EastWest have announced the release of String Machine, a virtual instrument that pays homage to the vintage string synthesizers of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The instrument includes samples from classic devices such as the Oberheim OBX, ARP Solina, Roland RS-505, and Roland Jupiter 6, and allows users to combine them with modern string, brass, woodwind and vocal sounds.
String Machine features four colour-coded instrument sections: String Machines and Pads, String Sections, Solo Woodwinds and Brass, and Choirs and Vocals. Each of the sections contain a variety of instruments and sounds, which can be combined to create rich, multi-layered pads. The instrument comes loaded with a small selection of 17 presets that demonstrate the type of sounds that are possible, however EastWest say the real intention of the instrument is to encourage users to experiment and create their own sounds.
The instrument also includes a chorus effect equipped with three modes, each with their own distinct characteristics. Two of the modes are emulations, modelling the effects from the ARP Solina and Roland VP-330, whilst the third is an original Modern mode. EastWest say that these modes allow String Machine to deliver everything from warm and thick vintage ensemble sounds through to more transparent modern chorus effects.
To hear what String Machines is capable of, take a look at the walkthrough video below.
Compatibility
String Machine runs in EastWest’s Opus engine, which is supported on PCs running Windows 10 or 11, and Macs running macOS X 10.13 and above. For those using the Mac platform, Opus natively supports both Intel and Apple Silicon processors. VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX plug-in versions are available. An iLok account is required for authorisation, although a physical iLok dongle is optional rather than required.
Pricing & Availability
String Machine is available now for an introductory price of $199, reduced from its regular price of $299. It is also available as a part of EastWest’s Composer Cloud+ subscription service.
