The provided source material details several free sample libraries and Kontakt instruments featuring the Irish bodhrán drum. These resources are available to music producers and enthusiasts seeking authentic Celtic percussion sounds without cost. The information focuses on technical specifications, instrument features, and source origins, rather than traditional consumer product samples like beauty or baby items. Key sources include official product pages and community platforms where these free instruments are distributed.
The Crow Hill Company offers a free VST plugin called the Crow Hill Vaults Solo Bodhran. This instrument is part of their ongoing Vaults series and features 15 monophonic dynamic phrases assigned to white keys, along with 10 polyphonic individual drum one-shots assigned to black keys. Each white key note contains a unique rhythmical pattern that is a pre-recorded performance of a Celtic bodhrán. These phrases are loops that can be synced to a digital audio workstation's tempo. The one-shots include at least two round robins (sample variations) per hit. This plugin is available as a direct download, requiring no purchase or subscription, and is compatible with standard VST hosts.
A second free resource is a Bodhrán sample pack created by Bylorenzo and hosted on the Pianobook platform. This pack was designed to emulate the sound of a traditional, cheap tunable bodhrán played with a two-tip stick. It was created using Kontakt 6 and is described as a simple patch intended for community contribution. User reviews on the platform highlight its authenticity and emotion, though some confusion exists regarding the "Fast Hands" feature. The pack is noted for its simplicity, focusing on delivering a straightforward instrument without complex settings or effects. It is available for free download, requiring the Kontakt player or full version.
Red Room Audio provides a paid library, the Traveler Series Bodhrans & Bones for Kontakt, which is mentioned in the source data. This library is not free but is included in the context as a benchmark for quality and recording methodology. It features six unique Irish bodhrans and two sets of bones recorded in Dublin, Ireland, by bodhran maker Marcin Oracki. The drums were sampled with five stick types at multiple zones, and the library uses a "Frankensampling" approach for realistic pitch and dampening control. The library requires the full version of NI Kontakt 5.7 or above and occupies 2.2 GB of disk space. While not a free offer, its description provides context on professional-grade bodhrán sampling.
Mark Mitchell Music offers a free Kontakt instrument for the bodhrán drum. The creator sampled a personal drum to create a simple yet effective instrument. This library includes three Kontakt instruments, each recorded with a different homemade tipper: a light tipper, a heavy tipper, and a "hot rod" made from a bundle of small rods. Each set contains downstroke and upstroke samples recorded at four different pitch levels, determined by hand position and pressure on the back of the skin. Additional features include rim shots, double and triple ornaments, and six round robins per key. The samples are 24-bit/48 kHz, with a file size of 33 MB. It requires NI Kontakt 5 or higher, either the full version or the free Kontakt Player. The instrument is available for free download, with no purchase required.
All these resources are distributed digitally and are accessible to users in the UK and globally, provided they have the necessary software (e.g., Kontakt, a DAW). There are no geographic restrictions, shipping requirements, or eligibility criteria mentioned in the source data. The offers are perpetual and not limited by time, though users should verify the availability of download links on the respective websites. The information is sourced from official product pages and community platforms, which are considered reliable for technical specifications and feature descriptions. No unverified reports or forum posts were used in this summary.
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