Neocymatics has announced that, after a long period of detailed research, development and fine-tuning, it has released the Hybrid Strings library for Kontakt 5, which is described as "an innovative approach to both Solo and Section Strings". It costs €249.

Hybrid Strings is three Libraries in one, each with its own character and tone:

1. Studio Strings: Bright, professional sound that fits in the mix out of the box. The best choice for Orchestral Scoring.
2. Live Strings: Lush, warm sound, perfectly suitable for realistic solos, covering almost every music genre from Classical to Ethnic.
3. Electric Strings: Sharp, imposing sound that will cut through the mix. The alternative approach to Strings' sound, bringing new air to musical experimentation.

Highlights:

• Crystal-clear Audio Quality, Ultra Dry Sound with full control over Room/Air.
• Dynamic Amplitude Sound Shaping, controlled through Breath Controller/Expression Pedal or any MIDI CC of the user's choice.
• True Legato Performance - Realistic Trills.
• Bow-Change simulation.
• Real-time portamento/glissando with variable Finger-String contact and full control over portamento time.
• Fully controlled real-time Vibrato with variety of techniques/intensity.
• Fully controlled String Resonances/Harmonics for every note.
• Formant-correct realistic Pitch-Bend action.
• Real-time control over Attack Dynamics for both monophonic and polyphonic playing.
• Increased playability with only 3 articulations to cover the full range of playing techniques (staccato, spiccato, legato, pizzicato, tremolo, portamento, polyphonic playing) in only 1 patch per instrument.
• FX Processor tweaked for every instrument respectively, with assignable controllers for real-time sound morphing. Included Effects are: Saturation, Brightness, Warmth, Preamp Boost, Bite, Convolution Reverb, Room and Stereo Image.
• 30 custom Impulse Responses that will truly transform your sound, ranging from Short Spaces and Early Reflections to Huge Halls and Concert Stages, all recorded at 96 kHz.
• Individual Note Microtuning with 200 cents range, including 22 ready presets of Byzantine Sounds, Middle Eastern Scales, Arabic Maqams and Miscellaneous Tunings (Pythagorean, Just Intonation etc) - Ability to transpose every Tuning to any Base Note. All Tunings use precision of 2 decimal numbers.

Demos:

http://youtu.be/J8cXz8MyB8w

http://youtu.be/fyorUijach0

http://youtu.be/rFlvAlXdR_M