Bells
by Thenatan · Instrument · Multilayer bell instrument
Not rated yet
Bells is a layered bell instrument with four sampler layers, 200 samples per layer and an XY pad for blending them.
It includes a pitch designer, a full effects suite and 125 presets; it costs $79.50.
Best for: Keys & Synths. Genres: Hip-Hop & Trap, Lo-Fi.
Keywords: lo-fi, sample-based, preset-driven, monophonic, plucks.
What it does
Bells is a multilayer bell instrument for the melodic bell lines heard in trap, chillhop, hip-hop and lo-fi. Thenatan pitches it as a way to skip "sample chopping & boring old sample libraries": four bell layers are already loaded, and you blend and shape them.
- Four samplers: each layer has its own filters, reverse, pan, gain and tuning, and any layer can be bypassed.
- Sample content: 200 samples for each of the four layers plus extras.
- XY pad: a circular XY control for browsing the layers and blending them quickly.
- Pitch designer: vibrato and pitch envelopes, glide time, pitch-bend range and a +/-24 semitone transpose.
- Effects: drive, saturation, bit crusher, tremolo, panner, NY-style compressor, 3-band EQ, high-pass and low-pass filters, delay, reverb and a stereo widener.
- Playing controls: attack and release, velocity sensitivity and MIDI transpose.
- Presets: 125 factory presets, with patches that can be shared between users.
KVR lists version 1.0.0.
When to use it
Bells is the quicker pick when the goal is a finished trap or lo-fi bell line rather than a realistic instrument. Compared with BBC Symphony Orchestra Core, it has no orchestral glockenspiel or celesta recorded in a hall, but it puts filters, pitch envelopes, glide and beat-ready effects on every layer. Like Arturia's Augmented STRINGS it is built around blending layers, but its four layers are all bell sounds and the blending happens on an XY pad. It is a narrow tool: next to Trilian or the big orchestral libraries it covers one sound family, at a lower price.
- Best for: trap and lo-fi bell melodies, plucky bell loops and pitched bell effects without building them from samples.
- Genres: trap, hip-hop, chillhop and lo-fi.
- Look elsewhere if: you need realistic orchestral bells, glockenspiel or celesta (BBC Symphony Orchestra Core).
What producers say
Buyers rate it well, but there is little written review coverage.
- Plugin Boutique buyers rate it 4.7 out of 5 from 41 reviews.
- KVR lists no user reviews yet.
Where to buy
- Thenatan: $79.50
- Plugin Boutique: $79.50
Tutorials and reviews
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