Tablas

Our Tablas library is the most comprehensively sampled Tabla sample collection you'll find anywhere. This library contains both looped phrases as well as deeply multi-sampled tablas. The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in the classical, popular, and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent and in Hindustani classical music. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres. To call tabla a mere percussion instrument would be a vast understatement of its musical depth, as one of the most revered of all classical Indian musical instruments. We worked with tabla master and jazz percussionist Sameer Gupta to capture a range of tabla rhythm, melody, and soul. Sameer has been a student and practitioner in the art of percussion for nearly 25 years, traveling the world to study and perform in some of the world's most prestigious institutions and venues.

This library was recorded close and dry, in a medium wood and masonry studio. We covered every classical tabla articulation and a variety of variants and creative alternatives for maximum flexibility. We've also developed custom performance control and pitch stepping functionality, further expanding the musical potential of this library. You'll also find a broad set of special effect and tuned melodic programs and mutations, as well as a mighty set of brand new morphable ambient drone instruments, crafted and sculpted from the heavily manipulated raw source recordings.

The multi-sampled portion of the library contains a staggering 2,333 individual samples. Included are master patches, which incorporate all of the tabla, bāyāñ and combo articulations into a single playable instrument. We've also included separate patches that are specific to each set: tabla, bāyāñ and combo. "Wet" versions for a few of the instruments are also included which incorporate a few of our custom-captured convolution reverb impulses to provide a more lush, ambient feel.

The looped phrases portion of the library contains over 1300 unique phrases. This spans over 2 hours of live tabla phrases exploring traditional and contemporary poly-rhythms and grooves. We recorded close and dry, in wide-stereo and covered a wide range of tempos. The instruments are tuned to Middle C, with key-switch pitch control to allow shifting by up to +/- 7 semitones.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Sampling: Contains both looped phrases and deeply multi-sampled tablas.
• Expert Collaboration: Recorded with tabla master and jazz percussionist Sameer Gupta.
• High-Quality Recording: Close and dry recording in a medium wood and masonry studio.
• Extensive Samples: 2,333 individual samples and 1300 unique phrases covering a wide range of tempos and styles.
• Versatile Patches: Includes master patches and separate patches for tabla, bāyāñ, and combo articulations.
• Special Effects: Broad set of special effect and tuned melodic programs, plus morphable ambient drone instruments.