Kamaka HF-2 simulator

I've recorded a demo to compare a real HF-2 vs a simulated one.

This simulator is pretty primitive; for example, strum location is fix at near the 12th fret. Also, with the limited samples, there's no change whether you hit the A note on the G-string vs the A-string. Many more limitations.

However, if I do a blind test, I think many cannot tell the difference between the simulated Kamaka vs the real thing.

I'm not familiar with a simulator. What is it and what does it do? Is it replaying a recording of your Kamaka?

WestyShane said:

I'm not familiar with a simulator. What is it and what does it do? Is it replaying a recording of your Kamaka?

Click to expand...

You are close; down to the basics, it's kind of like replaying a recording of my Kamaka. However, it's more like a digital piano where a few sampled notes are used to create more varieties. Like a digital piano, I try not to lose the characteristic sound of the actual instrument. But there's only so much you can simulate.

Below is a piece of music I recorded with the uke simulator:
https://soundcloud.com/user-919961063/can-can

Something like the Yamaha silent guitar (which is like a digital piano but in guitar). Interesting that there's no uke that I know of. Because then, everybody get a taste of several famous uke sounds; kind of like my digital piano with Bosendorfer Imperial sounds. Yes, it's not the same (of course not), but it is a taste.

Some more sound demos from the uke sim sequencer:

https://soundcloud.com/user-919961063/strum-melody-chord-melody

(The strum song is This Old Man. The melody song is Brahm's lullaby, the uke playing melody is very sweet because of the trailing off the previous-played strings. I've modified the articulations of Can Can to illustrate more of its chord melody.)

I've put this app on Google Play for Android devices, but what used to take Google a few hours to publish now takes days. I'll put a link once its published. A notice: Programming is a hobby of mine (like folks building tennis-racket ukes -- the app is free (i.e. there's nothing in my app that wants to make money from you).

If you have an Android device, here's the app:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adamtai.mykamaka

It should let you compare HF-1 and HF-2 sounds.


If you have an older Kamaka soprano or a new HF-3 with Kamaka strings and don't mind adding its sound to the uke sim, please let me know. I'd love to get a sound sample and put it into the uke sim.