The comprehensive internal mixer allows you to precisely adjust each individual instruments to your liking. Supreme Horns Take control of 10 instruments sampled in surgical detail, intuitively playable, and arranged for realistic performance. The transition samples are at a fixed speed, so wide legato intervals played too quickly can give the impression that the players are unable to keep up! When held a fraction longer and released just before the crescendo begins, it provides a natural-sounding timbral decay for non-marcato short notes. Fresh sound: The entire collection of samples was remixed to modern sound. Nevertheless, with careful part writing, sequencing and editing of note lengths, the results can be quite effective. Glissando transitions use a fixed-speed semitone slide up or down to the target note, regardless of the starting note, and these can work well when used sparingly for smaller intervals. Experiment with close and wide microphone positions, or combine two ensembles for a full, widescreen sound.
It's particularly good at evoking a wistfulness and nostalgia reminiscent of British movie soundtracks from the '60s and '70s. Arranging for a four-piece section therefore requires splitting the polyphony between the individual instruments. Choose between classic or pop instrument placements. Maximum expressiveness: Add realistic, detailed expression, relying on a vast array of articulations. You can even dial up a recreation of the legendary 60s string sound synonymous with countless Motown recordings. And for instant rhythm, the Animator transforms the chords you play into lively rhythmical phrases.
Each note has its own correct transition. Any notes or chords played on the keyboard take on this rhythm, whilst the scripting attempts to takes care of the voicing automatically. When release samples are active, the release envelope control is disabled. Color: Transform the sound of your ensemble with a powerful multi-effect capability. However, there are a handful of caveats among the chording rules which take a little getting used to.
In a traditional sampling scenario, this would involve loading separate patches for each solo instrument and building the arrangement one instrument part at a time. What isn't so commonly addressed is the need for a smaller string section suitable for pop productions, where a grandiose 64-piece string section is frequently inappropriate. A modern interface and several smart play assistance features help spark creativity. . Choose from traditional or modern seating positions to adjust the stereo positioning of sections. They could even have different instrument setups or Voicing assistant settings. The Main tab of every preset is home to two additional features: Bow Noise and Stereo Width.
Smart chord: Generate fully orchestrated and complex string chords using single keys. To add further spice, phrases that play 'straight' can be swung, and the timing between the instruments can be adjusted from robotically super-tight to woefully under-rehearsed. Lastly, the sustain pedal can act either as a momentary Animator switch, or in Same Note Legato mode — to all intents, the 'normal' sustain pedal function, but in legato mode it allows for same-note note repetitions with the sustain pedal down, but without the polyphony piling up. Sloppiness of timing or overlapping notes amounting to a total of more than four causes parts to be grabbed by the wrong instrument, resulting in unexpected inversions and jumping around the stereo field — especially with the trumpets, which are panned quite hard left and right. They don't make use of positional crossfades, so they consume marginally less polyphony, and make for a more natural-sounding result, with independent control over each part's dynamics and articulations.
The Performance Patch main tab, showing the Animator's control panel. Choose between classic or pop instrument placements. Precious instruments from the 18th and 19th century were recorded using the highest-end studio equipment. Choose from traditional or modern locations to adjust the stereo positioning of the sections. Up to six keyswitchable articulations are available in Production presets.
You can play chords and monophonic lines at the same time, and all 29 articulations are available in a single interface. Chord + Legato mode fuses the standard polyphonic mode with legato, so once a chord is voiced, an additional legato line can be played on top. There is also an option to double or halve the tempo relative to the host, to enable phrases to be useful over a wide tempo range. Intuitively laid out, the instrument groups are mapped across the full keyboard range, with double bass on the lower keys and violins at the top end, with beautifully smooth cross-fading between each instrument group as you work your way up the register. Given the current fashion for large-scale cinematic string libraries, it's interesting that Native Instruments have chosen not to follow the 'me too' path, opting instead to fill a gap in the market with this scaled-down ensemble. The Animator is also easily tweaked to create dynamic results via the intuitive interface. Thomas Koritke and his team have succeeded in capturing the clarity, warmth, and character of these strings, using the very best equipment for outstanding sound quality.
The Animator feature can take your productions into deeper territories. These alternative articulations can be disabled, in which case the sustained articulation plays an additional double-forte sustained layer at the highest velocities. All ensembles are provided as two different preset types: Performance, for playing with two hands on the keyboard, and Production, for assigning key switches. Consider it as a workaround to the limited articulations available at one time in the Performance patch. The Voicing Assistant in Session Horns, though, has a Smart Voice Split mode, designed to manage the assignment of parts between instruments for you.