String Studio VS-2 from Applied Acoustic Systems is a virtual synthesizer that replaces the oscillator as the traditional means of generating sounds with a string model, along with various triggering and resonance options including picks, bows, hammers, fingers, frets, dampers, and soundboards. Functioning as a plug-in or standalone under both Mac OS X and Windows, the instrument provides all the regular synthesizer control features, along with effects and a sophisticated arpeggiator.
Over 600 presets are available and VS-1 preset compatibility has been preserved. The software provides a host of performance features along with complete MIDI implementation. The arpeggiator offers various syncing resolutions that include tap tempo and sync to host clock options, playing algorithms, and rhythmic patterns. Adjustment of the string material and how it vibrates, how it is played and its interaction with virtual dampers, frets and fingers and a soundboard, give the instrument great depth for producing interesting and unique sounds.
- Completely renewed factory library with over 600 production-ready sounds classified for fast and intuitive searching
- Collection of fifty signature presets by producer Sean Divine
- Compressor and equalizer to add punch and definition to sounds and cut through any dense mix
- Output limiter protects ears and monitors during experimentation with the synthesizer's parameters while providing distortion-free dynamics
- Streamlined interface divided into three panels:
- Play presents shortcuts to the performance and effect parameters including bypass switches for quick edits
- Edit allows for tweaking and creating sound
- FX supplies EQ, compressor, multi-effect, and reverb processors
- Bank and program manager allows simple and efficient organization, backup, and sharing of sounds
- Backward compatible with VS-1 presets
- Overhauled effects featuring chorus, delay, phaser, flanger, distortion, notch filter, wah-wah, auto-wah, and reverb
- Microtonal tunings via Scala scale files
- Native 64-bit Audio Units, VST, and AAX plug-ins
- More than 600 presets infused with the acoustic feel and twist of arpeggiator, bass, lead, pad, key, and plucked sounds
- Sound designers and composers can utilize the organic soundscapes for film scores
- Performance features include keyboard modes, unison, portamento, and a complete set of MIDI features along with a user programmable pattern arpeggiator and shortcuts to the high quality effects
- String Studio VS-2 will match a user's playing style or musical context using tap tempo and sync to host clock options
- Poly- or monophonic keyboard modes with note priority
- Up-to-4-voice unison, glide and legato functions and the flexible vibrato
- Combines innovative acoustic modeling parameters and classic synthesizer features in a unique way while maintaining a familiar approach to sound design
- The Effects panel delivers an all-inclusive package with a compressor, equalizer, delay, distortion, phaser, chorus, flanger, wah wah and notch filters, and reverb
- The arpeggiator offers various syncing resolutions, playing algorithms and rhythmic patterns
- The string module is the heart of String Studio - adjust the material to control its tone and how it vibrates
- Sources include nylon to steel strings, with short to long decays
- Listen to sounds unprocessed, through the distorted ear of a pickup, or via the filter of a soundboard
- The exciter module allows for choosing how the string is played - select a pick for plucked sounds, play it with a bow for sustained sound or use a hammer for chords and percussive sounds
- As in a real instrument, strings interact with dampers, frets and fingers that control decays and dynamics and add life to a sound with natural noises, grain and warmth
- Use soft or steep low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, notch, or formant filters to sounds
- Animate their action with an LFO and envelopes
- Choose a body type and size to color the sound with specific resonances and add acoustic character