Malletbased

Malletbased is a term used in music production and sound design to describe a category of virtual instruments or physical instruments that rely on a mallet striking a surface to produce sound. This is in contrast to instruments that use bowed strings, plucked strings, or air columns.

Common examples of malletbased instruments include the marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, and glockenspiel. In digital music production, this term often refers to software synthesizers or samplers that emulate the sound and playing characteristics of these acoustic instruments. The sound is typically generated by a simulated mallet impacting a bar or surface, with variations in timbre and sustain depending on the material of the mallet, the material of the struck surface, and the resonant properties of the instrument itself.

The sonic qualities of malletbased instruments are often described as percussive yet melodic, with a clear attack and a decaying sustain. They are frequently employed in various musical genres, from classical and jazz to electronic music and film scores, for their distinctive tonal qualities and rhythmic potential. The design of virtual malletbased instruments focuses on accurately reproducing the nuances of the physical strike, including the precise envelope of the sound and the subtle overtones produced.