September 12, 2023
Blog by Thomas Lack

The Santur is Available Now!

Hot off the heels of the Harmonium, we’ve got another “world” instrument out today! And like the Harmonium, the Santur has a diverse origin, although it is most commonly associated with the Balkans today. Playing these world instruments in Soundpaint is really fun - not only do you get a really finely detailed reproduction of the acoustic instrument, but the programs explore so many other possibilities: ambient synths, dark soundscapes, bell tones, and many more. 

I have a soft spot for hammered dulcimers, so I’m quite pleased to see this instrument in Soundpaint. One of my other favorite instruments in the Cimbalom Ensemble, a set of 6 Cimbaloms playing together in one hall. Compared to that, the Santur obviously has a more intimate sound (being a solo instrument) that explores lighter timbres. The 3 mallets differ more in color than one might expect, as do the 2 microphones - so there are a ton of combinations to dial in the perfect sound.