Realitone has released Realibanjo, a banjo sample library for Kontakt.

Realibanjo features a Pattern Player, as well as animated graphics, something you don’t see very often (maybe never?) in a sample library.

“The first thing everyone asks us about are the graphics,” note Realitone’s Mike Greene.  “We designed the GUI with a static cartoon banjo player and his dog.”

“But then we started thinking, ‘Why not make them move to the beat?’ The animation took more time than we expected, but it makes the instrument fun, so we think it was worth it.”

Playing notes normally in the center of the keyboard, or in the upper two octaves, the user can hold chords (major, minor, dominant 7th, minor 7th, and sus4) and the RealiBanjo Pattern Player will automatically play authentic banjo patterns (“rolls”) for that chord, in sync with the sequencer.

Other key features include:

• Six pattern styles, ranging from bluegrass to roots rock
• Select/switch styles instantly via key switch
• Fret Position selector
• Selector for normal picking or mutes
• Sampled note transitions (slides up and down) for authentic-sounding banjo performances.
• Special bonus “Yee-Haw” instrument (watch the video, you’ll see).

RealiBanjo runs on either Kontakt 4 or Kontakt 5. (The free Kontakt Player is not supported.)

Pricing and availability. RealiBanjo is available now. Priced at $59, the sample library is being being offered in an introductory special of $29 during the month of July from the Realitone website.  Listen to more RealiBanjo samples on Soundcloud.