Steelpans: The Sound of Shimmering Steel
The Steelpans Instrument Pack for Pianoteq offers a stunning collection of four pitched metal percussion instruments: Steel Drum, Spacedrum, Hand Pan, and Tank Drum. These virtual instruments capture the authentic timbre and dynamics of their physical counterparts, making them versatile for everything from world music and film scoring to modern production. Each instrument is based on Pianoteq's exclusive physical modelling technology, ensuring a smooth response to every nuance of your playing.
a Pianoteq instrument pack
Get this pack with Pianoteq Stage (2 packs), Standard (3), or Pro (4).
Buy Pianoteqstarting from 139.00 €
- Four instruments: Trinidad Steel Drum, Spacedrum, Hand Pan and Tank Drum
- Extended range of 88 keys (A0-C8)
- Exclusive modelling of blooming overtones
- Sound generated and evolving as you play
- 29 presets included, played with hands or mallets
Discover the sound of the Steelpans
Steel Drum
Originating from Trinidad, this steel drum combines elements of the "double second", "tenor", "double guitar" and "triple cello" variants. Listen to its bright, resonant tones that bring calypso and modern genres to life.
Spacedrum
The Spacedrum, a French-made variant of the Hand Pan, offers a rich, meditative sound, perfect for cinematic atmospheres or experimental compositions.
Hand Pan
Explore the deep, resonant tones of the Hand Pan, suited for both hand and mallet playing. Its unique voice is a blend of soothing resonance and complex overtones.
Tank Drum
Made from slits cut into the thick metal of a gas tank, the Tank Drum offers a simpler, purer tone than the other instruments. In addition to rhythmic and percussive music, it has a lot of potential in creating atmospheric soundscapes.
Realism through physical modelling
Each instrument is designed with Pianoteq's renowned physical modelling technology, ensuring seamless velocity response and subtle variations in each note. Unlike sample-based libraries, these instruments respond naturally to dynamics and phrasing, creating a smooth, expressive playing experience. With humanization features, no two strikes sound exactly the same, bringing lifelike detail to repeated notes.
The magic of blooming overtones
A standout feature of these steelpan instruments is the ability to control blooming energy and blooming inertia. These parameters allow the sound to evolve as you play, with overtones "blooming" from low to high frequencies, giving the instruments their characteristic brightening effect. This adds an extra layer of authenticity and creative control to your performances.
Extended range and playability
Each instrument offers an extended range up to 88 keys for incredible versatility. This allows for deeply resonant low notes, impossible in the physical instruments, but beautifully rich in timbre.
In addition, the Spacedrum and Hand Pan offer both hand-played and mallet variants, and the sustain pedal can be used to trigger the resonance of the bottom hole, called "Gu", adding even more depth to your playing.
