Electric Pianos

One of the weaknesses of bigcat Instruments has been Electric Pianos. After extensive negotiations with Greg Sullivan (I emailed to ask if I could use his samples and he kindly said Yes.) three new pianos join the family. Having read that some EPiano manufacturers are a bit possessive of their brand and instrument names, I decided to use initials to identify the pianos. Better safe than sued.

The Y Piano

Soundcloud Demo

The Y Piano is a personal favorite. Greg Sullivan sampled roughly every 4 notes and 4 velocity layers on this piano. Just about every pop and rock act in the mid-70s and 80s seemed to have one on stage as it was the closest you could get to a full Grand Piano without breaking the backs of a roadie army.

The H Planet S Piano

Soundcloud Demo

The H Planet S Piano has a unique sound thanks to its Sticky Reeds. The H is sampled roughly every 4 notes in two velocity layers. The H was on stage for many rock concerts for decades as it was portable and relatively inexpensive. Script and Shell by Mickaël Ménager.

The W Piano

Soundcloud Demo

The W Piano is one of the legendary instruments in modern music history. This piano is sampled at roughly every 6 notes in two velocity layers. The W samples are cited as a particular favorite of Tomislav Zlatic of the excellent Bedroom Producer's Blog.

Thanks again to Greg Sullivan for his excellent samples of these Electric Pianos and for permission to use them to create these Kontakt instruments. Feel free to use these instruments in any projects, but if you want to do anything with the samples directly (like make an instrument in another format) please contact Greg.


As bonus here is the Street Bumper Electric Piano from Sarcyan's Musyng Kite soundfont. It's a nice sounding instrument that was in competition with the W Piano for folks that preferred to go down that Road instead.  Script and Shell by Mickaël Ménager.

 The Street Bumper Piano

Soundcloud Demo

GM Midi Instruments for Kontakt

 General Midi Sound Set

I'm a bit obsessed with making available all 128 instruments of the General Midi 1 Sound Set. This is the sound set that midi files use to recreate music, soundfonts traditionally revolve around them and if you get 128 voice keyboard these are generally the voices it has.  It is a standard to make sure that when Instrument 1 is called for it is always Acoustic Grand Piano and not bagpipes or a car crash.
Thanks to Sarcyan allowing me to convert his most excellent Musyng Kite Sound Font, I think all 128 sounds are now represented here at old bigcat Instruments and available for Kontakt 5.
Being me, getting all of the GM sound set as instruments for Kontakt calls for a list. A really long list. Initials at the front of the instrument name refers to the maker, see the key at the bottom. If there is more than one instrument that fits the patch, all instruments are listed side by side. Bonus instruments of similar type are included under the more general midi instrument.

Note that you'll need the full version of Kontakt for these to work.

