Sonica Instruments SHAKUHACHI User manual

Sonica Instruments
SHAKUHACHI
Virtuoso Japanese Series
User Manual
Version 2.0 — July 2022
Thank you for purchasing SHAKUHACHI, part of Sonica Instruments’ Virtuoso
Japanese Series. We hope you fully enjoy SHAKUHACHI, hich has been designed to
achieve the ultimate in authentic Japanese sound.
The Sonica Instruments Team

Version History
Release notes for Update 2.0
• Groove Bro ser function added
• Status LED added to the EQ indo
• Updated Product Requirements (KONTAKT 6.6 or later)
Release notes for Update 1.5
• Added support for NKS and NATIVE ACCESS

3
Introduction
W at is t e shakuhachi?
The shakuhachi is a very simple ind instrument created from a species of bamboo called madake [giant
timber bamboo]. It is fashioned from the root of the bamboo and includes the rst seven knots. Its blo n
timbre and deep profound tone color, hich encompasses the sound of the performer’s breath, are
appreciated around the orld. The standard instrument is one shaku and eight sun (~54.5 centimeters) long,
from hich the name shakuhachi is derived. There are many lengths, and shortening or lengthening the
instrument by one sun (~3.03 centimeters) changes the fundamental tone by one semitone. Having no reed,
sound is produced by blo ing directly across the carved utaguchi blo ing edge at the end of the instrument.
Shakuhachi generally have four ngering holes on the top and one ngering hole on the bottom. The many
tone colors are created not just by opening and closing holes but also by varying the strength and angle of
the breath. Classical music, the pop orld, and other forms of music often use the shakuhachi because of its
compelling character.
SHAKUHACHI
Sonica Instruments developed this library to reproduce, ith as much realism as possible, the magic of the
shakuhachi: Singing sonorous intonation, deep yet delicate breathing, and a Japanese sound aesthetic that
spills over into the periphery. This library a lessly captures the scintillating sounds of a veteran shakuhachi
player, covering every playing technique and recorded ith exacting attention to detail at every musical
interval. Through uncompromising recording and KONTAKT programming of the common 1.8 “D” shakuhachi
and the lo er-pitched 2.3 “A” shakuhachi, e have crafted SHAKUHACHI to be the closest soft are
instrument ever to the real thing. That’s hy e encourage you to turn to SHAKUHACHI to add a distinctive
and memorable voice and texture to all kinds of music.
Above all, it is our intention to respect Japanese instruments and performers. One of our hopes is that
SHAKUHACHI users ill become better acquainted ith the charm of the real shakuhachi.
Product Hig lig ts
Recreating t e liveliness of t e shakuhachi’s singular playing tec niques required t e
development of special articulation mec anisms and interfaces
Key Trigger Connection lets you string toget er playing tec niques wit out ever interrupting
t e sound
Being a ind instrument, the shakuhachi is played by varying techniques from moment to moment hile
maintaining a single sound: for example, moving from a straight tone to yuri (vibrato) and then from yuri to a
violent and loud burst of air. We designed the Key Trigger Connection mechanism from scratch to reproduce
this quintessential shakuhachi performing approach. Key Trigger Connection lets you string articulations
together smoothly, just by hitting the assigned keys hile playing. Connectable articulations include various
yuri techniques, sforzando, muraiki (breath) eects, uchi &oshi ngering, and tamae (tongue trill). You can
connect as many articulations as you like hile holding do n the base note, for the feel of a live instrument.
Broad assortment of articulations, ve p rase banks, and breat noises
The library contains 25 articulations — including vertical yuri, horizontal yuri, and other vibrato techniques,
sforzando, multiple muraiki breath expressions, tamae, and korokoro,karakara, and other sound-eect
techniques — as ell as rich legato techniques, and short scale-based improvisations. All are key-s itch
controlled for highly expressive, real-time performances from your MIDI keyboard.

