Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter: The New Standard for Orchestral Libraries with MIDI Export Feature
Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter (for Best Service) (KONTAKT): A Review
If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind orchestral instrument that captures the spirit of rough, untamed, and raw landscapes, you might want to check out Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter. This is a library that features 60 unheard and pristine articulations performed by a 41-piece European string orchestra and the Mongolian State Morin Khuur Ensemble. It also includes a powerful Ensemble Engine that lets you create pulsating rhythms, full arrangements, and dynamic orchestral colors from any combination of notes. And if that's not enough, it also has a MIDI Export feature that allows you to drag and drop the MIDI from the Engine into your DAW or other instruments.
Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter (for Best Service) (KONTAKT)
In this review, we will take a closer look at Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter and see what it has to offer. We will explore its ensembles, articulations, engine, presets, and MIDI export feature. We will also compare it to other orchestral libraries and instruments and see how it stands out. By the end of this review, you will have a better idea of whether Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter is the right instrument for you.
The Ensembles
Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter contains two ensembles: a European string orchestra and a Mongolian State Morin Khuur Ensemble. Both ensembles were recorded in high-quality studios with professional microphones and players. The European string orchestra was recorded in Studio 22 in Budapest, while the Mongolian State Morin Khuur Ensemble was recorded at White Arch Studios in Ulan Bator.
The European string orchestra consists of 41 players split into five sections: violins 1, violins 2, violas, cellos, and basses. Each section was recorded in its traditional seating position to preserve the natural stereo image and depth. The orchestra performed a number of detailed and extended techniques for Strings of Winter, such as trills, sul ponticello, harmonics, col legno, Bartók pizzicato, etc.
The Mongolian State Morin Khuur Ensemble consists of 15 players split into high and low ensembles. The Morin Khuur is a traditional Mongolian bowed string instrument with two strings and a horse-head carving on the top. It is also known as the horse-head fiddle or the horse fiddle. The Morin Khuur Ensemble performed a variety of expressive and exotic techniques for Strings of Winter, such as glissandi, tremolo, vibrato, slides, bends, etc.
The two ensembles have different sound characteristics and styles, but they also have some similarities. They both cover a wide range of dynamics, from very soft to very loud. They both have a rich and organic tone that can evoke different emotions and atmospheres. And they both have a high level of realism and playability that can suit any musical context.
One of the great features of Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter is that you can combine and layer the two ensembles to create unique and diverse orchestral textures. You can mix and match different sections and articulations from both ensembles to achieve different effects and moods. You can also use the Ensemble Engine to create complex patterns and movements from any combination of notes. The possibilities are endless and only limited by your imagination.
The Articulations
Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter offers 60 unique articulations that you won't find in any other orchestral library. These articulations cover a wide range of techniques, expressions, and colors that can enhance your musical creativity and diversity. They are organized into six categories: Sustain, Short, Effects, Tremolo, Trills, and Specials.
The Sustain category contains 12 articulations that provide long and sustained notes with different bowing styles and expressions. Some examples are Sustain Normal, Sustain Expressive, Sustain Sul Ponticello, Sustain Harmonics, etc.
The Short category contains 12 articulations that provide short and staccato notes with different lengths and accents. Some examples are Short Normal, Short Spiccato, Short Pizzicato, Short Bartók Pizzicato, etc.
The Effects category contains 12 articulations that provide various effects and noises that can add texture and character to your sound. Some examples are Effects Scratches, Effects Glissando Up/Down, Effects Col Legno Battuto/Tratto, Effects Jeté, etc.
The Tremolo category contains 8 articulations that provide fast and repeated bowing with different dynamics and expressions. Some examples are Tremolo Normal Crescendo/Decrescendo, Tremolo Expressive Crescendo/Decrescendo, Tremolo Sul Ponticello Crescendo/Decrescendo, etc.
The Trills category contains 8 articulations that provide rapid alternation between two adjacent notes with different intervals and expressions. Some examples are Trills Half Tone Normal/Expressive, Trills Whole Tone Normal/Expressive, Trills Minor Third Normal/Expressive, etc.
The Specials category contains 8 articulations that provide unique and special techniques that can create interesting and unusual sounds. Some examples are Specials Cluster Crescendo/Decrescendo, Specials Cluster Glissando Up/Down, Specials Cluster Random Notes Up/Down, etc.