  PIANO  

1    Acoustic Grand      *City Piano Warm  City Piano Clean  Maestro Concert Grand 

      continued...       Iowa Piano  MK Acoustic Grand  SSO Grand Piano  S Piano 

2    Bright Acoustic     Salamander Piano  Summer Piano  MK Bright Grand  

     Upright             VSCO 2 Piano Skerratt London  Beskhu Upright  Uncle Daves 

3    Electric Grand      The Y Piano  MK Electric Grand 

4    Honky-Tonk          Shoot the Piano  MK Honky Tonk 

     Intimate            The Whisper  Vospi's Whisper  MSLP Piano Grand Soft 

     Prepared            A Prepared Piano 

     Plucked             Beskhu Plucked Piano

     Toy                 MSLP Toy Piano  Beskhu Toy Piano  Poissonmort Toy Piano 

     Surprise            Surprise Piano  Not Quite Right Piano  Grandmither's Piano   

5    Electric Piano 1    The W Piano  Street Bumper Piano  MK R Piano 

     Detuned             MK Detuned EP 1 

6    Electric Piano 2    The H Planet S Piano  MK Electric 2 

     Detuned             MK Detuned EP 2  

7    Harpsichord         MK Harpsichord 

     Coupled             MK Coupled Harpsichord  

8    Clavinet            MK Clavinet

  CHROMATIC PERCUSSION 

9    Celesta             MK Celesta

10   Glockenspiel        MK Glockenspiel  SSO Glockenspiel

11   Music Box           MK Music Box

     Found               Finger Piano 

     Chimes              SSO Chimes  Selector Chimes

     Bells               Wuola Medieval Bells 

12   Vibraphone          MSLP Vibraphone  MK Vibraphone

13   Marimba             MSLP Marimba  MK Marimba

     Toy                 MSLP Toy Marimba  MSLP Broken Toy Marimba

14   Xylophone           MSLP Xylophone  MK Xylophone  SSO Xylophone

     Toy                 MSLP Toy Zylo  Beskhu Toy Xylo 

15   Tubular Bells       MK Tubular Bells

     Church Bells        MK Church Bells

     Carillon            Ghent Belfry Carillon  

16   Dulcimer            MK Dulcimer  MSLP Kantele

     Hammered Dulcimer   iternetcone Hammered Dulcimer 

     Toy                 MSLP Toy Zither 

  ORGAN

17   Drawbar Organ       MK Drawbar Organ 

     Detuned             MK Detuned Organ 1  MK Detuned Organ 3  

18   Percussive Organ    MK Percussive Organ 

     Detuned             MK Detuned Percussive Organ  

19   Rock Organ          MK Rock Organ 

20   Church Organ        MK Church Organ 1  MK Church Organ 2

     Pipe Organ          Bureu Organ  Saint Augustine's Organ 

                         Burea Funeral Organ  Prudhoe Organ

21   Reed Organ          MK Reed Organ 

22   Accordion           MK Accordion 

     Italian             MK Italian Accordion

23   Harmonica           MK Harmonica  Beeching Harmonica 

     Toy                 MSLP Hippo Harmonica 

     Melodica            MSLP Melodica  

24   Tango Accordion     MK Bandoneon 

  GUITAR

25   Nylon String        MF Natural Concert Guitar  Quartertone Guitar  MK Nylon Guitar 

      continued...       S Guitar  MSLP Acoustic Lil Nylon 

      Shell              DIY Philharmonic  Guitar (see here)

     Chords              MSLP Acoustic Guitar Chords 

     Ukulele             MK Ukulele 

26   Steel String        Project 16 Sherwood SH887 Guitar  FS Seagull Steel String Acoustic 

      continued...       FS Ibid Acoustic  MK Steel Guitar 

     12 Sring            MK 12 String Guitar 

     Mandolin            MSLP Mandolin Nillsson  MK Mandolin 

      Shell              DIY Philharmonic Mandolin (see here)

     Tiple               Tiple  

27   Electric Jazz       FS Mor Peter Neck  & Bridge  MK Jazz Guitar 

     Hawaiian            MK Hawaiian Guitar 

28   Electric Clean      FS Panther Both Pickups  FS Fender Telecaster Electric Guitar

      continued...       Cute Emily  MK Clean Guitar  S Jackson EMG

     Chords              MSLP Electric Guitar Chords  

     Chorus              MK Chorus Guitar  

29   Electric Muted      MK Muted Guitar 

     Funk                MK Funk Guitar  

30   Overdriven          MK Overdriven Guitar 

31   Distortion          MK Distortion Guitar 1  MK Distortion Guitar 2 

     Feedback            MK Feedback Guitar 

32   G Harmonics         MK Guitar Harmonics 

     G Feedback          MK Guitar Feedback 

  BASS 

33   Acoustic Bass       FS Washburn Acoustic Bass Guitar  MK Acoustic Bass 

34   Electric Fingered   FS Yamaha Electric Bass Guitar  Quartertone Bass  MK Finger Bass 

     Muffled             FS Ibanez Electric Bass Guitar  

35   Electric Picked     MK Pick Bass 

     Six String Bass     Pasta Bass  

     Variety of Basses   Project16 Bass - Version 2   Eight MSLP Basses 

36   Fretless Bass       FaireDesVague Fretless Bass  MK Fretless Bass 

37   Slap Bass 1         MK Slap Bass 

38   Slap Bass 2         MK Slap Bass 2 

39   Synth Bass 1        MK Synth Bass 1  MK Synth Bass 2

40   Synth Bass 2        MK Synth Bass 3  MK Synth Bass 4

  Mostly FULL ORCHESTRAS

     Sonatina WIPS      Strings  Brass  Woodwinds  Percussion +

     VSCO 2             Strings  Brass  Woodwinds  Percussion  Keys

     *Iowa Full         Tuned    WIPS   Electric   Ensemble

  SOLO STRINGS

41   Violin             Ldk1609 Violin  VSCO 2 Solo Violin  Kake Violin 

                        SSO Solo Violin MK Violin S Violin 

      Shell             DIY Violin (see here) 