4
24 bit, 96 kHz multi-microp one recordings for full-delity
For the recording sessions, e used an array of microphones paired ith colorless microphone preamps to
capture every nuance of the instrument in 24 bit, 96 kHz delity. (The product itself contains 24 bit, 44.1 kHz
samples.) The package comes ith four microphone patterns — direct, overhead, room, and stereo mix — for
mixing versatility.
Blow control
This mechanism lets you, using a controller or aftertouch, manipulate the duration from the initial breath
noise before any sound is produced until the note’s full po er is reached. Blo control makes playing a
keyboard feel like a ind controller, giving you access to smooth, dynamic breath expressions despite being
sample based.
Alternate legato
When playing legato, this function automatically generates the alternating rising and falling legato that is
essential to the shakuhachi.
Atari legato
This function recreates the unique atari legato, a ngering technique that causes the pitch to jump the
instant a note change is made.
Oshi and uchi ngering
This function lets you add at ill fast oshi and uchi ngering during a blo n note for accents or tremolo
eects.
Scale Tuning
Each chromatic pitch across the hole register can be individually ne-tuned. This lets you create traditional
scale pitches from Japanese music and pitch “feels” unique to a particular performer. And of course, pitch
settings can be saved and recalled.
1.8 / 2.3 ybrid combination covers a wide register
The library contains samples from the common 1.8 “D” shakuhachi (D3 to G6) as ell as the 2.3 “A” shakuhachi
(A2 to B4), hich covers the lo register. The top note of the “A” shakuhachi range is adjustable bet een G2
and B4, to nd the perfect balance bet een the characters of the t o instruments. (This applies to Straight,
Tonguing, and Legato techniques only.)
Groove Browser
The library comes ith many classic shakuhachi phrases recorded as MIDI grooves. You can drag and drop MIDI
grooves directly from the Groove Bro ser into your DAW as MIDI data.
NKS ready
SHAKUHACHI is NKS compatible so it can be used ith KONTAKT PLAYER, KONTAKT FULL, and KOMPLETE
KONTROL. When SHAKUHACHI is linked ith a KOMPLETE KONTROL keyboard or other NKS-compatible
hard are, you can quickly previe tones and make full use of the hard are’s knobs and controllers.

5
Product Specifications
KONTAKT 6.6 or later required
KONTAKT PLAYER compatible
NKS ready
System Requirements
Mac: Intel Macs (i5 or better) — Mac OS 10.14, 10.15, 11 or 12 (latest update)
Apple Silicon Macs (via Rosetta 2 and natively on ARM in standalone mode or in hosts that support ARM) —
Mac OS 11 or 12 (latest update)
Windows: Windo s 10 or 11 (latest Service Pack), Intel Core i5 / equivalent CPU or better, 2 GB RAM
Graphics hard are support for OpenGL 2.1 or higher
Minimum of 4 GB RAM (6 GB recommended)
Data size: ~5.71 GB in NCW format (equivalent to ~11.4 GB in av format)
• Use the recommended Native Instruments KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER system requirements at a
minimum.
• Installing the product on a computer ith a faster CPU and ample RAM is recommended for optimal library
performance.
Important: Online user registration is required in order to use the library.
Required MIDI Controllers
With a sustain pedal, you can access the full functionality of SHAKUHACHI for more lifelike performances.
Sustain Pedal (CC #64)
The sustain pedal enables and disables the ne ly developed Key Trigger Connection function that provides a
more realistic playing feel. Key Trigger Connection lets you string together articulations from the initial
articulation selected ith a key s itch to any of various yuri techniques, sforzando, muraiki (breath) eects,
uchi &oshi ngering, and tamae (tongue trill), for more emotional nuances from the instrument.
Make use of t e convenient Quick Reference to SHAKUHACHI (PDF)
We recommend that you have a look at the included PDF le hile you get acquainted ith SHAKUHACHI.
This le gives a quick overvie of the distinctive playing techniques of the shakuhachi as ell as some
shakuhachi-specic terms.

