Augmented Strings Intro

At first glance quite good sound quality, some - but certainly not all - nice string tones, theoretically, at second glance I do not like the whole concept of a plugin like this at all.

If you look for some, completely effects-overloaded (which seems to be the more precise definition of "augmented" here) - more or less in some way - string based, prefabricated preset tones, this might be the right choice, if you want to create your own tones by yourself, or even shape them individually precisely, it certainly is not.

Unfortunately I miss any deep editing options, you cannot create your own sounds, all you can do is, to modify the existing presets - more or less. Not even a simple ADSR control is included.

Certainly not "the strings, I've always wanted" for me. I wonder why and how Arturia thinks to know, what I personally want or need, if they do not even know me.

The only reason, why I have not deleted the plugin immediately after testing, was, that I found some at least more useful string sounds, after I had set all Fx, Delay and Reverb controls to zero. Unfortunately this does not work with all presets, some still seem to have implemented some reverb and other "augmented improvements" within the basic tones. So for me the only useful controls, that makes sense, are Color and Morph, everything else is not really usable for me.

But even about these controls and what they really do within a single preset neither the plugin itself nor the manual says anything. Very unprofessional in my opinion.

This plugin seems to be some sort of "black box" for some sonic flying blind in the "Brave New World" of (average) effects overload, some sort of audio toy in the sense of "you press the button, we do the rest", but I can hardly define this prefabricated preset collection a serious, professional tool or instrument, sorry. Although some string sounds are really usable and good, if you manage to remove their "augmented" components.

The GUI animation also is only a nice, but dispensable gimmick, nothing more. Looks ugly and kitschy, makes no sense at all and does not improve anything sonically.

As freeware maybe nice for some rare use, but I certainly would not want to buy a plugin like this.

I only hope, that plugins like this are not the future of Arturia. Would be a pity.