


NCW sample compression format, the samples occupy only 21.1GB of disk space.) CS 2.0 is available only as a download direct from Cinematic Strings' site as the sample pool has been completely redesigned, owners of the original library wishing to upgrade will have to download the entire shooting match again, but can still continue to use the old library afterwards if they wish (more on which later).

The payment reflects the charges made by NI to manufacturers who licence their Kontakt Player technology, and doesn't seem unreasonable given that the upgrade virtually doubles the size of the library to around 38GB. For the privileged few who work in surround, these blended samples will help conserve system resources throughout the programming stage, as well as giving a good impression of how the individual mic positions will sound in the final mix.Įxisting owners of Cinematic Strings can upgrade to CS 2.0 for a fee of $49 (about £30). The existing samples have been completely overhauled and an additional new set of staccatissimo and 'mix' samples created (the latter are a highly effective, full‑sounding blend of the library's three mikings). Unlike the original, CS 2.0 is compatible with the free Kontakt 5 Player and will also run on the full version of Kontakt 5. (You can read the review at /sos/may10/articles/cinematicstrings.htm.) I wasn't expecting any developments beyond the odd bug-fix or patch update, so was pleasantly surprised to learn that that its makers (aka Antipodean maestro Alex Wallbank and UK composer/arranger David Hearn) have released a completely redesigned version of the library, called (unsurprisingly) Cinematic Strings 2.0. In the spring of 2010, I reviewed a new sample library called Cinematic Strings that positively bristled with appealing features: a sweet concert-hall acoustic, three mic positions, real legato intervals, lush sustains, powerful staccatos and a full complement of sections, including separate first and second violins. Mapped samples are shown in blue and keyswitches for the eight main articulations are marked in pink, while yellow and green keys at either end of the keyboard turn functions such as monophonic legato and 'Live Mode' on and off. The Anglo‑Australian strings library returns with a radical version 2 upgrade.Ĭinematic Strings 2.0's redesigned GUI.
