Bunker Samples has released a new Kontakt instrument library which brings the sounds of a bamboo xylophone-like instrument that originated in the central highlands of Vietnam centuries ago.
The T’rung is constructed from carefully tuned bamboo tubes attached to strings, but unlike its western counterpart it is vertical. The instrument is played with unique double headed mallets, which are exactly the length of one octave in the instrument, which allows for easy octave doubling of both hits and rolls. Early version were pentatonic only, but the modern T’rung is fully chromatic and has a range of over three octaves. Despite being a popular instrument all across Vietnam, it has never been available as a sample library until now.
Bunker Samples is proud to introduce what we believe is the the worlds first T’rung sample library. To make this instrument we collaborated with renowned Vietnamese musician Phan Thuy and sampled her master T’rung at Zebra studios in the heart of Hanoi with. The result is a truly unique and characterful virtual instrument with a huge dynamic range and a sound that instantly conjures up nature and ancient rituals.
Dan T’rung features
- Range of three and half octaves.
- Chromatically sampled hits with 4 dynamic layers and 4 round robins.
- Rolls with exceptionally smooth dynamic crossfading.
- 3 mic perspectives: close, mid and far.
- User customisable articulation switching system.
- Requires the full version of NI Kontakt 6 or later.
- 2,370 samples and 1GB lossless compressed size.
Bunker Samples Dan T’rung (Dan simply means instrument in Vietnamese) has a bright and punchy sound with a short decay and is ideal for composers and producers looking for a unique alternative to the western xylophone.
Regularly priced $39 USD, the sample library is on sale for the introductory price of $25 USD until February 28th, 2026. It is also available in the new Vietnam Bundle for $39 USD (regular $55 USD) together with Bunker Samples “Sticks and Stones”, a Vietnamese lithopone – essentially a stone marimba and one of the oldest known human instruments.
More information: Bunker Samples
