MNTRA Instruments Pyramids Virtual Instrument

Augmented Ancient Sonic Geometry

Pyramids invites you into a world where ancient geometry meets modern sound design. Crafted from pure quartz, these instruments resonate with crystalline clarity, offering both an acoustic and expanded sound experience. Their precise ratios, inspired by the Great Pyramids of Egypt, produce transparent tones that can be shaped through movement, rhythmic beating, and the addition of other vibrating sources. As the first release in our Elemental series, Pyramids is an instrument explored to its core, surpassing the physical world’s limitations to create augmented and versatile sound expressions.

Each pyramid resonates with a crystalline purity that’s both transparent and deeply immersive. When spun, the instrument generates an acoustic vibrato, offering a fresh perspective on the interaction between harmonics, fundamentals, and beat frequencies.

Our innovative ultrasonic sampling techniques have transformed these instruments into a multi-dimensional tool within MNDALA 2, allowing you to explore an extended octave range and hidden frequencies beyond physical limitations. The Extended Range Audio (E.R.A.) stretched samples reveal slower fluctuations and subtle movements, granting access to massive polyphonic versions of these instruments that would be impossible to build or play physically. Additionally, we have created Sample Start Modulation (SSM) capable versions of the sounds. Using either played velocity or random modulation, the start point scans through the sample, creating highly dynamic performances. This allows for infinite variations of the sound, bringing the instrument to life.

The creation of Pyramids was significantly shaped by the involvement of two guest artists. Christopher LaRosa, a composer for film, games, and the concert hall, played a pivotal role in inspiring the project. As the owner of several of the physical pyramids, he introduced creative ideas on how to alter and manipulate their sound, allowing us to fully explore their sonic potential. LaRosa played the instrument during our initial recording session, and his extensive experience as an arranger provided invaluable insight into shaping and expanding the unique tonal landscape of the pyramids.

We also had the pleasure of working with sound alchemist Steffen Ki, whose impressive background in sound and music healing greatly influenced the development of Pyramids. As a long-time user of our instruments in his practice, Steffen helped craft several custom presets for the instrument. His profound knowledge of sound healing, combined with his creative mastery of MNDALA 2, revealed new ways to enhance Pyramids’ healing properties and sonic versatility. 

Recorded with meticulous care, including sessions in both reverberant and dead rooms, we captured the instruments from both inside and outside perspectives. Pyramids has been one of the most challenging instruments we've ever recorded, as its onset and subtle tail required an extremely low-noise environment and custom-built signal chain. After multiple recordings and adjustments, the result is a rich, dynamic sound array that’s both expressive and versatile. From delicate resonances to the intense vibrations of a cracked pyramid, every sound is captured in pristine detail.

Whether you're a Sound Healer, Experimental Ambient Musician, or Sound Designer, Pyramids offers a vast array of sonic possibilities. With various sizes and different mallets—acrylic, suede, nails—and the addition of resonant jingles, you can create anything from gentle healing ambiances to electroacoustic soundscapes.

Install directly in the MNDALA 2 sampling engine.

Features

• 94 Presets
• 50 Atelier Presets
• 22 Sample Maps
• Up to 17 Round Robins
• 22 SSM powered samples (Sample Start Modulation)
• 4 Octave range (C1-C5)
• 384 kHz and 32 bits Recording format
• Up to 2 microphone channels

What's Inside

Hybrid

• Pyramid Mini Bowed

Small Quartz Pyramid bowed with a large double bass bow to obtain a long, sustained sound. 

• Pyramid Bass Bowed

Medium Quartz Pyramid bowed with a large double bass bow to obtain a long, sustained sound. 

• Pyramid Jingle Suede Beater

Medium Quartz Pyramid, with tiny metal jingles hanging from the top, activated with a cylindrical suede-covered beater and then left to resonate. 

• Pyramid Sizzle Suede Beater

Medium Quartz Pyramid, with thin metal pieces hanging around, beat with a cylindrical suede-covered beater and then left to resonate. 

Percussion

• Pyramid Glass Crush

Cracked pyramid pieces collected inside of a hand to hit each other and create a multi-attack sound.

Pitched Percussion

• Pyramid Mini Hard Acrylic Mallet

Small Quartz Pyramid activated with a cylindrical acrylic mallet and then left to resonate. 

• Pyramid Mini Soft Acrylic Mallet

Small Quartz Pyramid activated with a cylindrical suede-covered mallet and then left to resonate. 

• Pyramid Mini Short

Small Quartz Pyramid hit with an acrylic mallet and then muted to produce a short sound. 

• Pyramid XL Bowed

Extra Large Quartz Pyramid bowed with a large double bass bow to obtain a long, sustained sound.  

• Pyramid XL Glass Mallet

Extra Large Quartz Pyramid hit with a cylindrical glass beater and then left to resonate.  

• Pyramid XL Cracked Glass Mallet

Extra Large Quartz Pyramid, cracked in one side, hit with a cylindrical glass beater and then left to resonate.  

• Pyramid XL Soft Mallet Short

Extra Large Quartz Pyramid hit with a soft acrylic mallet and then muted slightly to shorten the sound for a short articulation.  

• Pyramid XL Soft Mallet Long

Extra Large Quartz Pyramid hit with a soft acrylic mallet and then left to resonate. The pitch variations are its natural vibrato. 

• Pyramid XL Soft Mallet Clusters

Extra Large Quartz Pyramid hit with a soft acrylic glass mallet and then left to resonate while softly hitting other sides of the pyramids to create harmonic clusters. 

• Pyramid XL Suede Beater

Extra Large Quartz Pyramid hit with a suede-covered beater and then left to resonate while softly hitting other sides of the pyramids to create harmonic clusters.  

• Pyramid XL Soft Mallet Clusters

Medium-sized goat skin drums with two heads to be played on both ends because they have different diameters and sounds. It’s placed sideways on the floor or a stand, and the dominant hand usually plays the higher-pitched side. It’s used commonly in Dhrupad music.

• Pyramid Bass Suede-Beater

Medium Quartz Pyramid activated with a cylindrical suede-covered beater and then left to resonate.   

• Pyramid Bass Metal Straw

Medium Quartz Pyramid activated with a thin metal straw to create a sharper attack, and then left to resonate.   

• Pyramid Bass Suede Beater Muted

Large Quartz Pyramid activated with a cylindrical suede-covered beater and then muted to produce a shorter sound.  

• Pyramid Bass Brushes

Large Quartz Pyramid activated with metal brush mallets.  

• Pyramid Side Suede Beater

Medium Quartz Pyramid activated with a cylindrical suede-covered beater and then left to resonate.  

• Pyramid Bass Metal Beater

Large Quartz Pyramid activated with a metal beater.  

• Pyramid Large Suede Beater

Large Quartz Pyramid activated with a cylindrical suede-covered beater and then left to resonate.