Etherealwinds Harp
Key Features
- Fully chromatically sampled 34-string Iona Celtic lever harp spanning five octaves (C2 to A6)
- Two velocity layers and two round robins for natural, non-repetitive performances
- 255 stereo samples recorded with professional microphones shipped from the US to the UK for the session
- Bonus content including seven effect samples and 16 vocal samples from the full Etherealwinds Harp II library
- SFZ format compatible with Plogue Sforzando, ARIA, LinuxSampler, and other SFZ-capable players
- Warm, intimate lever harp tone that sits naturally in folk, Celtic, fantasy, and cinematic mixes
- Released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0, allowing use in commercial productions
Description
Etherealwinds Harp II: Community Edition is a deeply sampled Celtic lever harp built by Versilian Studios in collaboration with harpist Jordi Francis. Recorded from a 34-string Iona Celtic harp in a dedicated eight-hour session, it delivers a warm, intimate tone suited to folk, fantasy, and cinematic scoring.
The Community Edition ships with 255 chromatic stereo samples spanning five octaves (C2 to A6), captured across two velocity layers and two round robins. It also includes seven bonus effect samples and 16 vocal samples drawn from the full commercial release.
Lever harps produce a distinctly softer, more personal sound than concert pedal harps, and this library captures that character faithfully. Users consistently praise the natural resonance and realistic pluck response, noting it blends easily into ambient and orchestral arrangements.
The primary format is SFZ, loadable in any compatible player such as Plogue Sforzando or ARIA. A legacy Windows VSTi build is also available for older setups, though the SFZ version offers broader compatibility across both macOS and Windows.
The download weighs approximately 400 MB installed, with an additional 200 MB needed during extraction. An SSD or 7200+ RPM hard drive is recommended for smooth streaming performance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Etherealwinds Harp II CE require Kontakt?
No. The primary format is SFZ, which loads in any compatible SFZ player such as Plogue Sforzando (also free). A legacy Windows VSTi is included but is no longer actively maintained. There is no Kontakt version of the Community Edition.
How does the Community Edition differ from the full Etherealwinds Harp II?
The CE includes chromatic stereo sampling with two velocity layers and two round robins, plus a small selection of effect and vocal samples. The full version adds multiple harp articulations and a complete vocal library with additional syllables and phrases.
Can the samples be used in commercial music?
Yes. The Community Edition is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license, which permits commercial use as long as credit is given to the creators.
How can I reduce the metallic quality and get a softer sound?
Users report that adding a gentle reverb and rolling off some high-frequency content with an EQ helps tame the bright attack. Playing at lower velocities also produces a warmer, more delicate tone that suits ambient and dreamy arrangements.