All these articulations can be accessed and controlled using keyswitches, mod wheel, expression pedal, or other MIDI controllers. You can also adjust various parameters such as volume, pan, tuning, attack, release, reverb, delay, etc. for each articulation in the instrument interface. You can also use the Purge function to load or unload specific articulations to save memory and CPU resources.
With these 60 articulations at your disposal, you can create endless variations and nuances for your orchestral sound. You can use them for different musical scenarios and genres, such as classical, cinematic, ambient, ethnic, etc. You can also experiment with different combinations and layers of articulations to create new and original sounds. The only limit is your imagination.
The Core: The Ensemble Engine
One of the most powerful and innovative features of Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter is the Ensemble Engine. This is a unique and intuitive tool that allows you to create pulsating rhythms, full arrangements, and dynamic orchestral colors from any combination of notes. You don't need to be a composer or a MIDI programmer to use it. You just need to play a few notes on your keyboard and let the Engine do the magic.
The Ensemble Engine works by dividing your notes into different slots and applying different modules, arpeggiators, velocity envelopes, and effects to each slot. You can have up to five slots per instrument, each with its own independent settings and controls. You can also assign different articulations to each slot, creating complex and diverse orchestral layers.
The Engine page in the instrument interface lets you customize and tweak every aspect of the Ensemble Engine. You can access the following parameters for each slot:
Module: This determines how the notes are played back in the slot. You can choose from four different modules: Normal, Rhythm, Run, and Natural. Normal plays the notes as they are played on the keyboard. Rhythm plays the notes according to a predefined rhythm pattern that can be selected from a list or created by yourself. Run plays the notes as fast runs or scales that can be adjusted in speed, direction, and range. Natural plays the notes as natural transitions or ornaments that can be adjusted in speed, direction, and type.
Arpeggiator: This determines how the notes are arpeggiated in the slot. You can choose from four different arpeggiator modes: Off, Up, Down, and Random. Off disables the arpeggiator. Up plays the notes in ascending order. Down plays the notes in descending order. Random plays the notes in random order.
Velocity Envelope: This determines how the velocity of the notes changes over time in the slot. You can choose from four different velocity envelope modes: Off, Fade In, Fade Out, and Fade In/Out. Off disables the velocity envelope. Fade In gradually increases the velocity from zero to maximum. Fade Out gradually decreases the velocity from maximum to zero. Fade In/Out gradually increases and decreases the velocity from zero to maximum and back.
Effects: This determines what effects are applied to the notes in the slot. You can choose from four different effects: Off, Delay, Reverb, and Filter. Off disables the effects. Delay adds a delay effect that can be adjusted in time, feedback, and mix. Reverb adds a reverb effect that can be adjusted in size, damping, and mix. Filter adds a filter effect that can be adjusted in type, frequency, resonance, and mix.
By using these parameters, you can create endless variations and nuances for your orchestral sound. You can also use the global parameters in the Engine page to adjust the overall volume, pan, tuning, attack, release, reverb, and delay of the instrument. You can also use the randomize function to generate new and unexpected sounds from the Engine. And if you want to save your settings, you can use the snapshot function to store and recall your custom patches.
The Presets
If you don't want to spend too much time tweaking and customizing the Ensemble Engine, you can also use the presets that are included in Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter. These presets are ready-made sounds and patches that showcase the potential and diversity of the instrument. They are organized into four categories: Animated Orchestra, Spheres, Rhythms, and Instruments.
The Animated Orchestra category contains presets that use the Ensemble Engine to create full orchestral arrangements from any combination of notes. These presets are ideal for creating cinematic, epic, or dramatic music. Some examples are Animated Orchestra - Action Scene, Animated Orchestra - Dark Tension, Animated Orchestra - Heroic Adventure, etc.
The Spheres category contains presets that use the Ensemble Engine to create atmospheric and ambient sounds from any combination of notes. These presets are ideal for creating soundscapes, pads, or drones. Some examples are Spheres - Arctic Winds, Spheres - Ethereal Voices, Spheres - Mystic Forest, etc.
