Sound Magic has introduced Laurel Pipa, a new virtual instrument that recreates the sound of the Pipa, or Chinese Lute.

The Pipa is a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument which has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets ranging from 12-26, belonging to the plucked category of instruments.

Laurel Pipa is a hybrid modelling virtual instrument for Mac (AU 32-/64-bit, VST 32-/64-bit) and Windows (VST 32-/64-bit). The 3GB library covers 15 categories of Pipa performance technique.

Here’s what the developer has to say about it:

“Modelling can do the things that sampling technology cannot. Users can start legato or glissando anytime you want, on any technique it has, not limited to the patch that has sampled legato. Also, musicians can change timbre in real times as a modeled instrument. With modeling technology, an instrument’s sound will keep changing, not the fixed or dead as a sampled instrument. In audio demos, you can clearly hear how the instrument changes through time; give the sound unlimited possibilities and varieties.

Sound Magic further expanded its technology to achieve more authentic sounds from sampling without sacrificing creative control. For perspective, this means starting with non-vibrato and then fading in vibrato sustain while changing depth and speed. Or, users can also change Tremolo speed in real time while optimize control or to leverage human behaviors in the vibrato for enhanced realism in the final version.”

Audio Demos:

Pricing and Availability

Laurel Pipa is available now, with an intro price of $69 USD for three months (normally $99).