Earlier this month, I teamed up with Jambalom, a music tech company with a real passion for expressive, playable VST instruments. Their latest release is a beautifully sampled Cimbalom, part of the hammered dulcimer family, and they brought me on board to create a short promotional video to showcase the instrument in action.
It’s available as a VST via Native Instruments’ Kontakt and can be used in any standard DAW, whether for sequencing or playing live with a MIDI controller. For this shoot, the team had it running through a Roland electric piano, which gave us a tactile, responsive setup to work with. The aim? Capture the sound, the feel, and the atmosphere in a way that resonates with producers and composers alike.
The Setting
Rather than hiring a full studio, we kept things personal and shot the entire video in Denes’ conservatory, a naturally bright space with clean, neutral light that was ideal for the tone of the project. To create a more controlled, focused backdrop, we hung matte black sheets ordered from Amazon. Nothing fancy, but it worked. Sometimes, keeping things stripped-back lets the subject breathe.
There was no artificial lighting involved. Just the soft, indirect daylight pouring in through the glass, consistent, flattering, and beautifully diffused. It helped give the final video a clean, organic look that matched the character of the instrument itself.
The Video Production Gear
For this project, I shot exclusively on my Sony A7IV, a mirrorless workhorse that’s become my go to for hybrid shoots. Paired with the Sigma 56mm f1.4, I was able to isolate detail and compress the background just enough to keep the focus tight on the performance. That lens never fails to impress, especially in situations like this where space is limited, and lighting is all-natural.
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For movement, I relied on two main tools: the Konova slider for smooth, linear tracking shots, and the DJI RS2 gimbal for fluid, balanced handheld motion. Between the two, I was able to add subtle motion to key shots without overcomplicating things or drawing attention away from the instrument. It’s always about complementing the subject, not overwhelming it.
Capturing the Vibe
Jambalom’s brief was clear: no fluff, no overproduction, just honest, beautifully crafted shots that let the instrument speak for itself. Alongside filming Jozsef performing live on the Roland electric piano, I also wanted to capture the VST instrument in action on-screen, giving viewers a clear look at the interface and how it responds to real-time playing.
To do this, I filmed directly off a MacBook display running Kontakt, carefully framing the clean, minimal GUI of the Cimbalom instrument. To maintain clarity and avoid any harsh reflections, we hung additional matte black sheets strategically to block out stray daylight and reduce glare on the laptop. It was a bit of a DIY setup, but it worked brilliantly, letting the interface shine through in crisp detail without losing that soft, natural light we’d embraced for the rest of the shoot.
By weaving in these screen moments, the final video offers a more complete picture, not just of the sound and feel of the instrument, but of how it functions within a producer’s workflow. Whether you’re a composer or a bedroom beat maker, you can see exactly how it fits into your setup.
Photography Deliverables
Alongside the video work, I also captured a series of high-resolution stills for Jambalom to use across their website and social media channels. These included lifestyle shots of the setup, performance close-ups, and some minimal product-focused frames for banners and thumbnails.
In total, I delivered:
- 1 x 40-second promotional video
- 60+ video clips (covering various takes, angles, and performance sections)
- 75+ photos (edited, graded, and delivered in both web and high-res formats)
The entire shoot took just under four hours from start to finish. Thanks to careful planning, a compact gear setup, and the right natural light, everything came together smoothly on the day.
Final Thoughts
This was one of those rare projects where everything clicked, literally and creatively. Jambalom knew exactly what they wanted: an honest, visually clean video that shows off the tone and playability of their Cimbalom VST without distraction.
The combination of real-world performance and digital instrument design made it a fascinating subject to film. From a creative point of view, it was a refreshing reminder that not every promo needs heavy production, sometimes, a good lens, the right light, and a bit of movement are all you need.
You can check out Jambalom’s Cimbalom instrument on their website, and keep an eye out for the promo across their socials in the coming weeks.
