Synchron Cimbalom

Synchron Cimbalom

Synchron Cimbalom by Vienna Symphonic Library brings the sound of a Hungarian concert cimbalom to film scores, orchestral arrangements, and folk-inspired productions. This cimbalom sample library combines performances by Gergely Lajti with three mallet types, open and damped resonance, and multiple microphone positions recorded on Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage, giving composers control over attack, sustain, and room sound.

From the Tavern to the Concert Hall

• Hungarian concert cimbalom
• Performed by virtuoso Gergely Lajti
• Full damper-pedal control: open and damped resonance
• Three mallets: standard, Romanian, Gypsy
• Multi-microphone setup recorded on Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage
• Production-ready sound, straight out of the box

Few instruments travel as far in a single phrase as the cimbalom. Its metal strings are struck directly with handheld mallets, ranging from a soft shimmer to a bright, percussion-like attack, while the damper pedal governs the long, complex resonance that gives the instrument its unmistakable voice. Recorded with Hungarian cimbalom virtuoso Gergely Lajti on Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage, this Collection adds a genuine folk voice to your sonic palette – a production-ready sound that inspires from the very first note.

A Folk Instrument, Reinvented

For centuries, the cimbalom was a folk and tavern instrument, at home in the dance houses of Hungary and Romania. That changed in 1874, when Budapest instrument maker V. József Schunda set it on four legs, extended it to a fully chromatic range, and added a damper pedal. The effect was profound: within a single generation, composers such as Zoltán Kodály, Béla Bartók, and Igor Stravinsky were writing for it, and the cimbalom stepped from the tavern onto the concert stage. The pedal is what made that journey possible – articulate and rhythmic when the strings are damped, atmospheric and sustained when they ring free. That same versatility has since made the cimbalom a striking color in contemporary orchestral and film scores.

An Authentic Voice

Behind every note of this Collection is Gergely Lajti, who studied cimbalom with the renowned Hungarian virtuoso Kálmán Balogh and came up through the living folk tradition. Equally at home in Hungarian and Romanian folk music as in world music, he combines a deep understanding of traditional styles with a versatile, contemporary approach – a repertoire that spans time-honored arrangements and his own compositions. Lajti is a member of András Nagy Csomor’s ensemble of virtuoso musicians, and that authenticity carries through into every mallet stroke and shimmer of resonance you’ll hear in this Collection.

Microphone Setup - Standard & Full Library

The Standard Library and Full Library of Synchron Cimbalom both include the same articulations. The difference lies in the number of provided microphone positions:

FAQ

What is Synchron Cimbalom?

Synchron Cimbalom is a Hungarian concert cimbalom sample library by Vienna Symphonic Library, performed by Gergely Lajti and recorded on Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage. It is suited to film scoring, orchestral writing, and folk-inspired arrangements.

Which mallets are included?

The library includes three mallet types: standard, Romanian, and Gypsy.

Can I control the damper pedal?

Yes. Full damper-pedal control lets you use open resonance for sustained textures or damped resonance for more articulate, rhythmic parts.

What is the difference between the Standard and Full Library?

Both versions contain the same articulations. The Standard Library includes the Room Mic Mix, Close Mic Mono, Mid, and Decca Tree stereo and center positions. The Full Library adds Close Mic Stereo, Main Surround, High Stereo, and High Surround positions.

How much storage space does the library require?

The Standard Library requires 8.1 GB of free storage space. The Full Library requires 16.2 GB. Download size and installed size are the same due to lossless data compression.

Do I need a physical iLok key?

No. You need an iLok account, but you can activate the license using either a physical iLok 2 or iLok 3 key, or an iLok Cloud Session. iLok Cloud requires a constant internet connection.