Composer Gustavo Santaolalla’s journey has been extraordinary. His mastery of this underappreciated Andean instrument has been applied to the scores of iconic films (Babel, The Motorcycle Diaries, Brokeback Mountain) and paradigm-shifting soundtracks (The Last of Us), bringing the ronroco and its nuanced versatility into the global spotlight. Santaolalla has a common goal whether he’s composing for film, TV, or games: to connect with the viewer or player on a deep emotional level via his instrument.
Now Spitfire Audio is letting composers and producers find that same connection by bringing Santaolalla’s meditative, innovative approach to the ronroco to an inspiring VST, with exceptional programming that lets you authentically explore every nuance of the instrument. Ronroco by Gustavo Santaolalla will be available for £139/$169/€149 from 24 April 2025 at www.spitfireaudio.com. An introductory discount of 20% is available until 8 May 2025.
Product Features: the authentic sound of the ronroco at your fingertips
The ronroco’s character stems from its five courses of double strings, with its middle course tuned to an octave, creating rich resonance and notable sustain. Every note was recorded by Santaolalla himself in his LA studio, on his favorite instrument, handmade by master luthier Chiquito Rodriguez. Ronroco samples the true feel of the maestro, using his signature E-minor tuning, his techniques, and his personal playing style. Unlike generic world instrument libraries, Ronroco offers unparalleled authenticity, deep nuance, and intuitive playability, instantly evoking the emotive atmosphere of Santaolalla’s iconic scores.
This sound, while deeply familiar to many ears, is a striking departure from other guitars and charangos, with a distinct character that is an inspiring addition to any arrangement. Ronroco features multiple articulations, intuitive performance modes (Sequencer, Chord & Note), and built-in FX, all expertly programmed by Mike Georgiades, the developer behind Spitfire’s highly successful MG Soft Acoustic Guitar and MG Soft Nylon Guitar libraries. Ronroco meticulously captures Santaollala’s touch, the slides, twiddles, and vibrato, the individual fret-hand squeaks and shifts that imbue his compositions with emotion, for a powerfully authentic sound not available elsewhere.
Key Features
- Perform realistic chords, strums, arpeggios, lead lines and more
- Auto chord-voicing true to traditional tuning or pitch-order
- Multiple articulations: slides, twiddles, vibrato, tremolos
- Custom 32-step sequencer, with articulation per step, and MIDI drag-and-drop to DAW
- Octave string simulation for authentic ronroco sound
- Fret/string noise triggered by pedal or manually
- Built-in FX: convolution reverb, algorithmic reverb, modern/tape/ping pong delays
“Gustavo opened up the world’s ears to the creative possibilities of the ronroco thanks to his sensitive, luminous playing and intuitive yet complex compositions,” says Spitfire Audio co-founder Paul Thomson. “We want to offer these creative possibilities to more musicians, composers, and producers who love what they’ve heard in Gustavo’s score and want to incorporate that same feeling into their own projects. The instrument has inspired Gustavo and we are certain its virtual counterpart will inspire countless artists in new ways.”
About Gustavo Santaolalla: A composer’s journey from the Andes to The Last of Us
Over decades, Santaolalla honed a unique vision for his instrument—and for music in general. Forged in the Buenos Aires rock scene, Santaolalla became fascinated with the Andean ukelele-sized relative of the guitar and higher-pitched charango. He recorded an entire album inspired by the ronroco, expanding its expressive potential. Some tracks from this album caught the ear of a Hollywood director, which led to one choice placement after another and eventually to full scores, as well as Oscars, Golden Globes, and GRAMMYs.
Santaolalla remains true to the ronroco’s roots in the Andes, yet he never lets the roncoco rest in tradition. This exploratory approach echoes throughout the moving cues and themes Santaolalla composed for The Last of Us, the post-apocalyptic action game that became a massive hit in 2013. Santaolalla’s breakthrough game score conveyed deep feeling with spare arrangements, demonstrating the instrument’s full expressive range. When HBO decided to turn the game into a series, the ronroco’s sound was so crucial to the game’s emotional impact that the showrunners had no question who would write the score. Santaollala composed the soundtrack for the wildly popular show, which just launched its second season.
