Xbow Guitars

Guitars Are The New Strings!

Over the last few years, experiments with bowing techniques have resulted in a huge range of new timbres and textures from guitars. So Soniccouture has taken the original ebow recordings and built a completely new set of instruments around them, adding over 12GB of new samples in the process: Cello bows, vibrators & Gizmotron all featured in the set of four new instruments for Kontakt Player & NKS Kontrol.

BOWING TECHNIQUES

A continuation of the acclaimed eBow Guitar instrument, Xbow Guitars showcases Soniccouture´s further experiments with unconventional ways of playing guitars. The result is a suite of unique yet organic virtual instruments.

• BOWED GUITAR - Guitars played with a violin bow. The result is very similar to a conventional string sound, but with its own distinct character. Four articulations were sampled, including playing with the wood of the bow (col legno). The main violin bow articulation is a dynamic crossfade patch, interpolating between the soft bow and the hard bow. Both acoustic and electric guitars were sampled.

• EBOW GUITAR - The ebow (Energy bow), is a hand held device that 'bows' the strings of a guitar using an electromagnetic field. It produces a unique guitar sound, with a very slow attack and infinite sustain. Acoustic and two electric guitars were recorded with vibrato and without, with high and low ebow power settings which can be crossfaded using the mod-wheel giving extra expression to your playing.

• VIBRATOR GUITAR - Another unusual technique, in which an ‘electronic massage device’ is used to stimulate the strings. It’s an edgy sound, like a constant tremolo effect, ideal for atmospheres and effects. Both acoustic and electric guitars were sampled.

• GIZMOTRON GUITAR - A new version of the Godley and Creme developed device that attaches to an electric guitar and uses tiny rubber wheels to bow the strings. You can vary the speed (velocity) of the wheels on the device itself, which we then sampled to create a dynamic crossfade system in the virtual instrument.

This is a Kontakt Player instrument. This means that you do not need to own the full version of NI Kontakt to use it.