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Samples » Kontakt
Kirk Hunter Studios Spotlight Strings KONTAKT screenshot
TEAM VON.G 2014-03-06 | 3.92 GB
Actually, Spotlight Strings started out as "Solo Strings 3" back in 2008. I was experimenting with Kontakt's LFO abilities to simulate string vibrato. This was due to the fact that I wanted to be able to have the user manipulate vibrato in any way so as to suit his or her needs. At that time, it seemed there was really no way to realistically alter vibrato speed, intensity or fade-in time in real time by merely using samples and crossfading. So LFO manipulation seemed to be the solution. And also at that time, it seemed to me that there was just no convincing way to simulate a good string player's vibrato using Kontatk's LFO's back then. It was ok, but not good enough.

This was until I started really digging into Kontakt's LFO structue and some other related features. So it seemed, at least in theory, that there could be some possibilities. Sure enough, after a lot of sampling, and re-sampling and playing around with a bunch of Kontakt's modules, I found what I thought was a very convincing vibrato emulation. And after getting really good results from a single solo, I thought to myself, "Why stop there?" Since I have an arsenal of great string instruments, I decided that I would record at least 4 of them and then try to combine them so as to create not only a bank of 4 soloists, but up to 4 in any combination. It proved harder than I thought. All kinds of clever randomization and tone colorings were needed in order for the 4 soloists to blend together without weird-sounding phasing and chorusing. Once that task was complete, I thought it would be really neat to see how all of this would sound combined with a big string section. So I took some of the samples from Concert Strings 2, and put them behind the new soloists. The result, in my opinion, was very promising. However, to make this all work really well, I needed to completely re-script the Concert Strings 2 samples to fit this new sound.

Spotlight Strings is a SOLO STRING library comprised of 4 soloists per section and an optional "Ripieno"* backup section.
So it's 4 solo string libraries in 1, and THEN some!
-4 solo violins
-4 solo violas
-4 solo cellos
-2 solo basses
-Ripieno (Italian for stuffing or padding - refers to the bulk of instrumental parts of a musical ensemble who do not play as soloists, especially in Baroque music. These are the players who would play in sections marked tutti, as opposed to soloist sections. It is most commonly used in reference to instrumental music)

Updated Spotlight Strings Violin Instrument

Updates include:

- More realistic vibrato
- Better vibrato integration when using more than 1 player
- Better start-note randomization when using more than 1 player
- Richer, less "boxy" sound
- Added "Dolce Largo" articulation for very slow, emotional phrases


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comments

  Resident 21.10.2011 12 797
+293
Nice!! Thank you, i was waiting to try this!!
  Resident 21.09.2011 15 731
+1111
Awesome, brilliant, fantastic, outstanding, breathtaking, amazing, perfect!
Thanks.
Thank you for helping us help you help us all.
  Resident 23.05.2013 10 106
+464
WICKED! amazing strings. Made my day!
E-money
  Resident 10.09.2012 8 1316
+2552
amazing one.... Thanks for your contribution!
  Resident 15.11.2013 3 1436
+695
the Comment has been Removed
  Resident 25.04.2012 74 7705
+14325
Really? Not enough guitar and synth libraries out there for you because I just thought of plenty.
“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.”
  Resident 30.01.2010 1 1662
+277
Same Here , But this Library looks like a copy cat of the Cakewalks Strings Library that
comes with the Daw itself
***MSJ=X***
(Retired)
  Member 30.01.2014 1
0
I cant register this lin in Kontakt: "no library found".
  Member 19.02.2014 170
+29
Well, duh, there's no .nicnt or .nkx. Click on "files" and then navigate to the instrument you want to load.

Or make your own .nicnt.
  Resident 12.09.2013 178
+24
Do you mean the ones you can find in Sonar X1 for example ? I agree those ones are not so bad and really simple to use !
Baguette, camembert and red wine ... this is life man !!
  Resident 8.12.2012 148
+269
quote by CatalystReally? Not enough guitar and synth libraries out there for you because I just thought of plenty.


well ! we have many and very good piano & string & synth libraries ! but Guitars and especially acoustic only a few are really good !
  Resident 25.04.2012 74 7705
+14325
That's because guitars are harder to emulate properly. It's one of the hardest instruments to get right.
“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.”
  Member 19.02.2014 170
+29
If the sampled guitar is "exposed" (I mean playing solo or with very light accompaniment), then it's easy to tell it's sampled, but if well masked in a mix, it can be absolutely convincing. Once again, the key is having the skills to use the samples in the right context.

