BOX OF TRICKS

• STRUM VELOCITY TRIGGER + KEYSPLIT MODE
• HEAPJAMMER, HARMONISER
• SLIM, MULTI FILTER, AUTO-PAN, REVERSE

Imogen's most famous instrument, her 5-octave Array Mbira. Imogen wanted to be able to play this as you would in real life, with 2 sets of notes mirrored for right and left hand. We also developed for her a strum device that strums as many notes as you choose, over any chosen key velocity.

A set of tuned plastic percussion tubes. Imogen plays them with either wooden or carpet covered paddles, so both are sampled here.

• WOOD OR CARPET PADDLE KEYSWITCH
• HEAPJAMMER, HARMONISER
• TRANSIENT SMOOTHER, SLIM, MULTI FILTER, AUTO-PAN, REVERSE

Not your usual Cello samples - Imogen's favourite cello techniques, performed by her for specially the recording. The bowing is very soft and quiet, almost breaking up, while the Slide articulation is a kaleidoscope of harmonics. Pizzicato plucks (+ reverse option) complete the set. At Imogens request, the level can be continuously modulated with its own fader for realistic expression.

• PIZZ, BOW, SLIDE, REVERSE KEYSWITCHES
• HEAPJAMMER, HARMONISER
• NATURAL LEVEL MODULATION, SLIM, MULTI FILTER, AUTO-PAN

A tight jazz kit and selected percussion. Detailed velocity layers (up to 64) make this kit very expressive and dynamic.

• CLOSE + ROOM MICS, STICKS, BRUSHES, MALLETS
• HEAPJAMMER, EUCLIDEAN BEAT GENERATOR
• FOCUS MODE, MULTI FILTERS, REVERSE

Used by Imogen across all her work, the glockenspiel is sampled in detail here, allowing you to get "lost in twinkly sounds"

• 11 VELOCITY LAYERS, 3 ROUND ROBINS
• HEAPJAMMER, HARMONISER
• SLIM, MULTI FILTER, AUTO-PAN, REVERSE

A treasured Marxophone, a kind of fretless zither with which you can either hammer or strum a set of chord strings. Both techniques are replicated in the Box Of Tricks instrument

• STRUM, CHORD KEYSPLIT MODE
• BOUNCE FUNCTION, HEAPJAMMER, HARMONISER
• KEY-OFF, SLIM, AUTO-PAN

A gift from Imogens mother. A charming instrument, full of expression. In the Box Of Tricks collection it is modelled spectrally, enabling the user to control the amount and drift of the pressure applied to the instrument. It also functions as a neat synth, making cool sawtooth pads and basses.

• SPECTRAL MODEL WITH PRESSURE + DRIFT.
• HEAPJAMMER, HARMONISER
• SLIM, MULTI FILTER, AUTO-PAN

An atmospheric steel percussion instrument which is the perfect partner for the HeapJammer and the custom reverb IRs.

• 10 VELOCITY + 3 ROUND ROBIN LAYERS
• HEAPJAMMER, HARMONISER
• SLIM, MULTI FILTER, AUTO-PAN, REVERSE

Another unconventional take on a well-known instrument: Vibraphone delicately played with fingernails rather than mallets, and also bowed for haunting pad-like sounds.

• FINGERNAILS & BOWED ARTICULATIONS
• FAN CONTROL, HEAPJAMMER, HARMONISER
• SLIM, MULTI FILTER, AUTO-PAN, REVERSE

A full range of vocal notes performed by Imogen. A spectrally processed channel - GHOST - can be blended with the dry vocal, as can a reversed sample set. 'PAD-MODE' switches between the natural, breathy attack or a tighter trimmed start for synth-like choirs.

• DRY, GHOST,+ REV CHANNELS
• HEAPJAMMER, HARMONISER
• SLIM, MULTI FILTER, AUTO-PAN, REVERSE

The result of a unique recording session with Soniccouture in which Imogen created percussive sounds from her voice and body - slaps, clicks, hums, kisses - and also from favourite objects in her studio, such as a large lamp and an ocarina. An incredibly creative set of sounds that can be played as a drum kit, or set into focus mode to create completely tuned patches to play.

• FOCUS MODE / DRUM KIT MODE
• HEAPJAMMER, EUCLIDEAN BEAT GENERATOR
• PITCH EG, MULTI FILTER, REVERSE

A big Heap favourite, this instrument is based around an incredible studio waterphone performance by Imogen - bowing, striking, coaxing a dazzling array of sounds in one long take. Using Soniccouture's FOCUS mode, hundreds of waterphone patches are instantly available to the user at the click of a button.

• FOCUS MODE
• HEAPJAMMER, HARMONISER
• FILTER + PITCH EGS, MULTI FILTER, REVERSE

One of Imogen's first ideas for the Box Of Tricks project was to sample her set of tuned 'Whirly' tubes - plastic piping that are swung around the head, producing a note and extra harmonics if swung faster. A real challenge to record, this instrument is possibly the most unusual and haunting in the whole collection.

• CUSTOM HARMONIC CONTROL
• HEAPJAMMER, HARMONISER
• SLIM, MULTI FILTER, AUTO-PAN, REVERSE

Imogen recording the Cello samples in the studio. An unconventional set of techniques, including slides to generate swirling harmonics, and incredibly soft bowing that allows the natural sound of the cello to break up and unravel.

Imogens Cocktail Kit. One of the surprise hits in the collection, this has a nice, tight sound. Recorded with sticks, brushes and mallets this is a hugely flexible and dynamic kit. Also features congas, bells and additional percussion from around her studio.

Imogen's favourite Neumann TLM mics were used throughout the instrument sampling, as well as her personal Avalon pre-amp.

Recording the Array Mbira: note the lyric sheets in place under the tines.

Mbira lyric sheets close up.

The waterphone instrument is based around one long performance by Imogen

The marxophone in situ in the studio.

Recording vibraphone: fingernails and bows were the preferred methods.

The vibraphone at home in Imogens studio.

Recording the Whirly tubes: mics were placed through 360 degrees, to avoid dead spots.

The Whirly tubes in detail - each is labelled with it's note(s)

The Shruti box.

The Glockenspiel, provider of Twinkly bits.

The Tongue drum in Imogens studio.

Vocal & Body Percussion Recording Session.

Vocal & Body Percussion Recording Session.

Vocal & Body Percussion Recording Session.

Vocal & Body Percussion Recording Session -creating a flappy kick sound from the studio lamp.

The Boom-whackers.