6
Before Using T is Product
You need to register your serial code and download t e library data ith the NATIVE ACCESS 2 tool in
order to use this product. Check the Sonica Instruments ebsite for a step-by-step installation guide and
other information about updates.
1. Install NATIVE ACCESS 2
Note: You can skip this step if you already have NATIVE ACCESS 2 on your computer.
Do nload the NATIVE ACCESS 2 Installer for your operating system from the Native Instruments
ebsite (https:// .native-instruments.com/en/specials/native-access-2/) and follo the
instructions on the screen to install the tool.
2. Log In wit Your Native ID
Launch the installed NATIVE ACCESS 2 tool and log in.
If you do not have a Native Instruments account, click Sign up now on the Log In ith Native ID
indo . On the Create a Ne Native ID indo , enter the required information and create a free
account.

7
3. Register Your Serial Code
After NATIVE ACCESS 2 launches, click Add Serial. Enter the 25-digit serial code you received hen you
purchased the product and click Enter. (The serial code is sent you by email after purchase.)
Product registration is complete hen Success is displayed. The product you registered ill appear
under the New tab. Click the product’s Install button to start the do nload and installation process.
This completes the installation of the library.
After the do nload nishes, launch KONTAKT or KONTAKT PLAYER. The product ill be added
automatically under the Libraries tab on the left side of the screen. You can access the library in KOMPLETE
KONTROL in the same ay.

8
Overview of SHAKUHACHI
SHAKUHACHI orks ith KONTAKT, KONTAKT PLAYER, and KOMPLETE KONTROL.
Using t e library wit KONTAKT and KONTAKT PLAYER
Once the library is activated, the SHAKUHACHI library panel ill be added to your KONTAKT Library
Bro ser. Please load and use the tone model you ant from the Library Bro ser.
Using t e library wit KOMPLETE KONTROL
SHAKUHACHI is NKS ready, so the library can be linked ith KOMPLETE KONTROL or a KOMPLETE
KONTROL keyboard to previe tones and save settings as presets. You can also make full use of the
KOMPLETE KONTROL keyboard’s knobs, controllers, and bro ser. See KONTROL Series Controller
Parameters on Page 21 for details.

9
T ree Monitor Fields
The articulation, legato, and phrase bank monitor elds are displayed on all ve panes — mix,play,tune,
groove, and memory. The monitor elds let you see immediately the currently selected articulation, legato,
and phrase bank at all times.
articulation
This eld sho s the current articulation selected by key s itch. You can also check the current key s itch on
your KONTAKT keyboard.
Key S itch Articulation Name Key Trigger Connection
C0 Straight n/a
C#0 Tonguing n/a
D0 Grace Note n/a
D#0 Portamento Up n/a
E0 Straight and Atari n/a
F0 Sforzando On / O ith sustain pedal (CC #64)
F#0 Uchi and Oshi On / O ith sustain pedal (CC #64)
G0 Yuri 1 (Vibrato Horizontal) On / O ith sustain pedal (CC #64)
G#0 Yuri 2 (Vibrato Vertical) On / O ith sustain pedal (CC #64)
A0 Yuri 3 (Vibrato Vertical Long) On / O ith sustain pedal (CC #64)
A#0 Iki-Yuri 1 (Vibrato ith Breath) On / O ith sustain pedal (CC #64)
B0 Iki-Yuri 2 (Vibrato ith Breath Fast) On / O ith sustain pedal (CC #64)
C1 Muraiki 1 (Breath FX1) On / O ith sustain pedal (CC #64)
C#1 Muraiki 2A (Breath FX2A) On / O ith sustain pedal (CC #64)
D1 Muraiki 2B (Breath FX2B) On / O ith sustain pedal (CC #64)
D#1 Muraiki 3 (Breath FX3) On / O ith sustain pedal (CC #64)
E1 Tamane (FX ith Tongue Trill) On / O ith sustain pedal (CC #64)
F1 Karakara (FX ith Finger) n/a
G1 Korokoro (FX ith Finger) n/a
A1 Improvisation n/a
Articulation List and Key Switc Parameters

