String Machine

Name: String Machine
Price: 52 USD
Author: EastWest

by EastWest · Synth · Vintage string machine instrument

Not rated yet

String Machine samples vintage string synths such as the ARP Solina, Roland RS-505, Oberheim OB-X and Jupiter 6, layered with strings, brass, woodwinds and choir sections.

It costs $52 on sale (regular $149) and runs in EastWest's Opus player.

Best for: Keys & Synths. Genres: Pop, Rock & Indie, Electronic & EDM.

Keywords: strings, vintage, choir, hardware emulation, 80s, modern, arpeggiator, brass, pads, woodwinds, 70s, analog, classic, ensemble, film & game audio, sample-based, 60s, inspired by, retro, sampled hardware, standalone app, subscription, subtractive, textures.

What it does

String Machine is an EastWest library of 1960s to 1980s string machine sounds, paired with modern acoustic layers. It was produced by Doug Rogers and Nick Phoenix, "paying homage to the great vintage synthesizers" of those decades.

Sampled machines: sources include the ARP Solina, Oberheim OB-X, Roland RS-505 and Roland Jupiter-6.
Four sections: colour-coded string machines and pads (red), section strings (green), solo woodwinds and brass (teal) and choirs and soloists (orange), each with its own volume.
Envelopes: a four-stage ADSR envelope for each section.
Mod wheel crossfade: the mod wheel blends between two layers and dynamics per section; up to 20 sound sources can be combined.
Ensemble Chorus: three modes, emulating the Solina and Roland VP-330 plus a modern mode, alongside a standard chorus.
Global controls: master volume, pan, stereo field and filter, plus four reverb presets with send controls.
Presets: 17 presets by Nick Phoenix plus a free expansion of 19 patches.

It runs in EastWest's Opus player. It is also part of the ComposerCloud+ subscription.

Source: EastWest product page

When to use it

String Machine is a quick, low-cost specialist for warm 70s and 80s ensemble strings, with real section strings, winds and choirs to layer on top. Compared with Arturia's Solina V, which models one machine, it is sample-based and draws on several machines, but has fewer synthesis controls. Compared with Omnisphere 3, which includes string machine sounds among many others, it is narrower but far simpler and cheaper. Unlike Arturia's Augmented STRINGS, it aims at the classic vintage sound rather than evolving hybrid textures.

Best for: retro string-machine pads, layered with modern strings or choir for bigger, film-style textures.
Genres: pop, rock, synthwave, hip-hop, electronic and film.
Look elsewhere if: you need realistic orchestral strings (Hollywood Strings 2 or Berlin Strings) or deep synthesis (Omnisphere 3).
Tip: automate the global filter cutoff for movement, and try the Auto Filter Drive control in the Opus mix panel for extra depth.

What producers say

Reviewers rate the sound and ease of use highly; the main complaints are the standalone price and the small preset count.

Sound On Sound (2023) found it "captures the classic string machine sounds in an authentic fashion" with "almost no learning curve", and liked the modern layers and chorus.
MusicTech (2022) gave it 8/10, praising the chorus effects and expressive controls but calling it "overpriced as a standalone purchase".
Criticisms: only 17 presets in the box, and the price outside the ComposerCloud+ subscription.

Where to buy

Best Service: $52
EastWest: $52 (regular $149)
Plugin Boutique: $52 (regular $99)
PluginFox: $52 (regular $99)
AudioDeluxe: $52 (regular $99)

Tutorials and reviews

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