Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars
Soundpaint’s Disco Studio Strings offers a lush and authentic recreation of ’70s disco and funk string sections, capturing the signature sound that defined artists like Barry White and the Bee Gees, up to more modern acts like Jamiroquai and Dua Lipa. By concentrating on the specific timbres, articulations and playing styles essential to disco and pop, this library caters to a niche often overlooked by traditional string libraries, which typically focus on orchestral or cinematic aesthetics.
At 26GB, Disco Studio Strings runs on the free Soundpaint player and features 33,000 samples recorded by seven violinists through premium microphones (Neumann U47s, AKG C414s, and Royer R‑121s). The result is an amazing dry, intimate ‘studio sound’ that feels remarkably authentic and true to the essence of the genre. Users can expect lush sustain pads with realistic portamento legato, as well as more rhythmic stabs and staccato notes, along with vibrant string falls that are especially common in disco string arrangements. The round‑robin and velocity variations create a very humanised feel.
The library features 171 presets, providing a wide array of articulations that encompass every nuance of disco string writing. Notable articulations include polyphonic legato, pizzicato, marcato, and the classic disco falls. The polyphonic legato, in particular, is impressive. Note that some of the patches could easily be used in other genres like film music or Middle Eastern music. A useful addition are ornamental elements like minor and major second trills, as well as minor third trills typical of the disco genre. The Soundpaint team have made a strong effort to capture the idiomatic performance details and nuanced playing styles that defined disco string sections.
Its raw, dry sound creates a distinct ‘in‑the‑room’ experience, resulting in a particularly realistic sound.
How does Disco Strings compare to classic alternatives used for disco, such as Spitfire Chamber Strings or Native Instruments Session Strings? Session Strings, known for its punchy articulations — especially the classic drop‑down technique — can sometimes sound unrealistic for long pads. In contrast, Spitfire Chamber Strings offers a lush and elegant chamber ensemble character, but its long attack can make it less suitable for rhythmic, energetic movements. On the other hand, Disco Strings excels in both areas, making it easy to program both pads and shorter rhythmic phrases. Additionally, its raw, dry sound creates a distinct ‘in‑the‑room’ experience, resulting in a particularly realistic sound.
There’s little to criticise here, however, although the interface is powerful, it could use a more streamlined design, as the layout can sometimes feel cluttered. Additionally, some articulations display latency, which may affect real‑time playability.
Disco Studio Strings is priced at $99, making it great value for producers looking to incorporate classic disco and pop string textures into their music.
$99
$99