A Kalimba Ecosystem, Master-Grade, for Everyone.
Free through Wednesday, November 25.
About this Virtual Instrument
Dyad: Solo Kalimba is a virtual instrument sample library that puts expert and expressive kalimba performance capabilities into the producer’s hands.
At its heart is the Dyad Engine: an inventive interface featuring a pair of “left thumb” and “right thumb” pattern players that work together to recreate the interplay of a master player.
This auto-play engine covers note selection, playing style, swing, humanization, and micro-rhythms for rolls and added Flair.
With a library of 100 ready-made and customizable patterns, composers can focus on mood, melody, harmony and rhythm instead of mouse clicks.
Built around a handcrafted instrument and sampled in fine detail, Dyad: Solo Kalimba also lets you play over drones, sounds from nature, and to reinforce the kalimba with additional instruments.
So whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, the Dyad Engine and its extensive sound library will help you create kalimba music that is both intimate and expressive.
Presets
How to Play
Related: Make a Pattern
"Dyad": What Does it Mean?
And What it Means for You
From Greek dyas, meaning “the number two,”: a dyad is a pair of forces that function as one.
The Dyad Engine brings this idea to life.
By mirroring a percussionist’s symmetry with dedicated ‘left’ and ‘right’ hand pattern engines, you can bring real-life kalimba techniques into your music - all playable from a single key.
(and “YES”: you can play the kalimba like you would a piano, if you prefer).
What is it about the Kalimba Sound?
The kalimba’s voice can be heard far beyond its African origins, finding a home in game and film scores, lo-fi beats, ambient and meditation tracks, pop and world music.
The combination of a plucky attack followed by a bell-like ring lets the kalimba carry rhythm and melody at the same time.
Its sensitivity to touch, unique note range and distinctive construction give the kalimba a voice that can be playful and light, warm and nostalgic, dark and eerie, or anything in between.
What does the Dyad Pattern Player Actually Do?
It Does A Lot
Namely, it provides a musical system to manage nearly 800 samples from the kalimba.
Why so many samples?
Because every note has been captured with four distinct types of plucks (articulations), each featuring a wide range of dynamics (velocities) and multiple repetitions (round robins) for a natural, human feel.
The Engine allows you to access all of this complexity in moments, helping you create and play parts that would otherwise be nearly impossible to replicate without a master-level player.
FOUR FOR THREE
The Instrument Maker
Our cedar and gourd “Solo Kalimba” was crafted by instrument maker and artist Greg Trimble.
In 1985, Greg traveled to Congo to study traditional music and dance with master Congolese artist Titos Sompa. He returned home inspired and began crafting instruments rooted in African tradition.
Greg currently resides in Taos, New Mexico, and continues his passion for creating “Musical Spirit Calling Tools”.
A wide range of his instruments is available through Crossroads Musical Instruments and Etsy.
Purchase Options
Through Wed, Nov 25
Bonus For You
Every Dyad: Solo Kalimba owner receives access to the Video Manual.
Gain a complete working knowledge of Dyad: Solo Kalimba in about 15 minutes through a series of short, easy to navigate videos.
Includes a SUPER QUICK START video.
An in-depth Manual is also available.
NKS2 READY - DYAD: SOLO KALIMBA
NKS allows for interaction between DYAD: SOLO KALIMBA and KOMPLETE KONTROL and MASCHINE hardware.
For blind and low-vision users: Dyad: Solo Kalimba is among the first instruments to offer NKS2 accessibility at this scale, with nearly 100% of the interface controls fully accessible.
THE ENGINE
PLAY MODES: Three options: Chromatic (traditional keyboard layout), Natural (drum-like key arrangement), and Pattern (triggering the internal sequencer).
LAYERS: Contains five sound engines: Drone, Nature, Kalimba, Extra Layer 1 & Extra Layer 2.
LAYER EFFECTS: Each sound engine has controls for: Pitch, Velocity, Amp Envelope, Stereo Width, Drive, Multiband EQ & Filters, Auto Panner & More.
GLOBAL EFFECTS: Drive, Speaker Emulation, Stereo Width, Multiband EQ & Filters, Compression, Multi-Mode Delay (Modern, Analog, Tape, Vintage & Diffusion), “Psyche” Reverse Delay, and Two Reverbs.
PATTERN PLAYER: Holds up to 24 Patterns, per patch. Additional controls include: Swing, Humanization and Speed (with ½ and 2x options)
KALIMBA CONTENT
INSTRUMENTS: 1
SAMPLES: Nearly 800 samples
PRESETS: 14 (10 Pattern-based, 4 Chromatic)
PATTERNS: 100
TOTAL CONTENT SIZE: Approximately 250 MB
ADDITIONAL CONTENT
DRONES: Five
Acoustic & synth-based options
NATURE SOUNDS: Five
Moving Water (2), Nature Ambience (1), Rain (1) and Wind (1).
EXTRA LAYER SOUNDS: Five
Acoustic & synth-based options
REQUIREMENTS
SOFTWARE: Runs in the full version of Kontakt or the free Kontakt Player (v8.6.1 or higher).
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 10/11 or macOS 13 (Ventura) or higher (Pending: Golden Gate). Native Apple Silicon (M-Series) support.
COMPUTER: Because the Dyad engine is capable of using many samples and effects at once, we recommend users have a current and powerful computer for the best experience.
