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Cinematic Studio Series © 2016-2024 Alex Wallbank
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A classic strings sample library for Kontakt Player
Cinematic Strings 2 is a much-loved orchestral sample library renowned for its great sound out of the box and its easy-to-use interface. Recorded in a large concert hall, CS2 has a warm lush sound, and is one of the easiest-to-use professional-level string libraries on the market. Originally released in 2012, CS2 was our first major strings sample library, and paved the way for our more advanced “Cinematic Studio Series” orchestral range. It also blends well with all the newer libraries.
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Features at a glance
Introducing Cinematic Strings 2
Cinematic Strings 2 was recorded in Sydney’s world-class Verbrugghen Hall and is well known for its lush concert-hall tones. Because CS2 was created to meet the needs of working composers in the film, television and video game industries, our focus was on maximising both efficiency and authenticity. With this in mind CS2 provides a realistic mockup tool that will save you from the hassle and wasted time spent tweaking parameters, modifying CC data, or applying drastic EQ and reverb effects to emulate the sound you’re after.
Intuitive, efficient interface
Thanks to the all-in-one GUI, Cinematic Strings is incredibly easy to use. Loading and unloading articulations, assigning keyswitches, adjusting the microphone balance using the new mixer, and controlling a built-in reverb are all just a click or two away. The full ensemble patches are ideal for quick sketching or filling out a track while saving on RAM. With all these features accessible from the main GUI page, you’ll have Cinematic Strings working alongside you on your latest project within minutes.
Smooth legato engine
Real legato transitions were sampled for Cinematic Strings. Our new legato engine is designed to be more authentic and efficient, allowing the transitions to be integrated seamlessly into your melodies. This is made possible by our advanced scripting system that adjusts the dynamics and timbre automatically while you play. The new engine compensates for your playing speed automatically, so that when you play fast, shorter more natural legato transitions are triggered. This leaves you to focus on what you write, not how you write it.
"Mix" Microphone Position
Cinematic Strings utilises three microphone positions – close, stage, and room. Mixing these three together will allow you to take advantage of the deep concert hall warmth captured in the recordings. Additionally, you can achieve a full sound while saving on computer resources by using the “mix” microphone position. This sounds so good that we’re willing to bet you’ll be using this 99% of the time.
Full Ensemble Patches
Cinematic Strings features two ensemble patches – Full Ensemble and Lite Ensemble. These patches are perfect for sketching out ideas or quickly filling out a track. It’s our aim to do what we can to make a composer’s life easier, so we hope you’ll enjoy them! This video looks at the features and operation of the new patches and includes a MIDI file so you can load them into your sequencer and see them in action.
Compatible with free Kontakt Player
Cinematic Studio Strings is fully compatible with the free Kontakt Player as well as the full version of Kontakt. There is no need to purchase additional software as Kontakt Player is available as a separate download from Native Instruments and can be downloaded free of charge by clicking here. When downloading Kontakt player you might like to check out the Komplete Start bundle, which contains a range of great sounds and instruments. Information on adding your new library to Kontakt can be found here.
“Cinematic Strings always sounded great; the streamlined, simplified and intuitive design is also a boon to composers ... For quickly creating classy-sounding orchestral string scores of great vibrancy, colour, power, lushness and emotionality, this collection is hard to beat.”
Dave StewartSound on Sound 
“The sound of Cinematic Strings 2.0 is superb. The one thing that really drives this library home is the ease of use. One patch per section, all articulations and controls are immediately accessible ... As a string workhorse library, Cinematic Strings is for me the best you can get when looking at both sound and usability.”
Tobias EscherSCOREcast Online
“... Cinematic Strings 2 aims to make programming realistic orchestral strings as easy as it ought to be ... CS2's 22GB library sounds stunning. Achieving the articulations and nuances you want is a snap, with no significant compromise in terms of functionality and depth... Overall a phenomenal package for the money.”
Music Radar
“From the moment a patch is loaded and the brilliantly simple GUI appears you know that this is going to be an easy library to manage ... and the sound is top-drawer, rich and sonorous across all sections ... CS2 is a treat to use, sounds great and should be a serious consideration for anyone in need of an orchestral string library.”
Music Tech
“An excellent, easy-to-learn and easy-to-use solution for high quality strings with a punch, CS2 delivers straight out of the proverbial box with string sounds that are vivid, dynamic, and cinematic... Whether I’m writing theme music for a video series, mocking up a concerto, or doing nearly anything else that involves virtual bows and resin, I see myself happily turning to CS2 to give me what I need... ”
Keyboard Magazine
“There really are no bells and whistles in Cinematic Strings 2.0 — just beautiful sounding strings in a simple GUI at a great price point. And let’s just be very clear again, the library sounds stunning... I just want great sounding strings that are easy to use, and reliable. And that’s exactly what Cinematic Strings 2.0 does best.”
