Abacus - By Richard Harvey
Channel the magic and mystery of childhood with this unique collection of playful sounds. Produced in collaboration with composer and multi-instrumentalist Richard Harvey, Abacus offers a diverse array of lovingly sampled vintage children’s instruments from the early 19th century to the 1980s. With almost one hundred instruments selected from Richard’s personal collection, Abacus provides composers with an authentically nostalgic toolkit, perfect for fantasy, adventure, mystery, horror, storytelling, gothic, animation, historic, educational, or family-centric television advertising.
Chimes, tines, metal strings
01 Polyphonic musical box
| Single hits | R: C1-C7 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 4 |
02 Cylinder musical box
| Single hits | R: G1-C7 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Single hits alternative | R: C2-C7 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Glissandi | R: C3-Eb4 | L: 1 (mf) |
03 Childrens plucked zither
| Single hits | R: C3-A5 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 |
04 Kalimba
| Sustains | R: E2-G5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 |
05 Soprano metallophone
| Single hits medium mallets | R: C3-G4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Single hits hard mallets | R: C3-G4 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 |
06 Alto metallophone
| Single hits soft mallets | R: B2-G4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Single hits medium mallets | R: B2-G4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Single hits damped | R: B2-G4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 |
07 Bass metallophone
| Single hits soft mallets | R: C2-A4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Single hits medium mallets | R: C2-A4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Single hits damped | R: C2-A4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 |
08 Baby toy piano
| Single hits | R: F3-C6 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 |
09 Grand toy piano
| Single hits | R: F3-Ab5| L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 |
10 Low toy piano
| Single hits | R: C2-G4 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 5 |
11 Optimized hybrid toy piano
| Single hits hard mallets | R: C2-C6 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 5 | |
| Single hits soft mallets | R: C2-C6 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 5 | |
| Single hits plucked | R: C2-C6 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 5 |
12 Handbells
| Single hits | R: C3-G5 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 |
13 Suspended bells
| Single hits | R: C3-C5 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 |
14 Chapel bells
| Single hits soft clapper | R: E3-C5 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Single hits medium clapper | R: E3-C5 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Single hits hard clapper | R: E3-C5 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 4 |
Xylophones
01 Soprano Xylophone
| Single hits soft mallets | R: F3-G5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Single hits medium mallets | R: F3-G5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Single hits hard mallets | R: F3-G5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 |
02 Alto Xylophone
| Single hits soft mallets | R: C3-C5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Single hits medium mallets | R: C3-C5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Single hits hard mallets | R: C3-C5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 |
03 Bass Xylophone
| Single hits soft mallets | R: F2-F4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Single hits medium mallets | R: F2-F4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 |
Nylon Strings
01 Concert Ukulele
| Sustains | R: G2-A4 | L: 3 (p, mp. mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Sustains chord major | R: C1-B1, C3-B3, C5-B5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Sustains chords minor | R: C1-B1, C3-B3, C5-B5-E5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Short notes | R: G2-A4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Short chords major | R: C1-B1, C3-B3, C5-B5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Short chords minor | R: C1-B1, C3-B3, C5-B5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Staccato | R: G2-A4 | L: 3 (p, mp. mf) | RR: 4 |
02 Banjolele
| Sustains | R: G2-A4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Sustains chords major | R: C1-B1, C3-B3, C5-B5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Sustains chords minor | R: C1-C2, C3-C4, C5-C6 | L: 2(p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Short notes | R: G2-A4 | L: 1 (p, mp. mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Short chords major | R: C1-B1, C3-B3 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Short chords minor | R: C1-C2, C3-C4| L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Staccato | R: G2-A4 | L: 3 (p, mp. mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Stacato chords major | R: C5-B5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Staccato chords minor | R: C5-C6 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Staccato damped | R: G2-A4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 |
03 Bass ukulele
| Sustains | R: G0-C3 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Short notes | R: G0-C3 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Staccato | R: G0-C3 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 |
Accordions etc.
