Acousticsamples AkousKontr — Free Download

Performance and Dynamics

AkousKontr is a German four-string upright bass, sampled from both its pickup and a pair of electrostatic microphones. The instrument’s main strength is its controllable legato system. You can set how legato notes trigger—whether they produce hammer-ons, slides, sustains, or no effect at all.

The release volume is also adjustable, shaping the sound of the string when it is released. All these parameters are available directly from the top of the interface, giving you real-time control over the instrument’s responsiveness and tone. This approach is designed to let you shape the bass to fit different playing styles and musical contexts without diving deep into hidden menus.

Source and Signal Mixing

The library was captured with two distinct recording sources: a pickup and a pair of electrostatic microphones. On the interface, you can adjust the volume of each source independently, which allows you to blend between a more direct, amplified tone and a more ambient, room-like sound.

Having both sources available is a practical advantage for a producer or composer. You can use the pickup sound for clarity in a dense mix, or push the mic signal for a more organic feel in exposed passages. The ability to balance these signals on the fly means you can adapt the bass to the arrangement without additional processing.

Sampled Articulations and Effects

AkousKontr includes a variety of sampled articulations beyond standard sustains. There are hammer-on samples for legato passages, slides for expressive transitions, harmonics, ghost notes, and string hits. Also included are percussion samples created by hitting different parts of the bass with the hand. These are useful for adding rhythmic texture or percussive color to a performance.

The instrument also has an advanced vibrato effect that is controlled via the modulation wheel, allowing for smooth, continuous vibrato intensity. All these sounds are mapped and scripted in the bundled UVI sample player, which means you can access them in a streamlined way. The library’s scripting gives you an uncluttered interface while still keeping advanced features within reach.

Workflow and Compatibility

AkousKontr is designed to work within the UVI Workstation, a free sample player that is included with the product. The player is required, and the library requires a specific version of the Workstation to run (version 3.1.6 or later). This eliminates the need to purchase a separate sampler, making it easy to load the instrument in any compatible host.

The instrument ships with a large amount of uncompressed samples, compressed into lossless format to reduce disk space. The velocity layers and multiple round-robin takes for each note allow for organic replay. The main workflow is straightforward: load the instrument, adjust the legato mode and mic/pickup balance to taste, then play, using the mod wheel for vibrato and exploring the articulations for expressive performances.

Key features

• Dual recording sources: pickup and electrostatic microphones, with independent volume controls
• Legato mode with hammer-on, slide, sustain, or no effect options, plus adjustable distance and sensitivity
• Multiple velocity layers and round-robin takes for more natural sustain reproduction
• Advanced vibrato effect controlled via modulation wheel
• Includes slides, harmonics, ghost notes, string hits, and percussion samples
• Bundled with UVI Workstation sample player (version 3.1.6 or later required)
• Lossless compressed samples to save disk space

Best for

AkousKontr is best for composers and producers seeking an expressive upright bass virtual instrument for jazz, acoustic, and cinematic genres. Its dual mic/pickup blending and detailed legato control make it suitable for both melodic lines and rhythmic accompaniment, with the included articulations adding realism to solo passages.