The chordophones, precious allies of every composer. It is difficult not to find in a musical work a section, a theme or even a simple accompaniment that is not entrusted to exponents of this instrumental family. Strings by Audiothing is part of the full-bodied trend of the Samples Library dedicated to these instruments. A demanding challenge but also exciting and open to innovative experiments.
Let's see in this review if it is a sectoral library that can emerge from the sea magnum of these titles or if it is destined to sail in anonymity together with many other similar software.
Thongs is a collection of string instrument samples developed by the production house Audiothing. It is a library derived from another work of the same company, lo Izotope strings IrisSampleset. The title has 50 Contact Instruments e 50 WAV samples 24 bit/44.1 KHz.
Everything is available via digital download from the website of Audiothing or even from Contact Hub. The size of the library is 93 MB zipped, for a total of 158 MB once the files are unzipped. The price amounts to 12 €.
Audiothing is an Irish production house, not new to the pages of Age Of Audio: we have recently reviewed another title of the frame drums.
With this library, we definitely change genre. Tackling a stringed instrument sampling job is certainly not child's play. These instruments are omnipresent in any musical genre and often play parts of primary importance in the economy of an arrangement or orchestration (just mention the strings). It is therefore essential, more than in other contexts, that the quality standard of the sampling is high.
There are hundreds of libraries that perform this task, and they can oscillate between universal stylistic choices, where we find practically samples or also melodic phrases of the most disparate tools and moods, up to libraries much more voted to Minimalism and the experimentation. Let's say immediately that Strings is part of this second category. The choice would seem to be sensible: with a more generalist choice, the comparison with much more “noble” specialist bookstores that have almost unlimited budgets for their production could not have been avoided. Two names are already more than enough to outline the picture: the Hollywood Strings of East West Quantum Leap and the colossal Spitfire Chamber Strings of Spitfire Audio.
Therefore, moving on less beaten terrain can certainly represent an interesting approach also for cordophones libraries. It is in this sense that Audiothing has decided to aim by setting up a collection based on samples processed by the powerful synthesis engine Izotope Iris in order to obtain a wide range of timbres and sound textures. The result is a heterogeneous blend of synths, pads, soundscapes, drones ed effects.
The protagonists are 5 instruments belonging to the monumental family of chordophones. In the case:
- Tenayo Autoharp: at the expense of the name it is not a harp but rather a variant of Austrian Zither and is therefore to be considered more akin to Psalter.
- Romanian Toy Harp: a toy harp of Romanian origin.
- Baton Rouge Soprano Ukulele: the famous 4-string Hawayana "little guitar". Less well known is the fact that it derives from a Portuguese instrument, the Cavaquinho. The soprano extension is the most common
for this tool and model used is a Baton Rouge version.
- Chinese violin, played via bow.
- Bass Squier, basically a cheap version of the Fender.
And now, having exposed the genre of the library and completed the overview of the contents offered, we can begin our actual test.
TECHNICAL-AESTHETIC ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS
Strings GUI.
Strings unite in solos 158 MB of extension the beauty of 50 Contact Instruments. Twelve are the instruments dedicated to bass, ten to the harps, eight on the violin and ten to the ukulele. Ten additional patches called "Mix”Which, as the name implies, were obtained by mixing several instruments together. The Champions WAV they are also in everything 50 and contain extracts from various different instruments.
Let's start by stating what, in my opinion, is the most serious defect of the title (the tooth removed the pain removed): Strings is completely devoid of alternation algorithms Round Robin, Velocity Layers dedicated to variations in dynamics and different articulations. The tools are therefore available as they are given; the presence of the sector Effects, with adjustments of distortions, chorus, delay e reverb, and that Envelope, with controls designed for attack and release times, although functional, precise and well balanced, it only makes up for a small part of this structural gap in the library.
Symmetrically, as the flip side and as a sort of catharsis from the defect enunciated, Strings reveals a soul and a decidedly original character and aimed at the construction of experimental sounds e innovative. All the instruments of the title in question, whether they are solo textures, path, drones, synth o soundscapes, they travel in parallel towards the definition of a sound universe with minimalistic and deeply intimate hues. There is a very specific style that runs through all the Strings samples and that gives the work a real trademark. A style that unites the various stamps and colors like a sound thread, giving the bookcase a unique and recognizable mood and personality.
