Excite Audio, a developer of creative music technology, has officially unveiled Bloom KSHMR, a new software instrument crafted in collaboration with the acclaimed producer, sound designer, and DJ, KSHMR (also known as Niles Hollowell-Dhar).
Described by the developers as an instrument that “seamlessly blend[s] Indian and South Asian musical heritage with modern production,” Bloom KSHMR is positioned to offer producers and musicians a unique gateway into the rich sonic landscape of the region, fused with contemporary electronic music workflows. The instrument is built upon a foundation of authentic audio recordings, many captured directly in India and South Asia using high-end analogue gear and featuring local instrumentalists.
Genesis of Bloom KSHMR: A Vision for Authentic Sounds
The collaboration stems directly from KSHMR’s long-held desire to create what he envisioned as the ultimate Indian sample library. Recognising the need for high-quality, genuinely sourced sounds from the region, KSHMR curated the core audio elements for Bloom KSHMR. This involved dedicated recording sessions aimed at capturing the nuances and textures of traditional instruments and vocal performances with maximum fidelity. The use of high-end analogue gear during these sessions was crucial in preserving the warmth, character, and dynamic range often associated with classic recordings, ensuring the digital implementation retains an authentic feel.
Exploring the Sound Palette: Instruments and Content
Bloom KSHMR arrives equipped with a substantial library comprising over 250 presets. These presets draw from eight distinct sound banks, collectively offering a diverse array of melodic, percussive, and textural elements. Users will find iconic South Asian instruments such as sitars, tablas, and bansuri flutes, alongside versatile vocals. The careful selection and recording process mean these elements carry the weight and expressiveness of their traditional counterparts, ready to be integrated into contemporary music productions across various genres, from electronic dance music to film scores and ambient soundscapes.
Intuitive Interface and Performance Mapping
The instrument is designed with an intuitive layout to facilitate creative flow. Within each preset, users gain access to 14 loops and one-shots. These foundational audio elements are conveniently mapped to the white keys on a standard MIDI controller keyboard, allowing for immediate playback and arrangement. Complementing these primary sounds, the black keys are assigned to performance controls. This thoughtful mapping enables dynamic manipulation of the sound in real-time, including essential techniques like time-stretching and reversing loops or one-shots on the fly, adding an expressive layer to performances and arrangements.
Shaping and Customising Your Sound
Beyond the curated content, Bloom KSHMR offers robust tools for shaping and customising the audio. Sounds can be transposed to a choice of 24 different scales, providing extensive harmonic flexibility rooted in various musical traditions. Four dedicated macro controls are available for quick sonic adjustments: Lo-Fi, Tube, Width & Space. These macros allow users to easily dial in effects ranging from vintage degradation and analogue saturation to stereo expansion and spatialisation.
For deeper sound design, an Edit panel is included. This panel significantly expands the instrument’s capabilities, allowing users to import their own samples, seamlessly blending personal audio with the Bloom KSHMR library. The Edit panel also provides access to a suite of integrated effects and tools, including a filter, compressor, reverb, and noise generator. Furthermore, it features a 32-step sequencer for creating rhythmic patterns and a sophisticated modulation engine with seven destinations, offering extensive possibilities for animating and evolving the sounds over time.
Availability and Pricing
Bloom KSHMR is available as a software plugin compatible with major digital audio workstations (DAWs). It is offered in VST/VST3/AU/AAX formats, ensuring broad compatibility across different production environments. The instrument supports both macOS and Windows operating systems.
The standard version of Bloom KSHMR is priced at £59 / $59. For users seeking a more streamlined option, a Lite version is also available at a price point of £29 / $29. This tiered pricing structure makes the instrument accessible to a wider range of music creators, from hobbyists to professional producers.
With its combination of authentically recorded South Asian sounds, curated content by KSHMR, and powerful modern production tools, Bloom KSHMR represents a significant new addition to the landscape of software instruments, offering unique textures and creative possibilities to musicians worldwide.
