strings

hi
I would like to know how good are the strings with K2 and if their articulations and bowing techniques are good.
thanks in advance

 

The Strings with K2 are excellent, very useable, they turned me on to getting the whole VI package.

 

What is VI package?

 

Vienna Instruments

 

Hello,

I must say I was disapointed in the strings that came with Kontakt. They were teasers. They gave you single string samples so if you were composing a string quartet they were fine, but that's it. Very limited. I ended up getting East West Symphonic Gold and not only the strings but the whole library blows away the Vienna that comes with Kontakt.
(In my opinion)

 

....string quartet? err...wot? just wondering how you get a string quartet sound out of string body samples.
sure the k2 vienna library is limited but its a very good start and a fantastic bang for the buck when a sampler comes with such a library. the soundquality of samples is always a bit matter of taste but the audioquality of vienna is top notch! sure needs a bit of knowledge to use em propperly.

 

....string quartet? err...wot? just wondering how you get a string quartet sound out of string body samples

Maybe I didn't get the full library when I bought K2 but I can not find anything like a violin section. The violins I have came with the articulations but I could not find a Violin A, B, Viola, or Cello section. I had to mix them with synth strings to get a more orchestral sound. When you say using a bit of knowledge do you mean making your own Multi with say 4 or 5 violins with slight tuning variations? I'm curious because I'm always up for learning something new and it sounds like you have found a method for using those strings that I haven't.
P.S-Love the Beavis and Buthead reference. Guilty pleasure I guess.

 

...hehe..yea...Beavis and Buthead ...good ol times

yep, second violins are missing indeed but that's not so important imo. now i know what you mean. you're looking for a "big" orchestral sound and due to the fact that the vienna samples are "dry" you have to do some tweaks to get that sound.
-first I would like to invite you to explore all of the violin sounds. a)there are e.g. good usable legato violins and violas (not the slur thing, but good seemless transitions) hint: reduce the velocity response with that sound...its better to play then. b) also the sounds which are in the folder "modwheel x-fades" are the way to go. use the "sustain X" sound and move the modwheel. you can make the string body quite vivid breathing getting bigger and tiny.
- now to get the big sound you need a room/acoustix. k2 convolution is excellent! try all the impulses out. change the dry/wet relation. change the size of the impulse. btw. also quite unorthodox impulses are good for strings...like "gymn shower" or "snare room". try it out. I like small rooms acoustix - you might like the big ones.
- use scripts: machine gun killers for staccato (if you have lota time you can also restructure the stacs with velocity crossfades or even round-robin alterations), perhaps the sips-script for legato slurs(http://www.theokrueger.com/kontakt2.htm)
- generally: be brave to tweak and adapt the sounds to your needs.

have fun with the k2 vienna strings. they are capable to much more if you try out. really. brass and woodwinds are not so good. although: the legato french horn is a DREAM! also the legato flute. the harp is good. etc...etc....

 

hint: reduce the velocity response with that sound...its better to play then.

Hey Beavis, good suggestions. I almost always used the Legato and X Mod Wheel, the convultion is something I haven't tried on strings though. I was having a clicking problem with convultion but that seems to be gone, maybe the upgrade..... This one though, velocity response, where do you reduce it, what section of the GUI is it in?

Thanks
BH

 

hey man....hehe....i know what u mean....this was also the point where i learned that you have to activate "edit all groups" first, in order to affect the velocity setting to all samples.

so

1. group editor -> edit all groups
2. amplifier -> modulation -> move the velocity slider to the left

greetings

 

1. group editor -> edit all groups
2. amplifier -> modulation -> move the velocity slider to the left


Beavis, This is the coolest thing ever. Yea, yea, it rocks, IT ROCKS.

Cool, I'll put this in my K2 folder, thanks for the move.
Tony

 

I can imagine how someone, wanting to compose an orchestral piece that would fool the experts, would want to go beyond the K2 Library, but for a string accompaniment to, say, a modern pop or rock ballad (where string synths are considered acceptable), the K2 strings, indeed the whole orchestral content, is a dream come true.

I'm new to K2, so I'm overwhelmed by all this. I'm not at all into orchestral stuff, but just loading the Cellos or Violas, seeing the articulation switches highlighted in red on the virtual keyboard, and hearing what even my clumsy fingers can tap out makes me grin every time. You'll never get a primo sting-sound like that from a mellotron!

Just a view from a Rock-oriented hobby-musician. Considering I wasn't really interested in the Library at all (I bought K2 just for a guitar library I'm waiting for), I'm blown away by what's included...(Elektrik/Akkord guitars too...wow) and my strings/pads accompaniment needs are covered, all as a bonus.

I've had two sequencers (strictly Sonar now), and the instruments included with both of them all stunk. Included stuff is supposed to stink. I thought K2's included stuff would stink. Turns out the stuff now only sounds great, but there's a learning curve to master each instrument's nuances (within the capabilities of the library at least)!

I'd have been impressed if the strings were all that came with K2. I can't remember the last time I felt such a big bang for my buck.