We must therefore specularly put on the scales a great structural defect and a great stylistic value. In the middle between these two extremes is the matter and the substance of Strings, and therefore are the 50 Kontakt Instruments. It would take too long here to review them all; we will then proceed with the reconnaissance of the instruments in my opinion the most valid, and among which there are those I used to compose the audio demo of this review which, as always, you can listen to on the Age Of Audio Soundcloud profile. In music, you know, words reach a certain point. The true interpreters are sounds and notes, and just by listening to this composition you will be able to plastically realize the concept I have explained above. Here are the stylistically most representative instruments of the collection:
- Bass Blasse. A bass that here seems almost a cello, melodic and with good posture and legate.
- Bass Glasse. Curious to hear a bass Squire that manages to perform glissando almost like a sort of hybrid with a harp. Very atmospheric.
- Bass Nest. In certain registers, it recalls the timbre of an effected Banjo. Original.
- Bass Planet. It evokes a sonic realm where a guitar with a lot of chorus and a ruler Rhodes plan. I couldn't help but include it in the audio demo.
- Bass Soundscapes 1. Sound landscapes with excellent sound and dynamics evolutions. Also excellent for uses of Sound design. Included in the audio demo by force of circumstances.
- Harps Pads 2. Intimate, stately, ethereal. THE pad. Right in the audio demo.
- Harps Suspense. Nomen Omen, the Latins said. And here the definition fits perfectly: perfect to use as a drone and soundscape in thriller movie. Will it be in the demo…?
- Bakulin mix. Apart from the fact that I would have included it in the audio demo even for the name alone, it produces a very interesting sound effect that brings to mind the sounds of a hurdy-gurdy, more commonly called viola da orbi.
- Hybrid Mix 2. I don't know which instruments the Audiothing team has mixed together, the fact is that here they brought out the sound of Tibetan ceremonial bells. Sounds truly impressive and worthy of mention. Armed the track in the Daw.
- Uberscape Mix. Definitely one of the most successful tools. Unleash sparkling pads and sulphurous drones.
- Ukulele water. Timbres suitable for recreating natural soundscapes and large environments. In the audio demo I sculpted it working a little on effects and envelope to recreate a carpet that is very reminiscent of the chirping of cicadas on summer nights (hence the title of the clip).
- Violin pad 1. A pad that can also be effectively used in solo parts for violas and cellos. So I used it in the demo.
- Violin Soundscape 1. Together with Mix Uberscape, one of the most compelling tools of the title. It would be enough on its own to sound a sound design installation.
- Violin Tubes. Interesting sounds that in the lower registers evoke the timbres of a contrabassoon in some respects. Good for accompaniments. So used in the clip.
These are 14 instruments on a total of 50 therefore the material abounds. The instruments selected are those that stand out most for their workmanship and sound quality. Among others, you will find some of medium quality, and others that are decidedly less good. The sounds are generally well packaged anyway, with good dynamics and adequate native effects. If the presets don't convince you, the sound sculpting compartments Fx e Envelope dedicated are essentially fairly reactive.
RECOMMENDED USES AND DESTINATIONS
Whether it was the developers' original intention or not, Strings is a niche title. The most convincing factor of the bookcase lies precisely in the fact that it fits into a specific, intimate and minimalist sound segment. Consequently, you can hardly use these samples if you want to compose epic and high-sounding music. Instead, it will certainly help you to evoke collected and introspective atmospheres. Recommended for productions ambient, glitch, minimal, New Age Spirituality and, to a limited extent, chamber music.
PROJECTED IMPACT
Strings should be evaluated and considered as a markedly experimental library. If used in this light, it can really give you some satisfactions. If instead used for what cannot be, and which I believe did not want to be since creation (even if only for the choice of sampled instruments), that is for a generalist library usable in various contexts, then it would hit a wall. and one would hardly get a spider out of the hole. If you are looking for something that has a peculiar sound character but whose use can be profitable only in a few contexts, I recommend it. Go and listen to the audio demo dedicated to this title and you will understand what I mean. If you are looking for something more versatile, head elsewhere. The quality / price ratio, in any case, is excellent.
PRO
- Marked sonic and stylistic personality
- Great price
- The Fx and Envelope sectors are good
AGAINST
- Total absence of Round Robin, Velocity Layers and joints
- Restricted employment contexts
- Some mediocre instruments
