Wrongtools has announced its upcoming Kontakt instrument library based on a collection of vintage Marxophones. Patented in 1912, the Marxophone is a flat lap zither with an unusual mechanical playing system. Flexible metal arms fitted with small hammers bounce against the melody strings, producing naturally repeated notes, tremolos and irregular cascades.
For MARXOS, Wrongtools recorded these instruments in detail, capturing not only their strings but also the mechanical movements, hammer noises and imperfections that give each instrument its character.
The collection goes considerably beyond traditional playing. Marxophones were prepared using cork, rubber, foam and jewelry, while other recordings employed E-bows and contact microphones mounted directly onto the strings. The resulting 49 patches range from recognizable acoustic Marxophones and prepared plucks to shimmering repetitions, rhythmic bounces, cinematic textures, pads, drones and hybrid orchestral colors.
MARXOS is organised into three sections:
- Acoustic: Detailed Marxophone recordings, prepared instruments, single notes, bouncing articulations and processed acoustic variations.
- Afterglow: Pads, E-bowed sounds, evolving textures, spectral atmospheres, smeared old strings and transformed instruments.
- Percussive: Brushed, bounced and rhythmically treated material derived from the Marxophone and its mechanisms.
MARXOS for Kontakt 6.4.2 of higher (full version) includes independent control over mechanical sounds, a resizable interface and Wrongtools’ sound-sculpting tools for further transformation.
The library is available for pre-order for €49 EUR until September 8th, 2026. The regular price will be €98 EUR.
More information: Wrongtools