     Violins            SSO 1st Violins - Take 2  SSO 2nd Violins - Take 2   

                        VSCO 2 Violin Section  Maestoso 18 Violin Ensemble 

42   Viola              *Iowa Viola  WIPS  S Viola  MK Viola

      Shell             DIY Viola (see here) 

      Country           Mystery Girl Viola

     Violas             SSO Violas - Take 2  VSCO 2 Viola Section 

43   Cello              Karoryfer Cello  MSLP Cello Lofberg   

      continued...      SSO Solo Cello  S Cello  MK Cello

     Celli              VSCO 2 Cello Section  SSO Celli 

     Viola Da Gamba     S Simple Viola da Gamba 

44   Contrabass         Karoryfer Meat Bass  D Smolken Double Bass  Chad's Double Bass Pizz 

      continued...      VSCO 2 Contabass  MSLP Double Bass Lofberg  MK Contrabass 

                        *Iowa Double Bass  WIPS

     Contrabasses       SSO Basses 

45   Tremolo Strings    MK Tremolo Strings 

46   Pizzicato Strings  MK Pizzicato Strings 

47   Harp               SSO Concert Harp  VSCO 2 Concet Harp  MK Celtic Harp 

48   Timpani            SSO Timpani  VSCO Percussion  MSLP Timpani  MK Timpani 

     Frightening Bows   Crotbow  Glockbow 

  ENSEMBLE

49   String Ensemble 1  bigcat String Section  MK String Ensemble

50   String Ensemble 2  MK Slow Strings

51   SynthStrings 1     MK Synth Strings 1  Mk Synth Strings 2

52   SynthStrings 2     MK Synth Strings 3  MK Orchestral Pad

53   Choir Aahs         SSO Male  SSO Female  SSO Mixed  MK Choral Aahs

54   Voice Oohs         Betsy  Joseph  MK Melodic Choir 

     Experimental       272 Merry Orks 

55   Synth Voice        MK Synth Vox

56   Orchestra Hit      MK Orchestral Hit 

  BRASS 

57   Trumpet            SSO Trumpet  Pablo Trumpet S The Trumpet MK Trumpet 

                        VSCO 2 Trumpet  S Bb Trumpet  *Iowa Trumpet  WIPS 

     Trumpets           SSO Trumpets - Take 2  Fortissimo Trumpet Ensemble      

58   Trombone           MSLP Trombone Knutsson  SSO Tenor Trombone  S Tenor Trombone 

                        VSCO 2 Trombone  *Iowa Tenor Trombone  WIPS 

     Bass Trombone      SSO Bass Trombone  S Bass Trombone 

                        *Iowa Bass Trombone  WIPS 

     Trombones          MSLP Trombone Knutsson Ensemble   SSO Trombones  MK Trombones

                        Fortissimo Trombone Ensemble 

59   Tuba               SSO Tuba  VSCO 2 Tuba  MK Tuba  S Tuba  Iowa Tuba  WIPS 

60   Muted Trumpet      MK Muted Trumpet 

61   French Horn        SSO Horn  VSCO 2 Horn  S Horn  *Iowa Horn  WIPS

     French Horns       SSO Horns - Take 2  MK French Horns  Fortissimo Horn Ensemble 

62   Brass Section      MK Brass Section

63   SynthBrass 1       MK Synth Brass 1  MK Synth Brass 2

64   SynthBrass 2       MK Synth Brass 3  MK Synth Brass 4

  REED

65   Soprano Sax        Iowa Soprano Sax  MK Soprano Sax

66   Alto Sax           Karoryfer Alto Sax Electric  Karoryfer Alto Sax WIPs

                        Iowa Alto Sax  *Iowa Alto Sax 2  WIPS

                        Club Alto Sax  Club Jazz Alto Sax  MK Alto Sax