10
legato
This eld sho s the current legato type selected by key s itch. You can also check the current key s itch on
your KONTAKT keyboard.
p rase bank
This eld sho s the current phrase bank name selected by key s itch. You can also check the current key
s itch on your KONTAKT keyboard.
Key S itch Articulation Name
F#1 Slo Legato
G#1 Fast Legato
A#1 Atari Legato
Key S itch Phrase Bank Name Number of Phrases
C6 Short Phrases 1 8
C#6 Short Phrases 2 8
D6 Short Phrases 3 8
D#6 Short Phrases 4 6
E5 Short Phrases 5 5
P rase Bank List and Key Switc Parameters
Legato List and Key Switc Parameters

11
MIDI keyboard layout
C0 –A1: Articulation key s itch zone
F#1,G#1,A#1: Legato key s itches
B1 –F2: Breath noise zone
G2 –B5: Performance zone
C6 –E6: Phrase bank key s itch zone
F6 –C7: Phrase zone
F0 –E1: Key trigger zone ( hen Key Trigger Connection is on)
W en Key Trigger Connection is on
See Page 15 for details about Key Trigger Connection.
Articulation key switch zone
Alternate Picking
Mute
Sustain pedal mode switch
Mute the Strings
Phrase bank patterns
Phrase bank selectors
Performance zone
Half/Whole
Articulation
key switch zone
Legato
key switch
Key Trigger
zone
Phrase bank
key switch zone
Phrase zone
(e tends up to C7
depending on the
selected phrase bank)
Performance zone
Breath noise
zone
2.3
zone
1.8
zone
The 1.8/2.3 Division parameter
adjusts the dividing point between the 2.3 zone and the 1.8 zone.

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mix
This pane is used for basic sound production.
Audio mixer
The audio mixer lets you mix the three stereo microphone positions — Direct,OH (overhead), and Room — and
the Stereo (stereo mix) channel, hich is a pre-balanced mix of the three microphone sources. Turning on any of
the microphone channels disables the Stereo channel, and turning on the Stereo channel disables all
microphone channels.
vol: Adjusts the volume of each channel.
stereo widt : Adjusts the stereo microphone idth of each channel: 100% gives the original stereo idth;
0% reduces the idth to monaural.
pan: Adjusts the left-right panning of each channel.
rev: Adjusts the send volume of each channel to the built-in convolution reverb.
out: Selects the audio output of each channel. This is useful hen sending multiple channels to your DAW.
Setting multiple c annels for a single microp one output
Please see the KONTAKT manual for ho to create multiple outputs. After creating
the outputs, clicking the Restart Engine button (marked ith an exclamation
mark) at the top right of the KONTAKT interface ill update the output list under
SHAKUHACHI’s output control.

13
Reverb
The library contains 30 convolution reverbs, including t o impulse
responses from a Noh theater, available from the pull-do n list.
size: Adjusts the reverb d ell time.
return: Adjusts the volume of the reverb component.
Provides a four-band equalizer for each
channel. Clicking the left [E] button opens the
Equalizer indo . Clicking the right button
enables or disables the equalizer settings for
the corresponding channel. The EQ can be
turned on or o on the pop-up dialog as ell.
EQ
MIDI CC# learn function
All control knobs can be controlled individually ith MIDI Control Change (CC) messages.
To assign a control knob in SHAKUHACHI to a certain MIDI
controller:
1. Right-click on the knob and select Learn MIDI CC#
Automation.
2. Turn the knob or move the slider on your MIDI hard are
controller.
3. The assignment is complete.
Removing MIDI CC# automation
To remove an assignment, right-click on the knob and select Remo e MIDI Automation: CC# nn.

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Envelope
These t o knobs adjust the attack time and release time.
P rase Control
These t o knobs adjust the speed and ne-tuning (pitch) of phrases selected
from the ve phrase banks.
Velocity Control
curve type: Sets the velocity curve to Linear,S-Cur e,Compound, or
Fixed.
curve: Modies the selected curve.
min: Adjusts the minimum velocity of played notes.
max: Adjusts the maximum velocity of played notes.
play
This pane is used to set shakuhachi tunings and tonal nuances.

