Loomer has announced the release of String, a new virtual instrument plug-in that emulates the beautiful sound of the polyphonic string synthesizer. String's authentic tone comes from its accurate emulation of the divide-down oscillator technology behind the lush ensemble synths of the '70s.

String has two individual sound generating Layers, each housing three phase-locked oscillator stops at 16', 8' and 4' ranges for Layer 1, and 8', 4', and 2' ranges for Layer 2. The relative volumes of each stop can be finely tuned to produce an enormous range of timbres. Both Layers have controllable note split points. Layers can be placed so that each is controlled by a specific range on the keyboard, or even overlapped and stacked together.

Each Layer has its own Voicing Mode from a choice of Monophonic with Last, Low, and High Note Priorities, Paraphonic, and Polyphonic. In Polyphonic mode each voice has its own Attack/Release amplitude modulation envelope. In Paraphonic mode all voices within a Layer share a single monophonic Attack/Release amplitude envelope. The Monophonic Modes produce a single voice, which can be either the Lowest, Highest, or Last note pressed.

Layers can be further shaped using the monophonic Filter section. This section has several Filter types; a Highpass / Lowpass pair of filters in series, an analogue resonant filter in either Lowpass, Bandpass, or Highpass modes with various modulation options (including Channel Aftertouch), and a 9-Band EQ. The Filter section can also be switched off altogether.

Both Layers can be individually routed into the Effects section. Layer 1 can also optionally be routed directly into Layer 2's Filter to produce serial Filter tones.

String's Chorus section is modeled on the bucket-brigade device that characterized the sound of the classic ensemble synths. Select from two different Chorus algorithms for either an authentic Ensemble timbre (Type 1), or a more modern, denser sound. (Type 2). A built-in stereo Phaser can be used to add movement, depth, and interest to String timbres. The Effects section is rounded off with two mono bucket-brigade device delay units with independent time and feedback settings, which can be tempo synced, and linked together into a single stereo delay.

All controls can be easily mapped to a hardware controller using the simplified MIDI Learn feature.

Pricing & Availability

Priced at £50, String is available now for Mac OS X Universal Binary, Windows and Linux in VST, AU and RTAS instrument plug-in formats.

An evaluation is available for free download, with the following limitations:

• User created Program and Bank configurations can be saved, but not loaded.
• Output will be periodically interrupted, approximately every 30 seconds, by a short moment of silence.
• Audio output will stop after 30 minutes of continuous use. The only way to continue using String is to restart the application.