01 Childrens concertina
| Sustains | R:D3-F#5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | |
| Portato | R:D3-F#5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 3 | |
| Staccato | R:D3-F#5 | L: 2 (p, mf) | RR: 4 |
02 Childrens accordion
| Sustains | R:C1-F4 | L:3 (p, mp. mf) | |
| Portato | R:C1-F4 | L: 3 (p, mp. mf) | RR: 3 | |
| Staccato | R:C1-F4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 |
03 12 Bass accordion
| Sustains | R: C1-Bb1, C3-C5 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | |
| Portato | R: C1-Bb1 , C3-C5| L: 3 (p. mp. mf) | RR: 4 | |
| Staccato | R: C1-Bb1 , C3-C5| L: 3 (p. mp. mf) | RR: 4 |
04 Melodica
| Sustains | R: F2-C5 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | |
| Portato | R: F2-C5 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) RR: 2 | |
| Staccato | R: F2-C5 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 |
Recorders, ocarina
01 Soprano school recorder
| Sustains + LEG | R: C4-C6 | L: 1 (mf) | |
| Sustains | R: C4-C6 | L: 1 (mf) | |
| Portato | R: C4-C6 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 2 | |
| Staccato | R: C4-C6 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 4 |
02 Alto school recorder
| Sustains + LEG | R: F3-F5 | L: 1 (mf) | |
| Sustains | R: F3-F5 | L: 1 (mf) | |
| Portato | R: F3-F5 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 2 | |
| Staccato | R: F3-F5 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 4 |
03 Recorder group high
| Sustains | R: C4-A5 | L: 1 (mf) | |
| Portato | R: C4-A5 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 3 | |
| Staccato | R: C4-A5 | L: 1 (mf ) | RR: 4 |
04 Recorder group low
| Sustains | R: F3-D5 | L: 1 (mf) | |
| Portato | R: F3-D5 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 3 | |
| Staccato | R: F3-D5 | L: 1 (mf ) | RR: 4 |
05 Tin Ocarina
| Sustains | R: Db4-Bb5 | L: 1 (mf) | |
| Portato Long | R: Db4-Bb5 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 3 | |
| Portato Short | R: Db4-Bb5 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 3 | |
| Staccato | R: Db4-Bb5 | L: 1 (mf ) | RR: 4 |
Whistles
01 High G wistle
| Sustains | R: G4-E6 | L: 1 (mf) | |
| Portato Long | R: G4-E6 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 3 | |
| Portato Short | R: G4-E6 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 3 | |
| Staccato | R: G4-E6 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 4 |
02 Swanee whistle
| Sustains | R: G3-C6 | L: 1 (mf) | |
| Portato Long | R: G3-C6 | L: 1 (mf) | | RR: 2 | |
| Portato Short | R: G3-C6 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 2 | |
| Staccato | R: G3-C6 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 4 | |
| FX | R: C3-E5 | L: 1 (mf) |
03 Miscellaneous whistle
| Sustains | R: C3, D3| L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 3 | |
| Portato | R: C3, D3| L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 3 | |
| Staccato | R: C3, D3| L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 3 | |
| Fx | R: C2-F6 | L: 1 (mf) |
Toy percussion
01 Shakers
| Single hits | R: C3-A3 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 6 |
02 Guiros and washboards
| Single hits | R: C3-B4 | L: 3 (p, mp. mf) | RR: 6 |
03 Triangles and tambourines
| Single hits | R: C3-F3, C4-E4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 6 | |
| Rolls | R: F4,G4 | L: 2 (p, mf) |
04 Woodblocks and castanets
| Single hits | R: C3-F3 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 6 |
05 Bells and chimes
| Single hits and glissandi | R: C2-D5 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 6 |
06 Cymbals
| Single hits | R: C3-D4 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 4 |
07 Bongos
| Single hits | R: C3-F3 | L: 2 (mp, mf) | RR: 6 | |
| Rolls | R: C3 | L: 2 (mp, mf) |
08 Drums
| Single hits | R: C1-A4 | L: 3 (p, mf, f) | RR: 6 | |
| Rolls | R: B2,B3,B4 | L: 3 (p, mf, f) | RR: 2 |
09 Ruler on table bass
| Single hits | R: C0-G1 | L: 1 (mf) | RR: 4 | |
| FX | R: C0-C2 | L: 1 (mf) |
10 Aux percussion
| Single hits | R: C1-A3 | L: 3 (p, mp, mf) | RR: 6 |