Best Service releases Emotional Viola

Best Service has released Emotional Viola, the third member of the Emotional Strings series by Harmonic Subtones. Here's what they say:

This long anticipated and logical addition to the cello and violin, represents a very comprehensive virtual instrument that is easy to play, and of course offers numerous possibilities for individual customization.

Not only does the Emotional Viola harmonize excellently with the cello and the violin, it is also highly valued as a solo instrument with its direct and unadulterated sound, its variety of essential to extraordinary articulations as well as true legato and rebowing.

Emotional Viola is the first choice if you are looking for the perfect instrument for film scoring, pop music, songwriting, classical or modern, avant-garde viola compositions.

Like the cello and violin, the viola was recorded in the Mastermix Studio near Munich, in a wood-panelled room with high ceilings and the greatest possible distance from the wall. For the greatest possible flexibility of use, two Neumann microphones, type KM184 and U87, were used for close recording. In this way, the room was kept quite subtle, and you can then create your desired sound with your own effects. However, you can also use the integrated Convolution Reverb.

Articulations, Patches & True Legato

Emotional Viola was created from well over 100 articulations and their variants. By means of an elaborate and intelligent script, countless articulations are wisely linked together, so that they follow the user's style of playing.

The Emotional Viola Master Patch contains most of the recorded articulations, which logically interlock and provide an elegantly aligned sound, thanks to "True Legato". Three different transition types have been captured in several sessions and simulate, among other things, realistic changes in bowing direction or passionate portamento while playing. The user simply controls the velocity - the tempo of the tone transitions automatically adapts to your DAW.

Selection of the included playing styles:

Spiccato, Rota Spicc, Pizzicato, Fliegender Aufstrich, Delicate Phrased, Delicate Sustain, Touch Sense Espressive, Espressivo Long, Progressive Vibrato Phrased, Progressive Vibrato Long, Expressive Brahms, Brahms Long, Arpeggio Shorts RR, Rota Vivid, Czardas Sfz, Sustain Vib XFDe, Sustain Non Vib XFDe, Kernig NV Shorts, Nordic Long, Nordic Variety, Fast Lines Late Vib, Fast Lines Swelling Vib, Tremolo XFDe, Trill HT, Trill WT, Flautando, Nordic, Morbid, Harmonics, Sulponticello XFDE, Sul C, Undulation Wait.

Ornament Key Switches

The Ornament Key Switches are another great feature. Unlike the articulation key switches, these are temporary and allow variations of the already selected articulation. By pressing one of the Ornament Key Switches, the current playing style can be faded into another articulation or variations can be generated. Last but not least, the Ornament MKS offer typical effects like glissando, flageolet and many more.

Price: $199 - Kontakt Player 6.2.2 or newer required.