67   Tenor Sax          Club Tenor Sax  MSLP Sax  MK Tenor Sax

68   Baritone Sax       Club Baritone Sax  MK Baritone Sax

69   Oboe               SSO Oboe  VSCO 2 Oboe  *Iowa Oboe  WIPS  MK Oboe  S Oboe  

     Oboes              SSO Oboes 

70   English Horn       SSO Cor Anglias  MK English Horn

71   Bassoon            SSO Bassoon  VSCO 2 Bassoon  *Iowa Bassoon  WIPS 

                        S Bassoon  MK Bassoon  Beskhu Fagott 

     Bassoons           SSO Bassoons 

     Contrabassoon      SSO Contrabassoon  

72   Clarinet           SSO Clarinet  VSCO 2 Clarinet  MSLP Sad Clarinet 

                        MK Clarinet Legato *Iowa Eb Clarinet  WIPS 

                        *Iowa Bb Clarinet  WIPS  S Bb Clarinet 

     Bass Clarinet      *Iowa Bass Clarinet  WIPS  S Bass Clarinet  

     Clarinets          SSO Clarinets   

     Crumhorn           S Crumhorn  Juskiddink Crumhorn

  PIPE

73   Piccolo            SSO Piccolo  MK Piccolo 

74   Flute              MSLP Flute Grbavac  VSCO 2 Flute  SSO Flute  MK Flute 

                        *Iowa Flute  WIPS  

     Alto Flute         *Iowa Alto Flute  WIPS  S Alto Flute SSO Alto Flute 

     Bass Flute         *Iowa Bass Flute  WIPS  S Bass Flute 

     Flutes             SSO Flutes    

75   Recorder           MSLP Recorder  MK Recorder 

76   Pan Flute          MK Pan Flute 

77   Blown Bottle       MK Blown Bottle MK Breathe 

78   Skakuhachi         MK Skakuhachi 

79   Whistle            MK Whistle 

80   Ocarina            MK Ocarina 

  TAYLOR SAMPLED SYNTHS with many leads. pads and effects

     80 Axis            Part 1  Part 2   Part 3

     Bender Roma Eq     Part 1  Part 2

     King One Many      Part 1  Part 2

     Newtron 5          Part 1  Part 2

     Janssen Havoc      Complete

     Payara Psia        Complete

  SYNTH LEAD

81   Lead 1 (square)    MK Square Lead 

     Lead 1.2 (sine)    MK AC Sine Wave  

82   Lead 2 (sawtooth)  MK Saw Wave

     Lead 2.2 (doctor)  MK Doctor Solo  

83   Lead 3 (calliope)  MK Calliope Lead 

84   Lead 4 (chiff)     MK Chiffer Lead 

85   Lead 5 (charang)   MK Charang 

86   Lead 6 (voice)     MK Solo Vox 

     Lead 6.2 (doo)     MK Doo Vox 

87   Lead 7 (fifths)    MK 5th Saw Wave 

88   Lead 8 (bass+lead) MK Bass + Lead 

  SYNTH PAD 

89   Pad 1 (new age)    MK Fantasia Pad 

90   Pad 2 (warm)       MK Warm Strings 

91   Pad 3 (polysynth)  MK Polysynth 

92   Pad 4 (choir)      MK Voice Pad 

93   Pad 5 (bowed)      MK Bowed Pad

94   Pad 6 (metallic)   MK Metal Pad 

95   Pad 7 (halo)       MK Halo Pad 

96   Pad 8 (sweep)      MK Sweep Pad 

   SYNTH EFFECTS

97   FX 1 (rain)        MK Ice Rain 

98   FX 2 (soundtrack)  MK Soundtrack 

99   FX 3 (crystal)     MK Crystal 

100  FX 4 (atmosphere)  MK Atmosphere 

101  FX 5 (brightness)  MK Brightness 

102  FX 6 (goblins)     MK Goblins 

103  FX 7 (echoes)      MK Echoes 

104  FX 8 (sci-fi)      MK Star Theme 

   ETHNIC

105  Sitar              MK Sitar 

106  Banjo              FS Golden Key Banjo  MK Banjo  MSLP Banjo 

      Shell             DIY Philharmonic Banjo (see here)