AudioTechnology Magazine AustraliaIssue 90, October 2012
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Other key features
- Controllable vibrato using a MIDI CC (user selectable)
- 4 dynamic layers for all articulations
- All common articulations sampled:
- Sustains (with and without vibrato)
- Tremolo
- Trills (half and whole tone)
- Staccato
- Staccatissimo
- Pizzicato (with Bartok Snap)
- Specialised ‘Runs’ mode for creating realistic fast string runs
- 4 x Round Robin samples for all short notes – essential for realistic repeated notes
- User-adjustable short note lengths
- Built-in algorithmic reverb, adjustable from main GUI page
- Selectable high and low playing positions – controlled via GUI control or velocity sensitive keyswitch
Videos & Tutorials
FAST PASSAGES AND MEASURED TREMOLO
Essential information for using our libraries
Windows / Mac
Windows 7/8 or Mac OSX 10.7+, Quad Core CPU, 4GB RAM, up to 45GB Hard Drive space for installation. Kontakt 5.1 or Kontakt Player 5.1 is also required.
Please note – these are the minimum requirements. CS2 is a high end sample library, and we recommend 8 GB RAM to really get the most out of the library. 4 GB RAM will allow you to load the whole library using the mixed mic position, but you wont be able to load much else after that. 8 GB RAM was used to create the demo compositions, on a single computer. Ideally, Cinematic Strings 2 should be used with a fully 64 bit system.
Windows / Mac
Windows 7/8 or Mac OSX 10.7+, Quad Core CPU, 8GB RAM, up to 22.5GB Hard Drive space for installation. Kontakt 5.1 or Kontakt Player 5.1 or later is also required.
Please note – when downloading, some Mac users may receive an erroneous “Disk full” error. If this occurs you will need to download the library to an external HD.
Please feel free to contact support with any questions.
Keyboard controller with mod wheel required.
Please note – these are the minimum requirements. CS2 is a high end sample library, and we recommend 8 GB RAM to really get the most out of the library. 4 GB RAM will allow you to load the whole library using the mixed mic position, but you won’t be able to load much else after that. 8 GB RAM was used to create the demo compositions, on a single computer. Ideally, Cinematic Strings 2 should be used with a fully 64 bit system.
All of our libraries run inside the Kontakt sampler (full or free version), and therefore you require a good understanding of how Kontakt works before purchasing any of our libraries. Usually Kontakt is run as a plugin within a DAW such as Cubase or Logic (it runs inside all major DAWs). If you are new to Kontakt you can download the free version (Kontakt Player) here. Just download “Komplete Start” and you will get instructions for installing Kontakt Player as well as factory library with 2,000 sounds and 6 GB of content. This is a great way to familiarise yourself with the platform, and once you’re comfortable with how Kontakt integrates into your setup, using our libraries should be a straightforward progression from there.
You should be comfortable with MIDI sequencing and editing, and although our libraries work without a MIDI keyboard, we thoroughly recommend using one. We are a small team and I’m afraid that while we support our products we cannot provide MIDI tutorials and tech support for Kontakt, various DAWs etc. Please inquire via the Support button if you’d like any further clarification – prior to purchase.
There is an installation guide in the email you received at the time of purchase. If you cannot find this email, please check your spam folder to make sure it isn’t there. After downloading the library please consult this link if you are unfamiliar with adding third party libraries to Kontakt.
CS2 isn’t designed to work with notation software such as Sibelius, Finale or Dorico, etc, and we cannot provide assistance if attempting to use CS2 with these programs. The library relies on an intricate keyswitching and expression system which notation programs often don’t support. There are some 3rd party programs which aim to make Kontakt libraries compatible with notation, but we do not officially endorse these efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Windows / Mac
Windows 7/8 or Mac OSX 10.7+, Quad Core CPU, 4GB RAM, up to 45GB Hard Drive space for installation. Kontakt 5.1 or Kontakt Player 5.1 is also required.
Please note – these are the minimum requirements. CS2 is a high end sample library, and we recommend 8 GB RAM to really get the most out of the library. 4 GB RAM will allow you to load the whole library using the mixed mic position, but you wont be able to load much else after that. 8 GB RAM was used to create the demo compositions, on a single computer. Ideally, Cinematic Strings 2 should be used with a fully 64 bit system.
No bundle options are available for CS2 as this library is not part of our current Studio Series. However, cross-grade or loyalty discounts are available for CS2 if you own Cinematic Studio Strings, and vice versa. If you’d like further information please contact us via the support button on the website.
Yes, the library is available by direct download, as this is the cheapest and most environmentally friendly way to distribute CS2. And thanks to our Advanced Download Manager, you can be assured you’ll get your library as quickly as your internet connection will allow.
Sorry, we do not provide refunds under any circumstances. Please choose carefully; feel free to ask any questions prior to purchasing.
The advertised price is exclusive of tax. If tax is payable in your jurisdiction then it will be collected by our payment service provider FastSpring and passed directly to your government.
Yes, there are no commercial restrictions placed on music created with the library, even if you have applied for an Educational Discount. See our product Terms and Conditions for more information.
Yes, provided both machines are owned and used solely by you for the production of music. The best way to install CS2 on another machine is to copy the CS2 folder from the first to the second computer via an external HD. Once you have done that, you will need to run through the same installation process as you would have when you originally installed it, i.e. click “add library,” and then locate the CS2 folder. You will also then need to click “authorise” and enter your serial number, so your second installation will be registered in our database.
Sorry to hear that! The download links provided at the time of purchase remain active for one week before automatically deactivating. We recommend backing up your files by simply copying the entire “Cinematic Strings 2” folder to an external backup HD. Then to re-install, simply copy the folder back to your preferred location and re-add the library in Kontakt if necessary. In case of an emergency, we will re-activate your links for a fee of $7.50 to cover bandwidth and admin costs.