Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
The Soniccouture catalogue is a beautifully crafted and varied inventory that encompasses some unique gems. Their latest release is Kora, a 21‑string harp‑like instrument emanating from Gambia that fulfils their brief perfectly. The Kora consists of strings which are stretched across a bridge, which sit abreast a gourd resonator, much like a Berimbau. Being equipped with 21 strings it provides a considerable note range of just over four octaves.
The opening page of SC’s Kora offers volume controls for Mic or Contact samples, which are both exceptionally appealing in their own way. The Mic signal is beautiful and clear; each sample gently fades away, but only once each note has completely dissipated. The lower register exhibits weight and depth, while the upper register is crisp and slightly reminiscent of a Celtic harp. The Contact signal, on the other hand, provides a quality which is surprisingly not unlike a semi‑acoustic electric guitar. The initial transients feel more pronounced here which, when coupled with the mic signal, can combine to create a wide range of guitar or harp‑like colours. This underlines a point that it could be easy and understandable to adopt a preconception about where you may go with Kora, but the possible direction of travel far exceeds its initial description. A quick browse through the provided patch list will endorse this, as you hear everything from the natural beauty of the instrument to timbres that would not be out of place in a Country & Western tune, and much more besides.
Soniccouture’s usual elegant and engaging interface invites you to alter the sample playback, through familiar and usual suspects. Beginning with ADSR envelope and LFO modulation, SC include their usual extensive line‑up of filter models, of which there are 25 types from low‑pass to vowel. At the bottom of the instrument’s register is a solitary keyswitch, which momentarily applies a muted sample to any played note. This is not like a guitar mute, but more of an on/off style of playing, with abrupt dampening. It’s very useful for varying the timbre while playing, but as Kora is also equipped with a considerable number of round robins and a full 40 velocity layers, any repeated notes will sound very natural, if played authentically.
For even greater authenticity, Kora also includes a MIDI pattern player, with 20 authentic patterns included. These can be shaped or tweaked to suit your own purpose, with the ability to export the MIDI directly out of Kora in to your DAW. In use, this was great for hearing Kora in its more native environment, while also applying additional bass notes to suggest the direction of harmonic travel. SC also provide an abundant Effects page, packed with modulation, EQ and stylish reverb effects.
Kora is as surprising in its flexible and versatile deployment potential as it is for its beautifully intrinsic acoustic make‑up.
There is no doubt that this is another very sophisticated release from Soniccouture, but Kora is as surprising in its flexible and versatile deployment potential as it is for its beautifully intrinsic acoustic make‑up.
£119
£119