Soundiron has recently released a new Kontakt instrument library in the Hopkin Instrumentarium series: Icicles & Pop Ice.
Icicles & Pop Ice are a pair of distinct string instruments that deliver a bright, crystalline tone, thanks to their short, highly tensioned strings and a rigid stainless-steel sheet soundboard. Suspended directly from the strings, the sheet creates a long, shimmering tail of reverberation, enriching each note with depth and complexity.
Icicles features 26 short string segments, each vibrating in unison with the resonant stainless-steel sheet. The result is a pure, shimmering sound that evolves organically with every pluck. Pop Ice takes this further by introducing a thin Styrofoam sheet, placed in direct contact with the strings. This secondary soundboard produces a sharp, percussive pop when plucked, followed by the sustained resonance of the stainless-steel sheet, adding a striking contrast to the tone.
Regularly priced $39 USD, Icicles and Pop Ice is on sale for $29 USD at Plugin Boutique until April 21st, 2025. It requires the full version of Kontakt 6.2.2 or higher.
More information: Soundiron / Icicles & Pop Ice