The Rhythms category contains presets that use the Ensemble Engine to create pulsating and rhythmic sounds from any combination of notes. These presets are ideal for creating grooves, patterns, or motifs. Some examples are Rhythms - Chase Sequence, Rhythms - Funky Strings, Rhythms - Tribal Dance, etc.
The Instruments category contains presets that use the Ensemble Engine to create individual instruments or sections from any combination of notes. These presets are ideal for creating solo or ensemble parts. Some examples are Instruments - Cello Solo, Instruments - Mongolian Ensemble, Instruments - Violin Section, etc.
You can browse and load these presets using the preset browser in the instrument interface. You can also use them as starting points or inspiration for creating your own sounds and patches. You can modify and save them using the snapshot function.
The MIDI Export Feature
Another cool and useful feature of Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter is the MIDI Export feature. This feature allows you to drag and drop the MIDI from the Ensemble Engine into your DAW or other instruments. This way, you can use the MIDI data to trigger other sounds or edit it further.
To use this feature, you just need to click on the MIDI icon in the instrument interface and drag it to your DAW or other instruments. You will see a MIDI file with the name of the instrument and the slot number. You can then import or open this file in your DAW or other instruments and play it back or edit it as you wish.
This feature is very handy and convenient for several reasons. First, it allows you to export the complex and diverse patterns and arrangements that you create with the Ensemble Engine without having to record them manually. Second, it allows you to use other sounds or instruments with the MIDI data to create new and different combinations and layers. Third, it allows you to edit and tweak the MIDI data further in your DAW or other instruments to suit your needs and preferences.
However, there are also some limitations and drawbacks of using this feature. First, it only exports the MIDI data from one slot at a time. If you want to export all five slots at once, you will have to drag and drop them individually. Second, it only exports the MIDI data from one note at a time. If you want to export multiple notes at once, you will have to merge them manually in your DAW or other instruments. Third, it does not export any articulations or effects that are applied to the notes in the instrument interface. If you want to preserve those articulations or effects, you will have to apply them manually in your DAW or other instruments.
Despite these limitations and drawbacks, the MIDI Export feature is still a very handy and useful feature that can save you a lot of time and effort. It can also open up new possibilities and opportunities for your musical creativity and diversity.
Conclusion
Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter is a one-of-a-kind orchestral instrument that features 60 unheard and pristine articulations performed by a 41-piece European string orchestra and the Mongolian State Morin Khuur Ensemble. It also includes a powerful Ensemble Engine that lets you create pulsating rhythms, full arrangements, and dynamic orchestral colors from any combination of notes. And if that's not enough, it also has a MIDI Export feature that allows you to drag and drop the MIDI from the Engine into your DAW or other instruments.
This instrument is ideal for anyone who is looking for a unique and diverse orchestral sound that can capture the spirit of rough, untamed, and raw landscapes. It can also suit any musical context and genre, such as classical, cinematic, ambient, ethnic, etc. It is easy to use, highly customizable, and very realistic and playable.
If you are interested in Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter, you can check it out or buy it from the Best Service website. It is compatible with KONTAKT 5.8.1 or higher and requires 4.5 GB of free disk space. It is currently priced at $149 USD.
Thank you for reading this review and I hope you found it helpful and informative. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions related to Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter:
Q: Can I use Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter without KONTAKT?
A: No, you need to have KONTAKT 5.8.1 or higher installed on your computer to use Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter. It is not a standalone instrument.
Q: Can I use Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter with other Sonuscore products?
A: Yes, you can use Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter with other Sonuscore products, such as The Orchestra, The Orchestra Complete, Lyrical Cello Phrases, etc. You can also use it with other orchestral libraries and instruments from other developers.
Q: How many presets are included in Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter?
A: Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter includes 108 presets that are organized into four categories: Animated Orchestra, Spheres, Rhythms, and Instruments. You can also create and save your own presets using the snapshot function.
Q: How many microphones are used to record Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter?
A: Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter uses two microphone positions to record the ensembles: close and far. You can adjust the balance between them in the instrument interface.
Q: What are the system requirements for Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter?
A: The system requirements for Sonuscore TO Strings of Winter are as follows:
Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only)
Mac OS X 10.10 or higher (64-bit only)
KONTAKT 5.8.1 or higher (full version)
4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended)
4.5 GB free disk space
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