Article Preview - AAS Strum

The continuing determination of software developers to virtualise the real world can be seen as either a blessing or a curse, depending upon the perceived benefits such inventions may offer to your particular field of interest. Musicians who work to short-notice deadlines and non-existent budgets (and those of us who delight in techno toys) may therefore be intrigued by the latest aid in the quest to tackle the problem of simulating the most difficult technique to reproduce on a keyboard: strumming. Steinberg started the ball rolling with Virtual Guitarist in 2002, followed by Musiclab's Real Guitar in 2004 and Real Strat in 2007. Of these, Musiclab's products are designed to allow for spontaneous real-time 'strumming' by the player, and it is with this same aim in mind that AAS have designed their Strum GS1 software.

Like Real Guitar, the PC- and Mac-compatible Strum is dedicated to emulating acoustic guitars. However, unlike the Steinberg and Musiclab instruments, which are wholly sample-based, the sounds produced by Strum are physically modelled, having never been anywhere near a microphone, a plectrum or a can of Fast Fret. This is not altogether surprising, since Applied Acoustics Systems are purveyors of other well-known physically modelled instruments such as the Tassman modular synth, Ultra Analogue synth, Lounge Lizard electric piano and String Studio string modelling synth. It is from the last of these that Strum presumably takes its inspiration.

One of the immediate benefits of virtually modelled instruments is their scant size, since there are no bloated sample libraries involved. Indeed, if you buy Strum directly from the AAS web site shop it is available only as a download — although boxed versions are available from their distributors. "Less than 12MB to download, seconds to install" says the promotional blurb, and I can't argue with that — apart from the fact that the Windows version is a mere 6.9MB!

When the program is first run, entering your serial number generates a 'challenge' code. Registering this code on the AAS web site prompts a 'response' code by return email. Paste this into the program and it's activated permanently. Windows and Mac versions are available separately, and either one includes a license for two computer installations.

Strum opens in quite a large 962 x 722 pixel window — if you haven't been seduced into having a second monitor to display your plug-ins by now, perhaps this will clinch the deal, especially if you are confined to the limited screen real-estate of a laptop! The majority of this window is occupied by Strum's controls, while the left-hand area contains the preset browser. This is always visible in the plug-in version and can only be resized or hidden in the stand-alone application. The main instrument area is divided into three sections: the central, guitar-shaped area is where the modelled guitar sound can be tweaked at either 'basic' or in-depth levels — and we'll examine this in more detail later. The upper area is all about on-board sound processing (EQ, reverb and other effects) and the lower area governs the various performance aspects of Strum.

Unlike sample-based instruments, Strum presets load as instantly as selecting a synth patch. The supplied presets represent three types of guitar: steel, nylon and resonator. These are sub-divided into several folders, with 'steel' having the most presets overall. Apart from the 'resonators', the guitars come in a variety of small, medium and large flavours, as well as with different pick positions, and all offer a choice of fingered or plectrum...