Neolithic instruments Lithophone is a 2 octave Kontakt instrument making use of individual samples taken from a physical lithophone instrument. The unique, bright tones of the limestone bars will be a welcome addition to the toolkit of any producer looking for distinctive, organic sounds to compliment their library. Samples were taken from each of the notes on the lithophone at six different velocities and with two round robin variations. There are also two distinctive beater articulations to choose from, with a rubber beater providing a bright, clear tone and a yarn beater for a softer, warmer sound.
The detailed samples were recorded on location using a high quality AKG C414 condenser microphone to bring out the full frequency range of this beautiful sounding instrument. Finally, the samples were edited and mapped into Kontakt, with optional FX to enhance creative exploration. These are demonstrated through six presets which can be selected to showcase the variety of sounds available.
The physical real world lithophone was built by instrument maker Bobbie Millar in 2018. The stone bars are made from carboniferous limestone from Horton Quarry in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, UK. The instrument is housed in the waiting room of the northbound platform at Horton-in-Ribblesdale train station for public use and engagement.

I hope you enjoy the software version of the Horton-in-Ribblesdale lithophone as much as I enjoyed the recording process and creation of it!

Contributors

Neolithic Instruments // Wayne Scurrah

All recording, editing, sample mapping, scripting and design undertaken by Wayne Scurrah. With thanks to Tiiva for assistance in the recording process, and Bobbie Millar for her expert advice on the sampled physical Lithophone which she designed and built for Quarry Arts, 2018.