RealSamples English Harpsichord Sample Library

The RealSamples English Harpsichord library presents an instrument built by Jacob Kirckman in 1766. Due to its two manuals and many registers, the Kirckman harpsichord offers lots of unqiue sounds, sampled with 6 different register combinations, including the upper 8', lower 8' (principal 8'), both 8' together, the 4' register, the lute stop as well as the nasale stop only available with Kirckman instruments.

RealSamples English Harpsichord Features:
-6 different register combinations sampled: upper 8', lower 8', 2x8', 4', lute stop and nasale stop
-Sampled registers can be combined for even more sounds
-Each register recorded with 8 different samples of each note
-ready to play HAlion/Kontakt2/EXS24 or GigaStudio3 presets
-wave format (except GigaStudio version)
-no mastering applied
-recorded in 192 khz/24 bits resolution and downsampled
-DVD set
-license-free application in your music

Jacob Kirckman's harpsichords are highly sought-after because of their sound quality and their signature sound. This harpsichord is one of seven Kirckman instruments within the Beurmann Collection, impressively showing off its special qualities. It remains in excellent playable condition despite its age.

Like all harpsichords, the Kirckman is not touch-sensitive. However, even if the differences are minuscule, not any given note will sound exactly the same due to different resonances of body and strings.  Until now, many keyboards and samplers represented harpsichords by always triggering off the exact same digital sample, leaving a cold and sterile sounding impression.

In order to improve upon previous recreations and to pay tribute to the liveliness and depth of this antique instrument, RealSamples captured every sampled register with up to 8 variations of each note.  To complete the harpsichord experience, they recorded every register with 4 different release samples of each note.  Remaining in excellent condition in the collection of Andreas Beurmann, it is now available for the first time for your sampler within the English Harpsichord library, presented in its original valotti tuning at 368 Hz (Presets in 440 Hz are included as well).

Presets are available for all common sample formats including HAlion, Kontakt2, and EXS24.  The sample library consists of 3600 single samples.  Recorded in the great sounding rooms of the Hasselburg estate, RealSamples employed vintage Neumann TLM-170 microphones in conjunction with Crane Song Flamingo preamps and Universal Audio 2192 digital converters to do the instrument justice.  For maximum sound quality, they recorded in 192 khz/24 bits, downsampled to the resolution of your choice.

Furthermore, the English Harpsichord sample library contains an essay in German from Professor Andreas E. Beurmann himself, explaining both the historical and musical background of the instrument.

A high performance system is required, especially a sound card allowing for the particular sample rate/bit depth, and at least 512 MB RAM (1 GB or more is best).