Ronroco by Gustavo Santaolalla

A signature sound that adds emotion into music, film and games

Step into the personal sound world of Gustavo Santaolalla. For media composers seeking truly authentic, evocative textures to score drama, tension, and expansive landscapes, or producers wanting unique acoustic character unavailable elsewhere, this library captures the unique voice of the multi award-winning composer’s iconic ronroco. Heard prominently in his iconic scores for The Last of Us, Motorcycle Diaries, Babel, and his seminal solo album Ronroco, this isn't merely a collection of sounds; it's the culmination of a deep, personal connection, meticulously translated into playable form.

For Gustavo, the ten-string ronroco (specifically the E-minor tuning he discovered and embraced) became a vessel for expressing identity beyond traditional boundaries. Its voice carries echoes of Andean roots but transcends them, finding its way into cinematic soundscapes and deeply personal compositions. It can whisper with introspection or soar with resonant emotion, capable of both grounding melodies and floating textures.

Gustavo himself performed every sample, pouring his distinct, non-traditional fingerpicking style and emotional nuance into each note. He was driven by the desire to capture the ronroco's specific character – the resonance of the wood, the breath between notes, the gentle touch of fingertips. We explored its full spectrum, its shadows and its light, to craft something that feels genuine, intimate and alive.

The distinctive sound of a legendary career

Gustavo Santaolalla is a true visionary – a composer, producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose evocative soundscapes have left an indelible mark on both film and popular music globally. He achieved the rare feat of winning consecutive Academy Awards® for Best Original Score for Ang Lee's poignant Brokeback Mountain (2005) and Alejandro G. Iñárritu's sprawling Babel (2006). 

What is in Ronroco by Gustavo Santaolalla?

Ronroco by Gustavo Santaolalla is a meticulously sampled virtual instrument library for Kontakt (free Player), capturing the unique sound, playing style, and spirit of legendary composer Gustavo Santaolalla performing on his iconic Ronroco.

Ronroco by Gustavo Santaolalla features deep sampling, multiple articulations, intuitive performance modes (Note, Chord, Sequencer), and built-in FX, programmed by expert Mike Georgiades.

What is a Ronroco?

A ronroco is a stringed instrument originating from the Andean region of South America, often considered a larger, lower-pitched relative of the well-known charango.

Typically featuring five courses of double strings, its unique character is partly defined by the middle course often being tuned in octaves, contributing to its rich resonance and notable sustain – qualities that differentiate its sound significantly from the brighter, quicker decay of the charango.

While rooted in Andean folk traditions, the ronroco has found a powerful and versatile voice in contemporary music and film scoring, largely thanks to Gustavo Santaolalla's pioneering use of the instrument. This library specifically captures the E-minor tuned variant he famously uses, known for its deeply soulful, atmospheric, and evocative tone.