A virtual marimba recreates the deep, mellow tones of one of the most expressive percussion instruments. Unlike the xylophone's bright, percussive snap, a marimba uses wider bars tuned through arches carved into the underside, with vertical resonator tubes underneath amplifying specific harmonics. The result is a sustained tone — you can hold a note for half a second or more.
Our Synthesis Approach
We use a triangle-wave oscillator with a 600ms exponential decay envelope to mimic the wooden warmth of real rosewood bars. Real marimbas tune both the fundamental and the fourth harmonic by carving the bar's underside; we approximate this timbre by blending the oscillator's natural harmonics into a warm, harmonically rich tone.
Three Material Options
Switch between Redwood (default warm), Wood (brighter), and Acrylic (color-cycled contemporary) using the Material toggle in Configuration. All configurations swap instantly — the visual identity changes while the audio continues uninterrupted.
Latin American Heritage
The modern marimba has roots in Central American folk music, particularly in Guatemala and southern Mexico, where it remains a national symbol. Contemporary 5-octave marimbas are standard in orchestral, solo, and jazz repertoires. Buying a real wooden marimba costs $5,000-$20,000+; doing it online is a free, instrument-free way to learn mallet technique first.