Looking like an instrument from the future, the Chapman Stick has a range and playability reminiscent of a piano, combined with the expressiveness and tone of a guitar/bass hybrid. The Stick is held vertically and played with both hands using a technique known as tapping. Rather than plucking or using a pick, tapping involves rapidly pressing the strings into the frets to cause notes to sound. This unique invention has a distinctive, harmonically-rich sound capable of percussive staccatos, sparkling chords, and buttery smooth melodies.
Evolution 10 String Stick lets you experience this truly amazing sound in a virtual capacity, meticulously sampled to recreate all the capabilities of the original instrument.
The standard model Stick features ten strings, divided into a set of five treble strings and five bass strings, giving it a playable range of over 5 octaves. We sampled each string individually, all the way up the instrument’s expansive fretboard. Evolution 10 String Stick automatically determines which strings and frets to use based on adjustable positions for both hands. You can also select where the split point is between the treble and bass ranges on the keyboard. Having factors like these automated make it a breeze to play from a MIDI keyboard, all while sounding natural and authentic.
We developed the library in collaboration with Rosewood Recording Company, one of Utah’s most venerable recording studios. Guy Randle, the owner and recording engineer at Rosewood Recording Company, incorporated analog audio equipment to skillfully sculpt and emphasize the rich tonal qualities of the instrument. Evolution 10 String Stick includes both the as-recorded signal as well as an enhanced signal that can be blended to your taste.
Key Features
- Built-in effects collection for production-ready Chapman Stick tones.
- Powerful mapping system that lets you set how you want to trigger articulations, using conditions such as velocity ranges, MIDI CCs, latching and non-latching keyswitches, and more.
Sampling Specifications
- 14.5 GB (compressed to 5.7 GB using the lossless NCW audio format) of 24-bit samples.
- The articulations have 2 dynamics and 4x round-robin.
- Articulations such as sustains, muted notes, natural harmonics, plus special effects like string slaps and divebombs.
- Legato samples for slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs.
