Got strings?
Native Instruments does, and they’ve put some vintage mojo on them as well…for when you’re feeling a little nostalgic?
But…are they any good? Or is it just another cheesy attempt at a usable pop string section?
let’s see
What are Session Strings?
To contrast a lot of the larger string/orchestral libraries, Session Strings is supposed to be a good collection of string sections that fit well within the modern music production environment.
I’ve seen quite a few string libraries, most are aimed at film and orchestration uses, with every single section of the string and multiple articulations, many of which require some form of classical/orchestral training or a crash course in string theory.
Which isn’t bad, because I like those libraries too, but sometimes you just want a good string ensemble that has minimal things to tweak, and you can just add it to your track.
The expressive features are there and easy to access, they even put in a collection that they called “m town” which is supposed to capture the feel and sound of vintage 70s strings from the disco/pop/funk/rnb music.
All that sounds good, but what really matters is if these strings are useful or not.
Quick Specs
- content: 48 nki files, 10 standard and 10 mtown performance, 14 standard and 14 mtown individual patches
- format: kontakt 4 or the free kontakt player
- price: $119
How do they sound?
They sound pretty good, nice and full and usable, which is most important.
Sometimes you don’t want a library full of solo strings, sometimes you just need a good sounding section to lay as the padding for a track, to fill it out.
The recordings are done well, and in comparison to many string libraries, they aren’t drowned in reverb that is printed into the sample itself.
These have more of a “studio” sound to me, instead of a stage or concert hall sound, more like the sound of a bunch of string players in the studio, instead of on stage.
Of course you can use the included reverb to tweak or add your own.
The MTown presets are pretty cool, if you sample alot, you’ll enjoy the sound of the strings as it pretty much captures that string sound we always look for on records.
Overall, the sound is good and usable, comparable to many more advanced libraries.
Of course you don’t get every single type of articulation as you would with a full level string library, but you get the ones that are most useful when playing a string section.
So what’s the bottom line?
It’s no secret I’m a fan of the new line of Kore and Kontakt instruments form NI. It allows folks to build up quite a customized and quality library without the investment of full products and software.
The fact that you can play any of these instruments in their free players is awesome, plus, if you want to upgrade, they work in the full versions.
I really like the sound of the Session Strings, and find myself going back to these over a lot of the larger libraries just for how immediate they are and how I can just pull up a sound, tweak, and have what I need.
The animator is pretty cool, could be useful, but I would have liked to see it more user editable. If they add another tab beside the fx tab, where you could pull up the step/graph editor, and tweak each included groove that would be awesome.
This would give you a mini string section sequencer inside the interface….maybe in an update?
Overall, it’s a useful library, with a good sound that will fit many situations. Some of the falls/scoops can be a bit cheesy at times but hey, alot of the music we were inspired by from the past was pretty cheesy lol, it’s sorta like salt…it’s good in moderation, just don’t over do it!
I give this library a 4 out of 5 subs, I really liked it, but wish the animator was editable as it’s a great feature of the library but can get pretty old pretty quick with the two knobs used to tweak it.
If you want some good strings, and even some vintage sounding tones, definitely read up on it and check it out.
It’s a great alternative to spending hundreds on string libraries that may not have the tone, or ease of use you need for adding a simple string section to modern tracks.
Go on over and check it out: native instruments session strings
let me know what ya think!
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Yes sir these strings are nice. Got these when they first dropped and been using them ever since.
@Madbull Studios, yeah I knew these would be your style fam. I really like em, small and useful, very flexible sound.
good stuff!
thanks for the comment.
This was on my list already, I’m not the best player so I love how Kontakt has been making it easier with the scripting assistance.
Sounds versatile enough to stretch into Philly International and Salsoul territory. Here goes my last coupon 🙂
@Metatron72, hahahaha, yeah man I feel ya! Gotta love the coupons!
Another good sound pack from NI. I gotta start gettin’ some of these!
@Mike, no doubt, thanks for watchin yo.
hey man, i’ve been using this site for a while to get the lowdown on samples, and found some ok samples, and i wondered why i never see a bad review for anything? Its always like ‘waaaooow thats amazing’ is this because you are also making money from the samples you review? If so your just another factory preset man, and thats real lame. you should be giving advice for poeple and giving genuine reviews, not making money and promoting bunch of companies and reviewing them at the same time, i’m not feeling your website, or your vibe. i’ll be spreading the word, moneys got the better of you.
peace out
j
@Joan, lol I review what I like that’s why, I get tons of products I come across that I don’t like, I don’t waste my time on making videos for that stuff. Heck I wish I got paid from companies like native instruments and big fish, that would be dope, but I don’t lol
If you’ve been around then you’ve heard this answer before, this is my site, I post reviews on the stuff I like not stuff I don’t. I don’t owe you or anyone else anything lol, I don’t charge you to come here, the stuff I show I do it in a way that you can judge for yourself.
I would love to get paid to do this stuff full-time, I love it. But no, no one can buy good reviews lol, I just don’t waste my time on stuff I don’t like. If you don’t like it, don’t visit the site. I will continue to do what I want over here, there’s plenty folks that appreciate it.
Don’t come here and try to tell me what I should be doing, my reviews are genuine I have nothing to hide and I won’t apologize for having a site that makes money off of ads and advertisements either lol. You’re free not to visit if you’re not feeling it, move on.
Great reply to an uninformed critic who perhaps should have looked into this more before saying such about your reviews! If I had a similar site, I too would focus on the products I liked! (at the same time, it would also be handy sometimes, to see any products you don’t like, maybe not such full reviews, but this would also help in an ‘informed’ purchasing decision, but that’s only a minor point) …. just love your reply, this really is my ‘go to place’ before I look at buying anything now, thanks! 🙂
Thanks man. I just do what I enjoy and share it, glad people appreciate it 🙂
Hey Joe!
You’re the man when it comes down to take critics! I see Joan’s point. Joan didn’t like the site. didn’t spend time to understand your motivation and attitude. You review on stuff you like and this is why you’re hot!!!
Thanks for all of your reviews!
Great inspiration!
And I love to see you getting their products for free. That’s the least they could do.
Offtopic: Do you have produced any famous songs or commercial records/beats for anyone?
holla
@Michael, Thanks bro, I just find it funny folks try to tell you what you should do you know? I’m not forcing anyone to watch my videos or peep my site, I just try to give some idea of what’s out there that I think is cool, in a way folks can hear and judge for themselves instead of just watching the marketing from the companies.
Thanks for the support.
My productions are for a lot of indy artists nothing “commercial” so to speak but plenty of stuff that has been released officially. Just mostly independent artists and such.
SJ,
I appreciate your forthrightness as regards demonstrating the various VSTI’s.
I would suggest when demonstrating string and horn sample libraries you refrain from playing BLOCK 6th and 7th chords. WAY bad form, and not what arrangers would EVER compose. It just sounds a bit “jazz pianistic.” I suggest demonstrating open 4ths, or 5ths, 10’s…as in a held chord using A2, E3, C3.
My comments are meant only in a positive offering!
Feel free to PM me if you want a further explanation.
Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it! I like to show things in the way I would go through them, I’m certainly not an arranger so there will be stuff that may make arrangers/composers cringe a little, hopefully you still get an idea of the sound though 🙂