Bella Trutta Composer Pro

Article from Organo Musica (Digital Subscriber Edition), April 2098

*** Product Review - Bella Trutta Composer Pro ***

It’s notably rare for Organo Musica magazine to receive a hefty parcel with the cheesecake-inspired postmark identifying Bella Industries.  Five winters ago we last heard the silvery refrains of a Bella, darting through our offices like sunny reflections on a choppy lake surface.  Back then, we covered how well Bella Industries have implemented artificial nervous systems in the creation of such musical delights.

It still amazes us how much we can learn about rhythm and melody from fish.

The first reactions as the heavy gun-metal and glass unit shed its waxy autumn wrapping were of stunning build quality.  This sturdy little hobby-box will stand up to years of merciless jamming, either subjected to the dusty trials of studio life, or packed off to distant audiences.

The satchel-sized instrument fits snugly in two hands, its serpentine form reminding the user of its pedigree.  The insulated shell allows it to be held in bare hands, although any uncertainty of the core being at the correct temperature is relieved by a nifty electric-blue status indicator.  A glass window reveals the oil-filled interior for an aesthetic finish.

The instant the current was switched on, the hair-trigger sensors within the Trutta seemed to stalk out every scrap of musical material from the mind of its player, no matter how mundane.  Before full contact was achieved, our efforts at preparation - kicking cables free from our feet, shying away from the afternoon glare – resulted in icy flurries and funereal drones.  These artifacts – though a product of technical limitations – could be argued to augment the performance as they are artfully filtered and blended (unlike the shrill catcalls and belches which betray cheaper models).

Once contact was achieved however, the unit cast its delicate hooks into the imagination of its partner, drawing us all closer to hear the delicate clockwork chatterings we didn’t dare expect.  In fact this is the chief difference in this updated model.  In Bella’s words:

“The emotion in your finest music is driven by the ebb and flow, the call and answer.  The ingredient you need to achieve this is rhythm, or more generally time.  Bella Industries have invested heavily in chronologics to give you the edge of rhythm in your compositions.”

The bewildering synthetic mind at the heart of the Composer Pro is painstakingly modelled on all major cerebral structures in its target species (again, Brown Trout!) which far exceeds the minimalist design of other models in the same price range.  Instead of saving time in the workshop by reducing the model to several key brain areas, Bella have remained loyal to the neurological journals which claim there is no one ‘musical centre’ to isolate.

Although Bella products are modelled on a simple species, the choice of an aquatic organism is a wise one.  Making use of the superior sound propagation properties of their aquatic environment, swimbladder-bearing fish are highly sensitive to auditory stimuli.  This gives rise to interesting properties when the nervous system is studied and kicked into reverse gear to generate playful harmonies or delicate refrains by the sense-impulses of a skilled musician.

Theory aside, how does the Trutta really sound?  Put in the hands of our very own Brendan Synaptik (check out his tutorial on wet and dry scales in this month’s interactive content!) stole the show, winning instant friendship and co-operation with the Trutta.  With an infectious ease he conjoured a seascape of meandering whale-song and seashell percussion, perhaps teasing out archetypes from the mind of the creature at its heart.

However, new users should feel no qualms about diving right in.  Even bread-and-butter studies in concentration evoked unexpected delights.  For example, a steady visualisation of a sycamore tree yielded an ascending series of diabolical tritones, cleverly balanced by a catchy lyrical hook.

With heavy hearts we pack the Bella back into its box for the inevitable return.  If only we could afford one of our own!

Given the constraints of the target species, the Trutta Composer Pro is an aural treat.  Both serious hobbyists and heavyweight performers will see no end to its musical gifts.  We believe this Bella will not be matched, unless by something very special indeed.