Cavaquinho by Decent Samples [Decent Sampler]

Description

About a year ago, my friend Maxuel very generously gave me a Brazilian Cavaquinho. Basically, it’s a small stringed instrument, about the size of a tenor ukulele. As with the ukulele, the cavaquinho’s roots trace back to Portuguese folk traditions, sharing DNA with instruments like the Portuguese braguinha and rajão. Unlike the ukulele, the cavaquinho has steel strings, which give it a noticeably brighter tone the ukulele, a timbre I’ve tried my best to capture with this library:

Basic Stats:

• 3 round robins for natural, varied playing
• 2 velocity layers for dynamic expression
• Recorded with both a DI contact mic as well as a ribbon mic, there is a knob to fade between the two sources
• Chorus, reverb, tone, shimmer, and release controls
• Optimized for Decent Sampler (free sampler required)

In addition to the regular note mode, I’ve also included a “STRUMS” tab that allows you to play various four-note chords on the instrument:

This sample set captures the instrument’s natural charm and playability, perfect for adding authentic Brazilian flavor to your compositions, whether you’re composing bossa nova, folk arrangements, or just looking to add some acoustic texture to an electronic music.

Requirements: Decent Sampler (free plugin/standalone) Format: Compatible with all major DAWs