This new version of CSS is the result of 2 years of painstaking work. There are added features like runs and low-latency legato – almost every aspect of the library has been improved, from the sound quality itself, to the editing consistency and scripting, and much more.

Marcato mode (including runs)

The new marcato articulation is much more powerful – it’s punchy, full of energy and grit, and can easily pull off fast, agile phrases with minimal editing. Play harder on the keyboard for a more pronounced attack, or to exaggerate a note within a legato phrase. You can play a snappy series of short notes, or a slower, more grand series of accented long notes. Playing a fast legato line will trigger the runs mode – you don’t need to enable anything or switch anything on or off – just play fast, and the script will do the rest for great-sounding runs.

Improved sound

The new mix mic is roomier, yet more detailed – lush, yet powerful. I spent a long time getting this balance right, and I feel that this mix should work well in a wide variety of styles and genres. Having said that, I really encourage you to experiment with the two spot microphones. These were mixed together into a single stereo track in the original version of CSS, but in version 1.7.1, you can now control them independently, allowing you much greater freedom to create your own customised sound.

Low Latency legato

I spent a (very) long time re-editing all of the legato transition samples, not only to significantly improve the timing, but also to ensure a more consistent volume envelope. This makes sequencing legato easier, particularly because it lessens the need for intensive “sculpting” of the dynamic modulation. In addition to these two factors, I also introduced a new “Low latency” mode, making it much easier to perform passages in real-time.

Improved short notes

All of the short notes in CSS, both bowed and plucked, have been re-edited to ensure better  consistency of timing and length. I also improved the relative dynamic response between short note types, making it easier to switch between spiccato, staccatissimo (etc) without needing to pay as much attention to your playing velocity.

Non-vibrato legato transitions

Lastly, I have also improved the non-vibrato legato transitions. In the previous version of CSS I’d used simulated legato transitions, and while I didn’t record any new material for Version 1.7.1, I developed a technique to significantly improve the sound of these simulated transitions by editing the with-vibrato samples to create an all-new set of non-vibrato legato transitions. This not only sounds more realistic, but also makes the x-fade system more seamless and straightforward.