Ample China Konghou (ACKH) represents a significant advancement in orchestral sampling, delivering a meticulously captured 76-string Peacock-type Konghou performed by virtuoso Ye Lin. The instrument's complex harmonic character - characterized by shimmering sustains and resonant decay - emerges clearly across multiple microphone positions, with both AB and MS stereo configurations providing flexible blending options for mixing contexts.
The plugin's technical foundation rests on Ample Sound's 4.0 engine, which handles eight articulations with convincing response to velocity and modulation data. What distinguishes ACKH is its proprietary glissando system, which automatically generates scale-based slides between note endpoints. Rather than relying on pre-recorded glissandi, this engine grants precise control over timing, intensity, and tonality, enabling authentic pentatonic passages and ornamentations that would otherwise demand extensive manual editing.
The Riffer editor streamlines articulation management within a piano roll interface, while custom tremolo and bending systems address the Konghou's performance techniques with appropriate responsiveness. Voice-independent SAHDS envelopes allow per-note shaping, critical for an instrument where sustain characteristics vary considerably across the range.
Built-in processing includes eight-band EQ, dual compression, six-tap echo, and convolution reverb with 3D spectrum visualization. These tools provide sufficient sonic shaping without requiring external processing, though many engineers will likely use them primarily for quick adjustments before mixing into their broader template.
ACKH fills a genuine gap in available Konghou libraries, offering both sampling fidelity and performance flexibility suitable for film scoring, game audio, and contemporary composition requiring authentic Asian instrumentation with modern production demands.