Review: Cinematic Strings 2.0
The best tool in the box is the one you have, and Cinematic Strings 2.0 is a jack of all trades for string arrangements, just don’t expect it to filigree.
27 September 2012
Review: Blair Joscelyne
Unlike the latest ‘wobble-wobble, yah-yah’ supersaw, a good set of concert hall strings is like a good set of screwdrivers. You can hopefully buy a set that will serve you for many years. And just like screwdrivers, they shouldn’t date. In fact you would want to be able to rely on them year in, year out as a go-to sonic tool for your more epic works. In a market full of massively adjustable and adaptable soft instruments, today we look at the super simple Cinematic Strings 2.0. There are no bells and whistles here, just lots of strings. The main question is just how many bells and whistles you need when you’re looking for a string library and does Cinematic Strings 2.0 make the cut? Let’s get Cinematic.
MAKING KONTAKT
Given I’d just been briefed for a TV gig, I decided to put CS2 through its paces on a real composing job. First step was to get the software onto my computer. Cinematic Strings is provided as a direct download that comes in a number of packets. It did take a number of days to download so this is something that potential buyers should keep in mind if they are hoping to buy to use before a deadline. I started downloading on a Thursday and by the following Monday it was still going. I did have a few issues installing the software but tech support got back to me quickly for each issue and eventually with some updated patch files marked ‘Beta’ I had the software loaded into Kontakt and working.
Cinematic Strings 2.0 is a completely re-designed and updated version of the original Cinematic Strings. The library is now directly compatible with Kontakt. It simply appears as a module with your other Kontakt libraries like Massive and FM8. This makes it quick, and reliably easy to get to, which is going to be a game changer for a lot of people who are comfortable within the Native Instruments environment. For those that don’t use Kontakt, it is also compatible with the free Kontakt 5 Player available directly from Native Instruments.
ARTICULATING THE KEY
When you open CS2, you are greeted with a good looking, and simple GUI. The interface is super intuitive and about as easy as it gets to navigate. No manuals are necessary here as everything is well laid out and easy to understand. String sections include 1st Violins, 2nd Violins, Violas, Cellos and Basses. When you load a string part, it defaults to the Arco setting with seven additional articulations listed underneath in a stack. The articulations include Arco, Tremolo, Half Trill, Whole Trill, Run Mode, Staccato, Marcato and Pizzicato. Next to each articulation is a key switch for triggering different articulations. There is also a note value inside each key switch icon that denotes which key on your controller will switch to each articulation. These can be modified to suit your own practice.
Next to the key switch is one of my favourite functions of the GUI — a simple toggle switch that allows you to instantly click off any articulations that you are not using to free up RAM. Only the very hardcore among us would be using all eight articulations at once so this provides a really quick way of getting rid of the ones you don’t need. There are four different mix sliders that provide close, stage, room or a mix. Additionally you can unload individual microphone positions to save additional memory if you are not using them. The string sections play as solo parts with some realistic legato, which can be switched off for polyphonic playing of each part. The biggest knob on the screen is the Hall Reverb which adjusts the mix of how much reverb you want of that part. The reverb sounds rich and warm. And dare I say it; it sounds expensive. There are no other effects or EQ settings but I don’t think they are needed.
NEED TO KNOW
Cinematic Strings 2.0
String Library
SOUND SYDNEY STRINGS
If you are looking for big concert hall strings then Cinematic Strings 2.0 is probably all you will ever need for the most part. Straight out of the box, they quite simply sound amazing. Recorded in Sydney with a selection of world class players there are ample mix opportunities within the interface to create a huge range of sounds. If you are looking for some intimate, right in your face solo instruments though, then this is not for you. There are no solo instruments, and no glissandi, no harmonics, or string effects like extended techniques, string breaks or percussive effects. While this may sound like a huge chunk is missing compared to some other more comprehensive string libraries, the question you need to ask yourself is how often you would use this extended palette? While these more esoteric sounds do make up a larger picture of what strings are capable of, they probably don’t often find their way onto TV scores and computer games enough to warrant the price of a much more expensive package. For the purpose of this review I used Cinematic Strings 2.0 to compose a piece of broadcast music for Foxtel and I did not find myself at any time wishing that there were extra sections included.
One thing that I did wish for was a patch that played ‘All Strings’. I found myself one day with a client on my couch asking for some ideas to be fleshed out in real time and I realised that I would need to load all of the parts, set all of their MIDI input channels to the same input, and then create a MIDI channel to trigger them all. With the limited time I had I went to Vienna Symphonic Library instead because I knew I could play the strings across the whole range. Purists of course will be happy that each section needs to be played and controlled by its own MIDI track but an option to play a whole section across the controller would be really handy.
END GAME
If you are working in the tight turnaround side of the industry on music for TV, advertising or computer games and you need some good quality concert hall strings then for the money you should definitely check out CS2. If you want to be able to access a huge array of string articulations, reverbs and effects then you may be better off looking at one of the bigger (read: more expensive) libraries. But how often will you use a patch called ‘Violin String Breaks next to Viola’? And do you want to spend 30 minutes tweaking an EQ and endlessly modifying CC data?
There really are no bells and whistles in Cinematic Strings 2.0 — just beautiful sounding strings in a simple GUI at a great price point that works directly within the Kontakt environment. And let’s just be very clear again, the library sounds stunning. I do think that the lack of some extended features will scare off the composers who feel that they want every single possible variation, but just like psychopaths they only make up 3% of the market. As a full time working composer myself, I just want great sounding strings that are easy to use, and reliable. And that’s exactly what Cinematic Strings 2.0 does best.
RESPONSES