Product Reviews by KVR Members

First let me start my review with this from the manual:

Introduction

EMM Knagalis is a specialized AU and VSTi sample-based synthesizer, modelled around the structural elements of the Sitar, the famous Indian lute. But the same elements also work for bagpipes and other "ethnic" instruments.
Its basic sound set includes various stringed and percussive melodic instruments, such as the Santur (Indian salterium), the MBira (thumb piano), and the Shamishen, as well as many Bagpipes, a wind instrument which was included in the sound set because its legato playing style and drone accompaniment fitted the design of the synth.

The EMM Knagalis sample set includes three layers:

Lead Layer(monophonic)

Sympathetic Resonance Layer (polyphonic)

Drone Layer (monophonic)

Using this design, it is possible to emulate any melodic instrument which features sympathetic resonances and drones.

The Drone and Sympathetic Layers are also used to enhance the emulation of different ethnic instruments; for example, in the MBira sound, the Drone layer is used to simulate the buzzing effect produced by tiny metal pieces nailed to the wood box of the instrument. Similarly, the Sympathetic Layer adds the rich polyphonic resonance of the other reeds of the thumb piano.

EMM Knagalis brings you an experience beyond that of standard ROM players. The clever architecture, and the unlimited

custom and ethnic scale modes of this VST synthesizer can give you sounds much closer to real world ethnic instruments.

If you are still reading I can tell that to my ears, it is very easy with no or little knowledge, to create realistic sounding ethnic instruments.

The plugin comes with 30 soundsets (instruments) and 111 presets and 99 different scales so there is plenty to start with.

It is also possible to make user defined scales and even though you can't load your own samples you can blend the existing soundsets.

The manual explains this in a good and understandable way.

I can highly recommend this plugin if you are looking for that ethnic flavour in your tracks, and don't wanna use static samples, but instead create your own melodies and have a lot more control over the sound and feel of the instrument(s).

Installation went smoothly and it is very friendly on the CPU too.

I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because you know the five stars are reserved for that mythical plugin we're all forever waiting for :-).