Soliste CLO.756 Cello
by Expressive E · Instrument · Physically modeled solo cello
Not rated yet
Soliste CLO.756 is a physically modeled solo cello from Expressive E, played in real time with no samples.
It aims for deep, resonant lines with strong dynamics, and works with MPE controllers, Osmose, Touché and standard MIDI; it costs $99.
Best for: Acoustic Instruments, Sound Design. Genres: Ambient & Cinematic, Jazz, Acoustic & Classical, Pop.
Keywords: strings, solo strings, MPE support, physical modelling, cinematic, monophonic, bass instrument, classic, hybrid, sound design.
What it does
The Soliste cello (listed as CLO 759 on Expressive E's page) is a physically modeled solo cello with no samples, played in real time. Expressive E calls it "ideal for emotional and cinematic playing."
- Three play modes: Classic (press and tap), Virtuoso (back-and-forth bowing gestures) and Expressive Bow, a hybrid of the two, plus tremolo controlled on the fly.
- Smart vibrato: assisted vibrato with adjustable depth, rate and fade-in that arrives as you hold a note, or fully manual vibrato from pitch bend or MPE.
- Articulations: 32 articulation presets, including sul ponticello, sul tasto, pizzicato, Bartók, col legno, spiccato, spiccatissimo, staccato, staccatissimo and martelé.
- Bow and body: adjustable bow attack and gesture response, five resonant bodies (Spark, Hollow, Sleek, Antique, Lyric), and portamento and pressure glide support.
- Controllers: made for MPE (Osmose first, plus Touché, Push 3, Seaboard and LinnStrument), but playable from a normal MIDI keyboard with velocity and mod wheel.
It is sold separately or in the four-instrument Soliste bundle (violin, viola, cello and double bass). Expressive E offers a 30-day return policy on software.
Source: Expressive E product page
When to use it
The Soliste cello is the better pick for solo melodies you want to play in with feeling, especially from an MPE controller. Compared with Berlin Strings, BBC Symphony Orchestra Core and Augmented STRINGS, it sounds less finished out of the box and offers no section sound, but its bowing, swells and vibrato follow your hands far more closely. Like Audio Modeling's SWAM strings it is modeled rather than sampled, so it takes practice to sound its best. Reviewers rated the cello among the most authentic instruments in the suite, and Sound On Sound found bowed tones most convincing in the cello and bass range.
- Best for: emotional solo cello lines, cinematic melodies and expressive countermelodies.
- Genres: cinematic, contemporary and pop arrangements, ambient and neo-classical.
- Look elsewhere if: you want a ready-made section, a sampled-realism solo cello, or you won't play parts in with an expressive controller.
- Tip: on an MPE controller, start notes with a light, slow touch so they creep in, then press harder to swell, as Sound On Sound describes.
What producers say
Reviewers found the Soliste suite engaging and very playable, though not fully realistic.
- MusicRadar called Soliste "a fine example of modelling software" and said the viola and cello "provided the most authentic performance" of the four.
- Sound On Sound called the experience "absorbing and addictive" with "first-class playability," especially from an MPE controller.
- Criticisms: a synthetic edge in exposed passages and weak legato (MusicRadar), plus no keyswitching for articulations, no double stops and no manual (Sound On Sound).
Where to buy
- Plugin Boutique: $99
- Expressive E: $299
Tutorials and reviews
- Soliste Walkthrough
- Soliste Walkthrough
- Soliste — Articulation Examples
- 🎻 The Most EXPRESSIVE Strings Ever? Meet SOLISTE!
- Soliste: Expressive E made my dream string instruments... no samples!
Similar plugins
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- Soliste VLN.356 Violin by Expressive E · Physically modeled solo violin · $99
- SWAM Violin by Audio Modeling · Physically modeled solo violin · $66.33
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