Mute Models

Sordina includes over 260 mute models covering brass, strings, and saxophone. Each model is designed to emulate the tonal characteristics of a real mute or performance technique.

For a complete list of available models and their corresponding Bank and Program values, see the Bank and Program Reference.

Variations

Many of the mutes include multiple variations. This is because the effect of a mute is influenced by a number of factors, including the instrument being played, the design of the mute, the acoustic environment, and the performer. As a result, two examples of the same mute type can sound quite different.

When exploring a particular mute, it is worth trying several models to find the one that best matches the sound you are looking for.

Brass

Brass instruments have a long tradition of mute usage, with different mute designs producing a wide range of tonal colours and performance effects.

Straight Mutes

Straight mutes are among the most common brass mutes. They produce a brighter, more focused sound and are widely used in both orchestral and concert band repertoire.

Cup Mutes

Cup mutes create a softer, warmer sound than straight mutes. They are particularly common in jazz and light music settings.

Harmon Mutes

Harmon mutes produce a distinctive nasal tone and are often associated with jazz trumpet performance. Many models support wah-style effects through the Wah control.

Bucket Mutes

Bucket mutes create a dark, mellow sound with reduced brightness and a softer attack.

Practice Mutes

Practice mutes are designed to significantly reduce the volume of the instrument. In doing so, they also produce a distinctive tonal change that differs from traditional performance mutes.

Other Brass Mutes

Sordina also includes a variety of less common brass mute designs, each offering its own unique tonal characteristics.

Strings

For strings, Sordina includes a range of conventional orchestral mutes, practice mutes, and specialised performance techniques. These models are available for violin, viola, cello, and double bass, allowing you to recreate a wide variety of muted and altered string timbres.

Orchestral Mutes

Orchestral mute models are based on commonly used concert mutes such as Tourte, leather, ebony, metal, aluminium, and other traditional designs. These mutes soften the sound of the instrument and alter its tonal balance while retaining the character of normal bowed performance.

Practice Mutes

Practice mutes are designed primarily to reduce the volume of the instrument. This produces a more heavily damped sound than conventional orchestral mutes.

Performance Techniques

In addition to traditional mutes, Sordina includes models based on a number of common string techniques.

Col Legno (tratto) emulates the distinctive tonal character associated with playing the strings using the wood of the bow.

Sul Ponticello emulates playing close to the bridge, producing a brighter sound with increased harmonic content.

Flautando produces a softer, airier tone with reduced emphasis on higher harmonics.

Sul Tasto emulates playing over the fingerboard, creating a warmer and more diffuse sound.

A Note on Performance Techniques

Unlike traditional mutes, techniques such as col legno, flautando, sul ponticello, and sul tasto involve changes in the way the instrument is played rather than simply altering its resonance. As a result, they cannot be recreated perfectly using Sordina’s subtractive processing approach.

For example, a real col legno performance includes additional sounds created by the wood of the bow contacting the strings, fingerboard, and bridge. Since these sounds are not present in the source material, they won’t be present in Sordina’s output.

Instead, these models aim to capture the overall tonal character of the technique. In ensemble contexts this is often sufficient, as the effect naturally blends into the sound of the section. In exposed solo passages, however, some of the defining characteristics of the original technique may be absent.

Saxophone

Sordina includes a selection of mute models designed specifically for saxophone instruments.