Loomer String synthesizer

[red37]

Sorry to add this:

Im getting frequent 'hung' notes in SONAR 8.5.2 - almost each time there is a sequence driving Loomer, if i stop the transport of Sonar, there is a stuck note. I have to reset the Audio engine to stop it.

Otherwise apart from this, its fantastic.

[colin@loomer]

@red37 Is this with the newer 1.0.2 release, or the initial 1.0.1 release? I'll take a look into it and see if I can repeat (and fix!) this problem.

[red37]

@red37 Is this with the newer 1.0.2 release, or the initial 1.0.1 release? I'll take a look into it and see if I can repeat (and fix!) this problem.

Yes mate. Infact probably more so with the new update.

Thanks

[colin@loomer]

Ah, it seems that Sonar doesn't send individual Note Off MIDI messages when the transport is stopped. It instead uses the All Notes Off MIDI message, which, ahem, String doesn't handle. Seems that this often causes a bit of a hiccup for some plug-ins because they don't handle said message, see http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?high= ... =1#1595598

It should be an easy fix, but I've got an Aspect build in dire need of releasing. I'll take a look at getting a new String out on Thursday morning with a fix for this in.

Thanks for reporting this.

[red37]

You do what you can mate. When its ready, if fixable i would be extremely happy.

[HunterKiller]

I haven't had this sort of personal response to a vsti for a loooong time.

Definitely. It has a very alive sound. I'm just loving the chorus. (I'd love to be able to pass external signals through it). But it's also the whole thing overall, it just works, whatever the circumstance.

Softsynths that effortlessly slip into your top 5, come along very rarely.

[electro]

How about .wav A/B with the Strings Dream Solina emulation?

[colin@loomer]

String for Windows has now been updated to 1.0.3 - download it here.

This adds a fix for hanging notes that would occur with Sonar when the Transport is stopped mid-note. There are no other features or fixes in this minor release, so unless you're using Sonar (or fastidious about having the latest version), it's not worth upgrading from String 1.0.2.

[red37]

String for Windows has now been updated to 1.0.3 - download it here.

This adds a fix for hanging notes that would occur with Sonar when the Transport is stopped mid-note. There are no other features or fixes in this minor release, so unless you're using Sonar (or fastidious about having the latest version), it's not worth upgrading from String 1.0.2.

Now thats SERVICE!

Thanks CPB - I'll give it the once over later. Much appreciate your hard work and effort dealing with this.

Merry Christmas.

[GreyLion]

Damn. Victim of my obsessions, again.

I just gave in and bought String for full price. Couldn't resist any more, after spending an hour last night playing the demo and tweaking presets. This is a glorious instrument. And the filters are soooo smooth.

For those who might be contemplating it, the 50 British Pounds translates to $82.52 USD via PayPal.

EDIT: And I got an automated response from Loomer, with my install key, less than a minute after buying. Which is extremely cool.

[colin@loomer]

String 1.1 is now available - download it here for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. This new versions contains the following fixes and features:

• * Native 64-bit versions for Mac OS X Audio Unit, and Windows VST.
  * Separate "Effects Only" plugin: use String's Effects as a general multi-fx unit.
  * Phaser and Chorus now automatically disable themselves (saving CPU) when the plugin is idle.
  * Each Layer now has an overall Volume control.
  * Increased polyphony.
  * Much faster GUI response.
  * Vastly reduced memory usage.
  * Various compatibility fixes for certain hosts.
  * Fixed bug where Delay Link status sometimes isn't persisted.
  * Fixed minor audible click that could be heard when changing Chorus mode.

The new "Effects Only" version, StringFX, is a separate plugin installed alongside String that allows any external instruments to be processed by String's effect section:



And as a bonus, HunterKiller has kindly provided over 150 fantastic new presets for registered users of String - download them here. Many thanks to HunterKiller for the hard work he put into these awesome sounds.

[John-E34]

Thanks CPB, a great update to an already outstanding synth.

[colin@loomer]

Thanks John-E34!

Minor update: I've added complete Bank XML files to the HunterKiller Preset Pack. This makes it much easier to quickly browse through the entire collection of sounds. Download the presets here.

[k-bird]

Just grabbed this to replace the bit of black furniture in the corner of my room that used to be a Solina String Ensemble. Sounds just like it but better. Good work!

[colin@loomer]

And with great pleasure I can announce that String 1.3.0 is now available. Download the update or demo here for Mac OS X, Windows, or Linux.





String 1.3.0 improves on the previous versions with the following fixes and features:

• Native 64-bit VST plug-in for Mac OS X (64-bit VST support requires Mac OS X 10.6 or greater; 64-bit Audio Unit requires Mac OS X 10.5 or greater; all other formats require Mac OS X 10.4 or greater.)
• Integrated undo and redo, with unlimited history size.
• Preset Browser is now maximized to fill the entire plug-in window.
• Windows RTAS plug-in is now installed to the correct location on 64-bit Windows operating systems.
• MIDI Program Changes are now multi-threaded, and so will no longer potentially stall the audio synthesis.
• Fix for crash (on both Windows and Linux) that could occur when 'space' is pressed when confirming the overwrite preset dialog.
• VU meters now automatically reset their overload status after a few seconds.
• For Windows VST (32-bit and 64-bit), the preferences file can be placed alongside the DLL file to facilitate USB or portable installs.
• Clearer font in PDF documentation.
• Fix for rare issue that stopped presets from loading in Linux Renoise when LADSPA plug-in support is enabled.
• Factory presets now load significantly faster.
• Various host compatibility fixes.

Thanks!