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The Skiddaw Stones

The Skiddaw Stones

release date: 04.06.2018
4.0 of 5
(2)
Full Product

AAX Native, AU, Mac, NKS, Standalone, VST2, Win

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in stock
$ 99

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ROCK. MUSIC.

Skiddaw Stones ImageA Lithophone dating from 1840, The Skiddaw Stones are composed of 61 tuned and shaped rocks, made from rare hornfels stone, found in Cumbria, England. Hornfels is said to have a superior tone and longer ring than the more commonly used slate. 

Two different sets of mallets were used to laboriously capture large sets of velocity hits, then an extra articulation was recorded - the sound of the head of the wooden mallet being scraped across the stone surface - a surprisingly haunting and resonant sound. The result is a truly bewitching instrument, one that sounds truly ancient, even older than it is. Totally unique rock music. 

Skiddaw Stones Historic ImageThe Skiddaw Stones were created by Joseph Richardson, a stonemason and musician, it took almost thirteen years to collect and shape enough individual notes of hornfels to make an eight-octave range. The stones were taken from Skiddaw, one of the highest mountains in Cumbria. The massive task of assembling this instrument consumed Joseph so absolutely that he and his family were reduced to poverty. Once complete, Richardson and his sons toured Europe as The Rock, Bell and Steel Band, and even performed at Buckingham Palace, by command of Queen Victoria.

THE KONTAKT INSTRUMENT

Skiddawe Stones GUI

  • THE INSTRUMENT PANEL - The instrument page features 3 articulation switches, envelope and filter controls for shaping the sound, as well as Tremolo and Humanise  modules.

  • GENERATIVE TOOLS: CHORD MUTATION - Chord Mutate will take any input chord and slowly repeat and transform it over time..forever. - Inspired by Triadic Memories by Morton Feldman.

  • GENERATIVE TOOLS: CALDER - Calder is a generative music device that creates repetitions (loops) that vary in length while a note is held down. You can have one or two loops active, and a loop will be created for every note you hold down. Playing simple sequences creates constantly moving, shifting patterns & soundscapes.

The Skiddaw Stones features a range of custom processors, sequencers and generators to create musical soundscapes and textures.

Skiddaw Stone GUI 2GENERATIVE TOOLS

  • Calder: Drift notes in space like a ceiling mobile
  • Jammer: Arperggiator that evolves it's own patterns
  • Chord Mutate: Turn a single chord into an entire track
  • Tremolo: route filters, pitch or volume to tremolo modulation
  • Humanise: add natural variation to timing and velocity 

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 Ratings

The following reviews have been placed by customers who also bought this product from us. All reviews are provided through eKomi, Europe’s largest independent customer review company.

5.0 of 5
18.07.2023 Sprache: deutsch

Never heard the sound of stones before. Very interesting musical instrument, but not for mainstream usage. Recommended for experimental music or for music with a special "spice".

3.0 of 5
05.07.2018 Sprache: deutsch

Das Instrument klingt auf der Webseite wesentlich besser als in meiner DAW! Zu loben ist aber die Arbeit, die hinter der Digitalisierung eines solch einmaligen Instrumentes steckt!

 Requirements

Made for Kontakt Player

This product requires the free Native Instruments Kontakt Player, the latest version can be downloaded through Native Access, Native Instrument’s download manager!

The minimum required Kontakt version for this product is stated in the product description or can be found on the manufacturers website.

System Requirements:

Mac:

  • macOS 10.14 or higher
  • 64 bit
  • Intel Core i5 or Apple M1 (native)
  • RAM: 4GB (6GB recommended)

Windows:

  • Windows 10 or higher
  • 64 bit
  • Intel Core i5 or similar CPU
  • RAM: 4GB (6GB recommended)

Supported Interfaces:

  • Mac (64-bit only): Stand-alone, VST, VST3, AU, AAX
  • Windows (64-bit): Stand-alone, VST, VST3, AAX

Legacy Versions:

If you require legacy installers of Kontakt Player please refer to this Knowledge Base Article.
 

Required Registration:

Soniccouture products require you to register with the manufacturer at www.soniccouture.com to activate your license.

This product requires an activation!

This product requires Native Access for installation, registration and activation. Start the Native Access-Software and log in using your Native Instruments credetials to start the setup.

To sucesfully activate your product Native Access requires a working internet connection.

An Offline Activation on a different computer is Not Available with this product.

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