Origins: African/Asian
Specimen Samples: 48kHz, 16 bit
Sample pool depth: 5 Round-robin, 4 velocity layers
Format: Kontakt 3.5+
Post-Research Tonality: Chromatic
Electrical Origins: Minimal
Price: FREE DOWNLOAD

Details

DETAILED EXPERIMENT LOG:

Initial measurements

This handcrafted specimen was captured, sampled, and analyzed by researchers with great anticipation, as all previous mallet

percussion specimens had been so traumatized through extended research that they were beginning to yield predictable results. The deep sampling pool drawn from the tongue drum enables realistic use of the pure tongue drum due to multiple round-robin variations and velocity layering, rendering computer bias statistically irrelevant.

Preliminary research has yielded a compact mini-bundle of instrument patches for free download and unrestricted use. Further interest in the lab with yield more advanced experiments and genetic alterations of sonic inventory.

The raw sample pool was modified with advanced lab practices (following all ethical guidelines as laid out by the A.G.S.R.T.). These modifications have expanded the organic capabilities of the usually short and percussive species to have additional life cycles as sustaining pads, slowly decaying percussives, and an emulation of a bowing mechanism. Audio Genetics technicians were able to stabalize these mutations and provide them as additional patches for test subjects to administer in their creative data output.

It is the belief of the lab that the modulating of acoustic species such as the tongue drum into more diverse sonic organisms will be a key area of research and growth within our facility. We are able to release this introductory bundle free to the public and welcome all data obtained through its use.

Rubber mass applied to Tongue Drum specimen

Patch List

PATCHES:
Tongue Drum : This is the original, raw, library. It has 5 round robins and 4 velocity layers. The original 9 tones of the drum have been stretched to cover the entire keyboard range. Try the bass range for a great woody low-end punch.

Air Tongues : This is a processed and smeared variation useful for ambient pads and textures. Laboratory researchers felt that even pads deserve round robin, thereby making this texture instrument feel more natural than purely synthesized pads. The mod wheel is defaulted to control the cutoff of a lowpass filter.

Long-Bowed : Extending the resonance of the original recordings, this patch simulates what bowing a tongue drum might sound like. The ADSR is controllable from the front panel.

Long-Mallet : Another lengthened sample, giving an alternate version of the drum which has more resonance and less “thunk”.

VibraTongue : Similar to the Long-Mallet, though with a mod-wheel controlled vibrato mechanism.

Decontamination Processing

Audio Demos

AUDIO DEMOS:
“Tongue Drum Only” Demo by AudioGeneticsLab

Tongue Drum – Demo 2 by AudioGeneticsLab

Download

REQUIREMENTS / DOWNLOAD:
All patches are in Kontakt 3.5 format, and require the full retail version of Kontakt.

Free to use and distribute. These samples may be used in any commercial and non-commercial works without restriction or fees of any kind. Please distribute the samples and patches to any and all potential subject pools, but do not resell the sounds as part of another sample library.

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Filesize: 132 MB

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Screenshot of specimen #TD-901 in use.

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- We at the lab thank you for your continuing support of important audio research. -

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Keith Fuller

July 14, 2010 at 12:56 · Reply

cool instrument. this sounds just like TH’s Whale Drum, but this has more of a studio sound whereas their’s is wet as can be. Can’t wait to see what you guys release next. Best of luck, and thanks for the freebie.

t_l

July 15, 2010 at 09:56 · Reply

Thanks!

Audio Genetics

July 15, 2010 at 17:03 · Reply

Thank you for the feedback, Keith. Your participation in emerging research will help us better understand our audio world. You brought up a point worth mentioning which was not in our abstract: These samples were all recorded dry, so feel free to place the specimens in your own sonic reverberation environment.

Daniel Nevels

July 19, 2010 at 06:19 · Reply

Wow!!! Great job guys. Nice sample library!

Barry Higgins

July 20, 2010 at 12:35 · Reply

The samples sound very good. I am a musical instrument maker and have made a number of tongue drums and marimbas despite the fact I primarily make Native American Flutes. There are HUGE differences in tongue drums based on the techniques used by the maker as ell as materials. Things like is the top pf the drum screwed down or glued and if glued with what type of glue. Is the box made of a high density wood to better reflect the sound rather than absorb it. What is the material on the top is it a resonant wood such as Paduck, Cedar, Redwood that better supports sustain or is it a bright tonal wood such as Rosewood or Grenadillo. Other factors are how many nodes are under cut into the keys and how well it is done the more nodes the more harmonics – the richer the sound. In a used instrument one has to look out for micro cracks in the wood, often caused by playing it with the wrong mallets. The cracks have a huge effect on the sound. Mallet selection is also very important to vary the brightness of the tone as needed. As a wood worker I would question the sterilization process and why you would do that. Any type of moisture or solvent will have an effect on the tone as it will absorb into the wood cells. Moisture is really bad as it takes longer to dissipate placing water on a tongue drum would be the equivalent of taking your Martin guitar out to play in the rain.
Thanks you for the samples – I hope the information I have provided can assist you. Barry Higgins

Audio Genetics

July 26, 2010 at 18:00 · Reply

Barry,

Thank you very much for sharing the detailed experience that you have with making instruments. These kinds of datasets will help inform the research of tomorrow. The flutes on your website are quite astounding. The bird head flutes are particularly fantastic, and we at the lab applaud your fine craftsmanship and detail.

As far as our sterilization process, due to the nature of active research and private funding I am not at liberty to provide details in this matter. However, I can tell you that our focus is a sonic decontamination to rid the incoming subjects of any lingering echoes, acoustic resonance feedback loops, and reticulated aural splines. No liquids, solvents, or chemicals are introduced in this process, and we feel that the steps we take upon acquisition of a new subject are a worthwhile action in order to overcome any P.O.G.B. residue (Previous Owner Genre Bias) that may be present. Thank you for your time and understanding.

-A.G.L.