Augmented YANGTZE

Name: Augmented YANGTZE
Price: 99 USD
Author: Arturia

by Arturia · Instrument · Hybrid sampled / synth world instrument

Not rated yet

Augmented YANGTZE combines sampled Chinese instruments, including dizi, xiao, pipa, guqin, yangqin and erhu, with Arturia's synth engines.

Its Morph control blends 38 articulations into virtual analog, granular, wavetable and harmonic layers, with 200 presets, macros and MPE support.

Best for: Acoustic Instruments, Sound Design, Keys & Synths. Genres: Ambient & Cinematic, Electronic & EDM.

Keywords: hybrid, sample-based, world instruments, cinematic, macro controls, MPE support, preset-driven, granular, virtual analog, wavetable, film & game audio, arpeggiator, creative, sequencer, sound design, subtractive.

What it does

Augmented YANGTZE is part of Arturia's Augmented series. Arturia describes it as a software instrument "that unites the unique essence of traditional Chinese instruments with the raw power of synthesis."

Instruments: bass dizi, xiao, pipa, guqin, yangqin and erhu, with 38 articulations.
Hybrid engine: sampling combined with virtual analog, granular, wavetable and harmonic engines, blended by the Morph control.
Modulation: 7 assignable macros (Time, Color, Motion, FX A, FX B, Reverb, Delay), 2 LFOs, 2 function generators and drag-and-drop assignment.
Performance: a 16-step arpeggiator and sequencer, plus MPE support.
Effects and presets: 16 effects including ParamEQ, Bitcrusher and BL-20 Flanger, and 200 factory presets.

Source: Arturia product page

When to use it

Augmented YANGTZE is the pick for Chinese plucked, bowed and wind instruments that turn into hybrid pads and pulses from one simple interface. It is more focused than Spectrasonics Omnisphere 3 and UVI Falcon, which include world-instrument sources within much broader synths, and where Rast Sound Cinescapes PRO targets cinematic textures, Augmented YANGTZE centers on Chinese instruments.

Best for: film, game and trailer cues with Chinese color, and hybrid atmospheres.
Genres: cinematic, ambient and electronic.
Look elsewhere if: you need to load your own samples or wavetables; the engines use fixed sources.
Standout: the blend of carefully sampled Chinese instruments with Pigments-based synthesis.

What producers say

Reviewers praised the sampling and creative focus, with minor feature gripes.

MusicRadar (2024) Stuart Adams praised the "meticulous sampling" and a "startling blend of old and new."
Sample Library Review (2024) called it "a spectacular hybrid voyage across Chinese folk instruments."
Gripe: MusicRadar noted the arpeggiator "lacks a modulation lane" and that you cannot load your own samples or wavetables.

Where to buy

Tutorials and reviews

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