But then again, just about every other virtual instrument can be revealed as a sampled fake when playing solo passages, even pianos. Sampled pianos still cannot recreate the pianissimos, and if you play a pianissimo solo passage, you can always tell it's not the real deal, no matter how huge and expensive the library is.
  Banned 24.10.2011 3 1069
+390
If you look at sampled sound, you realize the last two categories reaching "realism" are electric guitars and brass.
Because they contain a lot of harmonics, subtleties...and because ppl cares more about strings than brass, and because hiring a guitarist cost less than an orchestra :D

It takes so much time to get a realistic guitar solo with kontakt you'd better learn to play guitar yourself :D
I will replace a lot of things with virtual (bass, drums...), but i will still play my guitar till the end ;)
  Member 23.11.2013 9
0
Have you come across V-metal? Might be too heavy depending on what style you do but for metal and lead guitar I've found it to be the best. It's still alive on Audioz too!! Really dynamically sweet if you play the notes in on a midi keyboard (dire if you input them with your mouse)
  Member 19.02.2014 170
+29
I have a real Virus TI2 in my studio: none of the sampled versions I've tried comes even close. Besides, the beauty of a Virus is the ability to manipulate the sound in real time, which no sample library can provide. Heck, I don't even use the TI option, because the sound coming out of the analog outputs is so richer and warmer. And this is a digital synth!!

But, again, if you don't need to tweak the sound in real time and the Virus patch is just one layer in a thick mix, then the sampled version will be just as good as the real McCoy...
  Resident 7.02.2008 70
+13
for LEGATO i believe LASS 2.0 still the best by far ..
Semper Fi
  Resident 20.02.2011 1194
+322
Top Superb!
You can't have everything; where would you put it?
  Resident 25.04.2012 74 7705
+14325
Excellent! Thanks for sharing.
“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.”
  Resident 15.11.2013 3 1436
+695
the Comment has been Removed
  Resident 28.05.2012 568
+36
yep lass 2's legs and 1st chair transitions are still the best in the game. Better than Murals, but mural does have a nice sound.
  Resident 21.09.2011 15 731
+1111
Sorry, but you're comparing apples and oranges, LASS - dry and Mural - wet, the sound will be always different, also Glisses and Portamentos will be most likely included in Mural vol. 2.
Thank you for helping us help you help us all.
  Resident 11.01.2011 85
+7
I really don't know how Kirk Hunter is still on the market...
I just tryed Spotlight Strings the sound recording is the worst I've heard.
There is no expression at all.

Try Friedlander its a way far better then this.
  Member 14.09.2013 26
+1
quote by jajayep lass 2's legs and 1st chair transitions are still the best in the game. Better than Murals, but mural does have a nice sound.

This. But its easy (not so) recreated with Altiverb, Aether ;) and a bit of EQ (scheps for that 230hz boost) :)
  guest -- 0
0
the Comment has been Removed
  Resident 31.07.2013 6 301
+316
The purpose of VSt instrument is to have a Replacement for You as You are Busy and Playing In Brussels Philharmonic :)

Just kidding.

Sure. Nobody says the opposit. But How many Music Producers can pay for a real Section for their recordings?
Where the music stops, "Audioz" surfing begins.
  Member 19.02.2014 170
+29
Kanye, however, is VERY replaceable... ;)
  Resident 16.06.2013 466
+86
I think even you could replace kanye west.. in fact i wish you would !!

but seriously.. I could never afford to fly you over to cameo
on one of my tracks..

on the other hand... audioz makes adding violins..
quite affordable....
a 1 ... and a 3 ... and a ching chong potato
  Resident 12.09.2013 178
+24
Just because guitar is an "acoustic instrument" and not a synthetic sound, just because guitar players are those kind of mofo they made the sound with their hands and not the price of the guitar they baught ... that is why sampling a guitar is not so easy ... "Scarbee Funk Guitarist Library" is one of the best, more realistic one I use (I am a Kboard player). As soon as you understand how it works and you need Funky rythm in your song ...
Baguette, camembert and red wine ... this is life man !!

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