Rob’s Toy Darbuka
A toy percussion instrument converted to a keyboard instrument...
ByRob Asselstine
The story
Pulled from my collection of toy instruments – this is my toy DARBUKA. Because it’s a percussion instrument converted here into a pitched keyboard instrument, there’s virtually no sustain. Changing the ATTACK however makes for an interesting change in the sound. The video here features three different attack settings. The home “tap” I sampled happens to resonate at C3. This particular toy is a Meinl Percussion HE-053 Lacquered Aluminum Mini Darbuka with Synthetic Head, 4 1/2-Inch Wide x 7 3/4-Inch Tall.
Rob's Toy Darbuka
Interface
Reviews
Sounds great, it's like a synth pluck! However...
This actually sounds pretty good, with it's a plucky character I can see its uses.
However, I personally find the lack of a reverb knob/slider and a reverb just baked into the sound, I don't really like, so personally, it is better if there was a setting to adjust the reverb, so if I actually wanted to use just the dry sound, I have an option too.
But yeah in general, pretty good small library!I wish it had a sustain
There is something really cool with this one. It is a really cool perc. It reminds me of plucked rubber bands. I love the attack and the amount of reverb that was put on. Simple controls, just volume and attack. But you can get a variety of sounds with just the attack. Knocking it up just a little bit turns it into something completely different. The low end sounds like a PVC mallet instrument, while the high end is almost panflute like. Which is why I wished it had a sustain. It's not the end of the world though. Still a super fun instrument!
New EDM Trend?
Drop the attack and play some EDM Chords. Sounds like a pitched Darbuka is gonna be on all the charts at some point.
I really like the flexibility of this tiny instrument, with one control.
It's also interesting how the attack almost sounds like a cut off if automated during a a piece.