     Oud                Fantom57 Oud 

107  Shamisen           MK Shamisen 

108  Koto               MK Koto 

     Taisho Koto        MK Taisho Koto  

109  Kalimba            MK Kalimba  Beskhu SanzAnais

110  Bagpipe            MK Bagpipe 

111  Fiddle             MK Fiddle  MSLP Folk Violin Lofberg 

112  Shenai             MK Shenai 

     World Instruments  S 9 World Instruments 

     Kayageum           Spt3125 Kayageum 

   PERCUSSIVE

113  Tinkle Bell        MK Tinkle Bell 

     Jingle Bells       MSLP Jingle Bells 

114  Agogo              MK Agogo 

115  Steel Drums        MK Steel Pan  Steel Drums 

116  Woodblock          MK Woodblock 

     Castanets          MK Castanets 

     Maracas            MSLP Maracas 

117  Taiko Drum         MK Taiko Drum 

     Concert Bass Drum  MK Concert Bass Drum  

118  Melodic Tom        MK Melodic Tom  MK Melodic Tom 2 

119  Synth Drum         MK Snyth Drum 

     808 Tom            MK 808 Tom  

120  Reverse Cymbal     MK Reverse Cymbal 

     Tambourine         S Pink Tambourine 

   SOUND EFFECTS

121  Guitar Fret Noise  MK Fret Noise 

     Guitar Cut Noise   MK Cut Noise 

     String Slap        MK String Slap 

122  Breath Noise       Breathing Noises 

     Flute Key Click    MK Key Click  

123  Seashore           MK Seashore 

     Rain               MK Rain  

     Thunder            MK Thunder 

     Wind               MK Wind 

     Stream             MK Stream 

     Bubble             MK Bubble  Tverse Bubbles

124  Bird Tweet         MK Bird  SFX Goose

     Dog                MK Dog 

     Horse              MK Horse Gallop 

     Grasshopper        S Grasshopper  

125  Telephone          MK Telephone 1  MK Telephone 2

     Door Creak         MK Door Creak  Beskhu Cupboard Creaking 

     Door Close         The Doors  MK Door Slam

     Scratch            MK Scratch 

     Wind Chimes        Beskhu Windchimes  MK Wind Chimes  

126  Helicopter         SFX Helicopter 

     Car Engine         MK Car Engine 

     Car Stop           MK Car Skid  

     Car Pass           MK Car Pass 

     Car Crash          MK Car Crash 

     Siren              MK Siren 

     Train              MK Train 

     Jet Plane          MK Jet Plane 

     Star Ship          MK Star Ship 

     Burst Noise        MK Burst Noise 

127  Applause           MK Applause 

     Laughing           MK Laughter  

     Screaming          MK Screaming 

     Punch              MK Punch 

     Sword Fight        Christopher Derp En Guarde 

     Heartbeat          MK Heartbeat  

     Footsteps          MK Footsteps 

128  Gunshot            Gunshot SFX  MK Gunshot 

     Machine Gun        MK Machine Gun 

     Lazar Gun          MK Lazar Gun 

     Explosion          MK Explosion 

     Basketball         SFX Basketball Bounce

     Jew's Harp         Beskhu Jew's Harp

     Cartoon Boing      SFX Jawharp Boing 

     Vintage Game FX    BLamerichs 8 Bit FX

                        BLamerichs 16 Bit FX

  Drums 

1    Standard Kit       Quartertone Drums  SmithULTD/Evil Dragon Drums  MK Standard Kit 

2    Standard Kit 2     MK Standard Kit 2

     Snares             Sandyrb Snaradise 

3    Pop Kit            MK Pop Kit 

4    Jungle Kit         MK Jungle Kit  

9    Room Kit           MK Room Kit 

10   Room Kit 2         MK Room Kit 2

17   Power Kit          MK Power Kit 

25   Electronic Kit     MK Electronic Kit 

26   TR-808 Kit         MK US 88 

27   TR-909 Kit         MK US 99 

28   GORK Kit           MK Synth QORK  

33   Jazz Kit           MK Jazz Kit 

34   Jazz Kit 2         MK Jazz Kit 2 

35   Latin Kit          MK Latin Kit  

41   Brush Kit          MK Brush Kit 

49   Orchestra Kit      SSO Percussion  VSCO 2 Percussion 

                        MK Orchestra Drums  MSLP Orchestral Percussion

57   SFX Kit            MK SFX Set

81   Electro Kit        MK Electro Kit  

82   Dance Kit          MK Dance Kit    

83   Gabba Kit          MK Gabba Kit  

