Syntec Super Strings

Sample CD Buyer's Guide

Published in SOS January 2000
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Reviews : Sample/Sound/Song Library

ACOUSTIC STRINGS

SS#1 (10 Vns/6 Vas/9 Vcs): sus, 'classic', 'emotional', marc, piz.

SS#2 (16 Vns/9 Vas/12 Vcs): sus, legato <2>, 'classic'<2>, 'pop' <3>, spc, marc.

SS#3 (12 Vns/6 Vas/10 Vcs): 'gentle', marc.

SS#4 (9 Vns/4 Vas/6 Vcs): 'ensemble'.

SS#5 (4 Vns/4 Vas/4 Vcs): 'small ensemble'.

4 Dbs: spc.

Vn: sus.

Va: sus.

Vc: sus.

Db [2]: piz.

DIGITAL SYNTH/WORKSTATION/SAMPLED STRINGS

Akai S900, Fairlight III, Korg Trinity, Kurzweil: K1200/K250, Roland JD990, Sequential Circuits Prophet 2002, Synclavier FM Synth, "Techno pizzicato".

ANALOGUE STRINGS

Marion MSR2, Moog Memorymoog, Oberheim: OBXa/OB8/Matrix 12 <2>/Xpander, Rhodes Chroma, Roland: Jupiter 6/Jupiter 8/MKS30/MKS80, Sequential Circuits: Prophet VS/Prophet 5, Yamaha TG77.

'VIRTUAL' STRINGS

Clavia Nord Lead, Roland JP8000, Technos Acxel Resynthesizer, Access Virus, Yamaha: AN1x/VL1, Silicon Graphics Indigo Workstation.

STRINGS OF ANTIQUITY

Crumar <2>, Korg: Delta/Lambda/Trident, Mellotron M400 <4>, Moog Polymoog, Solina <2>.

PERCUSSION -- TUNED

Tub.

PERCUSSION -- UNPITCHED

Tri.

TUTTI

Mellotron M400 orchestra.

Comments: Obviously designed to be the ne plus ultra of sampled string libraries, this ambitious German project throws together several drily recorded acoustic string sections with a huge number of synths, workstations and even (sighs of nostalgia) the good old Solina string machine. Once you've heard the quality of the acoustic sections (which are nicely presented with instruments blended in unison according to range), you might feel you can finally kiss the Solina goodbye.

Standouts: The low end (ie. cellos) of each acoustic section is warm, powerful and very expressive.

Quibbles: No double basses, and the violins from each section sound rather similar.

Contact: Emu Systems UK

Emu IV CD-ROM £108.