15
Key Trigger Connection
Key Trigger Connection is the instrument’s most important mechanism.
Key Trigger Connection outperforms musical expressions created ith ordinary key s itches by providing
much smoother control over articulation changes. This mechanism lets you glide bet een vibrato, muraiki,
and many other colorful articulations ithout ever interrupting the note being played.
With Key Trigger Connection, you can string together as many articulations as you like hile holding do n
the base note. The sustain pedal (CC #64) toggles Key Trigger Connection on and o. This is helpful in
attaining emotional nuances from the instrument because you can instantly activate the function as needed.
Velocity Source
This control selects the velocity source for articulations connected using Key Trigger Connection.
1st Note: Applies the velocity at the initial Key On event to all follo ing articulations.
Key Trigger: Applies the Key Trigger event velocity to the corresponding connected articulation. Use this
setting to add nuance at each articulation connection.

16
Blow Control
This control adjusts the duration from the initial breath noise to the full po er of
the note. By default, these controls are assigned to Modulation Wheel (CC #1) and
Breath Control (CC #2). Breath Control (CC #2) cannot be reassigned. Blo control
makes playing a keyboard feel like a ind controller, giving you access to smooth,
dynamic breath expressions despite being sample based.
noise level: Adjusts the breath noise level.
balance: Adjusts the balance bet een the actual note and the breath noise.
1.8/2.3 Division
Sets the crossover point bet een the 2.3 “A” shakuhachi, hich covers the lo
register, and the 1.8 “D” shakuhachi. (Setting applies to Straight, Tonguing, and
Legato techniques only.) The highest 2.3 shakuhachi note is sho n by default.
Pitc Bend
Provides individual adjustment of the up and do n pitch bend ranges.
Expression
Adjusts ho much the velocity aects the tone color.

17
Tune
This pane is used to individually ne-tune each chromatic pitch across the entire shakuhachi register. Pitch
settings can be saved as preset tuning les. You can load up to three presets in Slot A, B, and C.
Reset All: Resets all tuning settings to 0.
umanise: Set the range ith the knob and then click the button on the left. This instantly allocates random
tuning values ithin the set range.

18
groove
This pane is used to bro se and previe the MIDI grooves included in the library and export the grooves
to a DAW.
Velocity: Adjusts the playback velocity of the MIDI groove.
Transpose: Changes the key in semitone increments.
Swing: Adds a s ing feel to the MIDI groove.
Grid: Toggles the Swing quantization bet een eighth notes and
sixteenth notes.
Tempo: Species the playback tempo. The tempo cannot be changed
hen Sync is enabled.
Sync: When enabled, syncs the MIDI groove’s tempo ith the DAW
tempo.
Feel: Toggles the playback tempo of the phrase bet een x1.0 (original),
x2.0 (double-time), and x0.5 (half-time).
Process: Toggles at hich point the Swing feel is applied, either before
(pre)Grid is applied or after (post)Grid is applied. This control
lets you access a variety of playing feels even ith the same
phrase and settings.
Note about the scale when playing back groo es
The scale is automatically set to the Chromatic scale hen playing MIDI phrases in the Groove
Bro ser. If you have customized the scale, be sure to save it as a User Scale before using the Groove
Bro ser. Other ise, your customizations ill be lost hen the scale is reset.

19
Using a MIDI groove
To load a MIDI groove into the Player, double-click on the MIDI groove you ant to use from the Groove Bro ser
[1]. Click the play button [2] to start a previe playback. Double-clicking on a pattern hile the MIDI groove
is playing ill s itch patterns ithout pausing the playback. You can move to the previous pattern or next
pattern ith the arro keys [3] in the Player.
Loading a MIDI groove into your DAW
You can load a MIDI groove into your DAW as MIDI data. Simply drag the groove ith the key [4] and drop
the groove into your DAW.
[1]
[2]
[3]
The number appended to the end of the MIDI groove le name indicates the tempo at hich
the phrase as recorded at.
[4]

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memory
This pane is used to selectively load samples for all articulations and all phrase banks. Turning o a Load button
in the list ill disable the corresponding articulation or phrase bank and reduce the size of SHAKUHACHI’s
memory footprint. Key s itches and articulations ithout a Load button are al ays loaded.