Vintage Strings 2

Vintage Strings 2 from Funk/Soul Productions and Big Fish Audio is a sequel to the best-selling library Vintage Strings. Back when we recorded the original library, we designed it to emulate the smaller, violin-based string sections used in many 1960s-70s vintage R&B and Soul productions. Now, the all-new Vintage Strings 2 expands on this concept with completely new samples of the larger string sections of that same era which include violas and cellos in addition to the violins. These strings found in vintage R&B, Soul, Jazz, and Pop productions have a more intimate sound than typical orchestral string sections. Vintage Strings 2 brings the authentically lush string sounds of the golden era of popular music to hobbyists and professionals alike.

Capturing That Vintage Sound

As with all of the instruments in the Vintage VI series, the goal for Vintage Strings 2 was not to create a shiny, perfect-sounding virtual instrument. Instead, we tried to capture the way larger string sections sounded back in the 60s and 70s, including the minor imperfections that added character to those sections and made them sound so good.

To this end, we recorded VS2 with vintage Neuman U-87 mics and Royer ribbon mics. Rather than record the strings in a concert hall or some other large and resonant recording space, we recorded them in an old studio with a smaller, less-reverberant room.

The result is a virtual instrument that has a sound and character that is distinctly different from orchestral-based sampled strings libraries. The sound of Vintage Strings 2 is rich but not overly "sweet" or glossy. It's a more intimate and more "human" sound, which we feel more accurately emulates the larger string section sounds from the classic records of the 1960s and 70s.

String Section Configurations

For VS2, we recorded several different string sections in isolation, organized into different configurations in order to provide maximum flexibility. These include:

• A solo "first violin" played with a more romantic vibrato, which is ideal for lead lines, solo figures, or simply to enrich any of the individual violin sections.
• A three-piece violin section that can be combined with the solo violin to create a medium-sized, 4-piece violin section.
• A four-piece violin section that can be combined with the solo violin and 3-piece section to create a larger, 8-piece violin section.
• Two violas which can be combined with any or all of the above to give the section a different and somewhat darker timbre.
• Two cellos which can also be combined with any of the above to extend a section's low-range, and to add depth and warmth to a section.

The Powerful Harmonize Page

The most powerful feature of Vintage Strings 2 is the Harmonize function. You can create custom chord intervals for your sections. For example, change the root note to a 5th an octave up with twist of a knob. This allows you to easily write inspiring section parts, even with limited musical knowledge. With Vintage Strings 2 this feature is even more powerful, giving you the same creative flexibility over the multi patches as well. This is the quickest and easiest way to sound like your favorite classic records.

Komplete Kontrol & Maschine Integration

Vintage Strings 2 has been designed for seamless integration with Komplete Kontrol and Maschine, offering you a unique hands-on experience. Easily manipulate the interface using the controls of all NKS compatible hardware.

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