Prominy Hummingbird Tutorial 1: Strumming and Arpeggios

An Acoustic Guitar Instrument Designed for Realism

Prominy’s Hummingbird includes recordings of real played chords
and a wide range of articulations, making it an acoustic guitar instrument
designed to be as realistic as possible.

You may wonder whether that makes it difficult to use,
so we will explain its basic features and ways to add expression.

In this first installment, we cover two acoustic guitar fundamentals: strumming and arpeggios.

Prominy Hummingbird Video

1. 1Prominy Hummingbird Tutorial 1: Strumming and Arpeggios
2. 2Prominy Hummingbird Tutorial 2: Techniques for a More Realistic Performance

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Selected Questions and Answers from the YouTube Video

Could you tell me how to open the screen where you program notes—the piano roll, I think? Is it part of another application rather than Hummingbird? Sorry, I am a beginner.

Yes. Hummingbird is used with music production software called a DAW. The piano roll is a note-entry feature in the DAW.

I am waiting for the next video. Is it available yet?

Here is the second installment: https://youtu.be/cRPqbrgU8nU

Are the controls for SC Electric Guitar much different from Hummingbird?

We have not examined SC Electric Guitar in detail, but at a glance it appears similar. There may be small differences, though knowing one should help you understand the other more quickly.

Preparation: Kontakt Settings

Because of its detailed samples, Hummingbird uses a relatively large amount of memory.
To reduce memory usage, start by configuring Kontakt’s options. The menu shown here is from the version used in this tutorial; current versions may differ.

• Open Options in Kontakt and select the Memory tab.
• Enable the instrument preload buffer size override.
• Set “Override Instrument’s preload size” to 6.00 KB or 12.00 KB. Prominy recommends checking the preload setting before loading an instrument; storage performance can affect streaming.

Loading Hummingbird

Select Hummingbird from Kontakt’s library. Several instrument variants are available:

• “L”: recorded with a large-diaphragm microphone.
• “S”: recorded with a small-diaphragm microphone.
• “doubletrack”: two separate performances panned left and right (stereo only).
• “stereo”: a spacious sound recorded with two microphones (stereo only).
• “lite_version”: a lower-memory version without real sampled chords.

Key Layout

When Hummingbird loads, a screen like the one above appears.
Display the keyboard so you can see the keys used to play it.

E3–C7 are the Normal Keys, used here to specify the chord root.

The keyboard also has dedicated strum and arpeggio keys.
The strum key assignments are:

• C2 and C♯2: downstroke and upstroke.
• D2 and D♯2: muted downstroke and upstroke on strings 4–6.
• F♯2 and G♯2: downstroke and upstroke on strings 4–6.
• A♯2 and C♯3: downstroke and upstroke on strings 1–3.

Prominy’s Hummingbird manual identifies E2, F2, G2, A2, B2, and C3 as the arpeggio keys for strings 6 through 1, respectively. The Japanese article lists a different sequence; check the on-screen keyboard and your version’s manual for your setup.

Selecting Chord Types

In this workflow, use a Normal Key to select the chord root
and select the chord type—major, minor, seventh, and so on—separately.

Select the chord type using “Instrument” at the top left of the interface.

You can also switch using the instrument keyswitches shown in black, from C-2 to E1.

Checking and Changing Instrument Keyswitches

To check or change the instrument keyswitches, select the Options tab and choose
“inst select key” from the lower-right menu.

The assignments for each keyswitch will appear.
You can change an assignment using the arrow that appears when you move the pointer to the left of the keyboard.

Programming a Part

Now let’s program a part.
For example, to enter a Cadd9 chord, use the arrangement shown below.

The upper note is the Normal Key for C; the lower note is the keyswitch that selects add9.
Place the keyswitch slightly before the Normal Key so the selection is registered in time.

Continue entering notes in the same way at each chord change.
You may also want to choose between open and barre chord voicings.
Here is how:

To select open chords, use “prefer open/low” at the top center of the fretboard display.

This button is assigned to MIDI CC #21, so you can change it during a performance.

After selecting the chord and open-voicing preference, program the strum and arpeggio keys
to add a rhythm.

Setting the velocities of the strum and arpeggio notes
lets you create subtle performance nuances.

Next time, we will look at further ways to add expression.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I use Prominy Hummingbird without Kontakt?

Hummingbird runs in Kontakt or the free Kontakt Player; Prominy lists Kontakt Player as included. Install a compatible player or Kontakt version before using the library.

Q2. What can I try if I run short of memory?

The tutorial demonstrates reducing the instrument preload buffer to 6.00 KB or 12.00 KB in Kontakt’s Memory options, or choosing lite_version. This may reduce RAM use, but a no-sound problem can have other causes; consult Prominy’s current preload guidance for your Kontakt version.

Q3. How are the strum and arpeggio keys assigned?

C2 and C♯2 trigger down and up strums. The manufacturer’s manual lists E2, F2, G2, A2, B2, and C3 for strings 6 through 1. Instrument-selection keyswitch assignments can be checked and changed under Options; check the manual for other key assignments.

Q4. How do I choose between open and barre chords?

Use “prefer open/low” in the fretboard display. It is assigned to MIDI CC #21, so it can be changed in real time during a performance.