behr - Mbira - Ableton Instrument Rack

Mbira by behr is a meticulously recorded Ableton Live Pack of one of Africa's oldest musical instruments the Mbira. Invented by the Shona people of Zimbabwe, the Mbira is a class of musical instruments that features metal tines positioned to be played by the thumbs and sometime by the fingers. A direct translation of Mbira Dzavadzimu is, "The Voice of the Ancestors". The first European documentation of the Mbira was around 1570, by Portuguease explorers. Each design of the instrument originates from a different region and is known by a different name, such as the "Kalimba" or the "Sansa".

Not only is the Mbira Instrument Rack created to feel as authentic to play as possible in terms of velocity response, but the design of the rack is created to shape and mould the sonic textures further. From implementing infinite loop based walls of sound whilst reconfiguring the sample start offset, to applying a filter LFO to add rhythmical movement to the organic nature of the instrument. Choose between sustained open tones or muted tones, the behr - Mbira rack was professionally recorded using a Universal Audio Apollo Quad and two condenser microphones in a acoustically treated studio.

Mbira rack is an authentic African instrument designed to stretch the boundaries of what is capable in the real world. Aiming to redefine the relationship between the acoustic quality and electronic manipulation.