Harmonica

[daw32965]

Looking for the best sampled harmonica. Any suggestions?

[JMDNYC]

I know this sort of answer comes across as smart-alecky, but when I needed a harmonica for a film I just bought a harmonica. In fact I bought the Toots Mellow Tone Chromatic. It was hard to find in a web search but I finally found it at Sam Ash.

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?ItemID=35294

Harmonica's aren't that hard to play, espcially when you can do multiple takes and cut them together. I usually do my recordings one phrase at a time. Plus there are so many expressive things you can do with bending and breathing, that it would be really hard to do that with samples. I feel the same way about sampled guitars; there are some great libraries out there (Hello Chris Hein!) but its seems better and easier just to play a real guitar, even if you're not great at it.

That said, zero-g has one:

http://www.zero-g.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=699

[homebilly]

that is exactly what i did with a duduk

i just bought one and gave it a go.

[germancomponist]

Me too, I bought a harmonica... . I also have a nice one sampled in my Roland XP 60.... .;)

Gunther

[Hans Scheffler]

the Zero G is mostly loops and phrases. The multisamples dont really sound that great.
the best harmonica i heard sofar is coming out of the Roland Fantom.
Its a 2 way velocity switch where high velocities trigger a sample that has a bit of pitchbending in the attack.
sounds quite convincing for a phrase or two.
:|:

Hans

[germancomponist]

http://www.sonivoxmi.com/ProductList.asp?lstSort=Synth&lstSynthSearch=Virtual%20Instrument%20(DVI)&lstInstruments=Harmonica

[scope4live]

I have Sonivox Muse.

It seems as though everything they had on that instrument has made it's way to their line of DVI's.

It has a good sound, but was watered down w/ DEF when they mapped it over to Muse.

I now believe Muse was designed to be a giant high quality GM. Many instruments are very nice, and others leave you wanting more.

It was first to the fight when GVI was released so I bought it. For 400 dollars it's great way to cover a gig for little money out of pocket. If a begginer was to buy this and use GVI's included content, it's a great way to get up and running quickly.

If they say it has more samples in the DVI form, I would say buy it. As the single DEF version on Muse sounds quite good, but lack articulations.

[daw32965]

Thanks for everybody's responses. Really appreciate it.

[jsaras]

The harmonica in Reason is very good. The "harmonica wah" patch allows you to create the open/close hand warble very convincingly with the mod wheel.

[Garritan]

Here is a sample of Darth Vader playing harmonica:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eZBevXohCI


:D:D:D

[Jamie_H]

I'm thinking of putting some harmonica into a piece I'm working on, but I'm not sure about it yet. Do you guys think I could get away with using a diatonic at first until I figure out if it is going to work? The chromatic is obviously a better choice, but considering I might not even use it, I'd rather try out the much cheaper diatonic.

[belbin]

You can buy diatonics for dirt cheap. If you think there's a chance you can get away with a single (or even numerous) diatonic harp (s), I'd grab the cheapest ones you can get in whatever keys you think might work, try them out, and either conclude that you need chromatic, or decide which diatonic(s) will do the job. Then upgrade the needed harps (if you deem it important to have brand power) and cut your tracks.

The other advantage is that diatonics are, well, diatonic....;)

Good luck.

Belbin

[Pingu]

Harmonicas aren't too common over here - so I had no idea what they're capable of. Then on Saturday I happened to buy a CD of Larry Adler at a charity shop.

Wow!! Now I want harmonicas in all my tracks.

[belbin]

Harmonicas aren't too common over here - so I had no idea what they're capable of. Then on Saturday I happened to buy a CD of Larry Adler at a charity shop.

Wow!! Now I want harmonicas in all my tracks.

Ha. Always amazing how an instrument you're not familiar with (especially ones that show up often in the media being played by bums) can surprise you when you hear it played by a virtuoso. Reminds me of the time Trichy Sankaran played here; He blew everyone's minds with a single drum. Then he did his encore on a tambourine, blowing everyone's minds again.

Belbin

[Ashermusic]

Harmonicas aren't too common over here - so I had no idea what they're capable of. Then on Saturday I happened to buy a CD of Larry Adler at a charity shop.

Wow!! Now I want harmonicas in all my tracks.

Good lord,man, don't you guys get Stevie Wonder over there? :)

[Gesticulator01]

Mmm! I was just hearing "Isnt she lovely" in my head while reading this!

[cwillsher]

I agree with the first response. For realism you really need to do it yourself or get someone in who can - I've done this with harmonica, guitar and now saxophone and have learnt (and saved) an awful lot but doing it too. I'm still a dreadful guitarist but it's surprising what you can get away with in the studio.*()

If I had to recommend a harmonica patch, I would say the one that comes with Logic 8 (EXS24) is always my first choice. It has some slight bends and dirt at higher velocities and through an amp sim you can just about get away with it. I haven't tried any bigger libraries though, only synths.

Here's a track I did using it (http://www.2b-royaltyfree.com/sample-audio/OurMonicasParty.mp3), for a fashion show item for Speedo. Sorry about the watermark! They aren't sampled phrases either, I just played it like that as it suited the context.

Have fun!

[mojamusic]

Roland XV series had the best harmonica patch I've ever heard. You could get pretty realistic sound with some clever programming.

[germancomponist]

Roland XV series had the best harmonica patch I've ever heard. You could get pretty realistic sound with some clever programming.

I agree 100%! ;)

[ohernie]

... with some clever programming.

Are you referring to aftertouch -> pitch bend or something else?

Ernie

[Jeff4h]

send me a wave file and Ill put it on for you. The chances of you learing fast enough to do anything very good in a short time is pretty remote. It is not that easy