84   House Kit          MK House Kit 

85   Industrial Kit     MK Industrial Kit 

86   Rave Kit           MK Rave Kit   

87   Techno Kit         MK Techno Kit

105  Ethnic Percussion  MK Ethnic Percussion 

106  Africa Kit         MK Africa Kit 

107  Gamelan            Complete Gamelan  Delft Bonang Barung Pelog GMB Gamelan

128  CM Kit             MK Drum Synth 

* Certain instruments I have tuned to 440.
Certain instruments I've improved with a 'WIPS' script and other features and this download says WIPS. These have legato and vibrato, fake round robins, a smoother velocity scale and can be played using the usual keyboard or midi file, but also a wind controller if you have one.

The WIPS scripts created by Big Bob.
The Ensemble scripts created by Jay Bacal.
Electric Instrument scripts and GUI by Mickaël Ménager.
For these scripts, all rights are retained by their respective authors.
The basic bigcat instruments script was created through a community effort with Matt McKay creating the refinements for the second version. This script is public domain.

Many of these instruments are Creative Commons Attribution. Please credit the following.

MK & Street Bumper Piano - Musyng Kite by Sarcyan.
MSLP - MSLP project created by Erick Kvist.
SSO - Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra by Mattias Westlund.
VSCO 2 - Versilian Studios / Sam Gossner
VSCO 2 Piano - Simon Dalzell of Ivy Audio
Surprise Piano- Simon Dalzell and Alexander HolmFeel.
D Smolken Double Bass, Cute Emily, Pasta Bass, 272 Merry Orks - Karoryfer Samples.
Karoryfer Cello, Meat Bass & Alto Sax - Karoryfer Samples.
S - Sasje.
FS - Flame Studios.
Project 16 Bass & Guitar - Project 16.
Quartertone Drums, Bass & Guitar - Quartertone.
SmithULTD/Evildragon - Quartertone & EvilDragon.
Salamander Piano - Alexander HolmFeel.
Summer Piano - Zenph Studios.
Maestro Concert Grand - Mats Helgesson.
Y, W & H Planet S Electric Pianos - Greg Sullivan
Beskhu - Beskhu.
A Prepared Piano - Kurt James Werner.
Grandmither's Piano - Techsetsu
Uncle Daves - Goup_1.
Poissonmort Toy Piano - Poissonmort.
Finger Piano - Prent Rogers.
Bureu - Lars Palo. Scripting - Matt McKay.
Saint Augustine's Organ - Nick Appleton.
Burea Funeral Organ - Lars Palo.
MF Natural Concert Guitar -  Markus Fiedler.
bigcat String Section - Mattias Westlund and Erick Kvist.
Tiple - Andrés Cabrera.
Club Saxes - Clruwe.
Breathing Noises - The Baron.
The Doors - Sounds from FreeSound.org sampled by Anton, Leady, Ddohler, The Bizness, Lg, Matucha, Joe Deshon, Zabuhailo, Tiptoe 84, Baujahr 66, Ultra Dust, Simpsi, Omar Alvarado, Land Dub and Aiyuma.
Goose - US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Helicopter - Mike Koenig and Chester Barrett.
Gamelan - Akito Van Troyer.
GMB Gamelan - Anamorphosi.
Pablo Trumpet - rcasamajo.
Fortissimo & Maestoso Ensembles - Jasper Blunk.

Any corporate names used are simply those that the instruments were originally created under and the name has been retained to avoid confusion. No relationship, endorsement or connection in any way exists or is implied.

By downloading and using anything on this site you agree to this Limited Warranty & Liability. 

bigcat's Amazon ebook page

Sasje's Instruments

The fine instrument maker named Sasje has released a number of free Kontakt 5 instruments. Read about them here. She says "My health is seriously deteriorating and I won't be able to create something new or maintain them. Do what you want with them, as long as you don't sell them." So I've put them up on my mediafire account. God bless you Sasje and I pray your health is improving.

I can't emphasize enough, I didn't create these instruments Sasje did. I'm just trying to make sure they continue to be available for folks to download.

9 World Instruments
Crumhorn
Dark Drones
Grasshopper
Jackson Guitar
Lighter Glitch
The Pink Tambourine
The Trumpet
Simple Viola da Gamba
VI-Celestia Synthesizer

Orchestra 1 - Part 1 - Part 2