Amati Viola

Amati Viola for Kontakt: The Voice of a Cremonese Master

The Amati Viola, specifically the "Stauffer" Viola crafted by Girolamo Amati in 1614, holds a special place in the history of string instrument making as one of the oldest and most exquisite violas in existence. Native Instruments, in collaboration with e-instruments, has meticulously captured the soul of this legendary instrument for their Amati Viola Kontakt library, part of the acclaimed Cremona Quartet series. This virtual instrument allows modern composers and producers to access the unique, warm, and nuanced sound that defines the Amati legacy, directly within their digital audio workstations.

Recorded with unparalleled precision in the renowned Auditorium Giovanni Arvedi in Cremona, Italy – a space acoustically designed for these precious instruments – the Amati Viola Kontakt library benefits from an extensive multi-microphone setup (32 microphones in total). This obsessive attention to detail ensures that every subtlety of the instrument's tone and resonance is faithfully preserved. The library is built upon sophisticated technologies like chromatic sampling, meaning every single note of the instrument has been individually recorded across all playing styles and articulations. This eliminates the need for note stretching, delivering an uncompromised level of realism. Furthermore, Native Instruments employs phase-aligned stereo samples and performance-captured vibrato, allowing for seamless dynamic transitions and highly authentic, expressive performances with real-time control over vibrato depth and speed.

The Amati Viola library is not just a collection of samples; it's a comprehensive performance tool. It offers an expansive range of articulations, from long sustains and various legatos to staccato, pizzicato, and expressive techniques. Users can control fingerboard positioning, allowing for nuanced tonal changes between a mellow "Low String" sound and a brighter "High String" timbre, or utilize a "Smart" mode that intelligently mimics a real violist's choices. With its deep sampling, advanced scripting, and intuitive controls, the Native Instruments Amati Viola provides a truly remarkable digital recreation of a historical masterpiece, perfect for orchestral scoring, chamber music, and adding a touch of vintage elegance to any composition.

Features:

• Authentic Recreation: Meticulously sampled from the historic "Stauffer" Amati Viola (Girolamo Amati, 1614), captured in Cremona's Auditorium Giovanni Arvedi.
• Chromatic Sampling: Every single note is a true recording across all articulations for unparalleled realism, eliminating stretching artifacts.
• Phase-aligned Stereo Samples: Ensures seamless and natural-sounding dynamic crossfades between velocity layers.
• Performance-Captured Vibrato: Real-life vibrato performances re-applied to samples, allowing for dynamic control over vibrato depth and speed.
• Extensive Articulation Set: Includes 20 different articulations across Long, Short, Expressive, Dynamic, Special, and Adaptive categories, plus three legato transitions.
• Intelligent Fingerboard Positioning: Control timbre by selecting "Low String" (mellow), "High String" (bright), or "Smart" (automatic) positions.
• Multiple Microphone Positions: Features a "Multi Mic" version with faders to blend close, mid, and far microphone mixes from 32 recorded microphones, plus a lighter stereo-only version.
• Room Noise Control: Adjust the ambient noise floor captured in the Auditorium Giovanni Arvedi for added realism.
• Virtuoso Articulation: Intelligently combines multiple articulations based on MIDI input (velocity, note, pitch bend).
• NKS Compatibility: Fully integrated with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol keyboards and Maschine for seamless hardware control.
• Dynamic and Expression Control: Dedicated controls for dynamics (MIDI CC1) and expression (MIDI CC11) for fluid performances.

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