String Contours

Explore a New Era of Sampling with String Contours!

Move beyond traditional string samples with String Contours, an innovative approach to “contextual sampling.” Elevate tracks with seamless performances, prioritizing music over MIDI adjustments.

What is a Contour?

A contour represents a fixed-length, dynamic performance, such as a swell featuring a one-bar crescendo followed by a one-bar diminuendo with a bow change. String Contours allows note changes within the performance’s original dynamic shape and phrasing, resulting in realistic vibrato and natural flow without MIDI CC programming.

Contextual Recordings for Every Tempo

Recognizing that performance is influenced by context, each contour is recorded at three different tempos and four dynamic shapes. Kontakt automatically selects the appropriate sample pool based on the host sequencer's tempo, minimizing time-stretching for audio fidelity.

Note: "Normale Espressivo" patches are recorded solely at a fast tempo of 140 BPM but remain synchronized with the DAW’s tempo.

Versatile Adaptability

Change notes within the selected shape, with intelligent scripting that adds contextual releases and attacks for smooth transitions. Recordings maintain a cohesive performance style for unified phrasing across arrangements.

Natural and Transparent Sound

Recordings feature handpicked musicians chosen for tonal quality and vibrato, using custom microphone arrays with three mic positions for a polished sound. A medium-sized hall setting provides a cinematic quality while preserving detail.

The library avoids dynamic layers and Round Robins, offering the authentic sound of live performances. A three-voiced chord with a solo cello sounds like three cellists playing together.

Instruments Available

• Violin Section
• Viola Section
• Cello Section
• Double Bass Section
• Solo Violin
• Solo Cello

Bowings

• Normale
• Normale Espressivo
• Sul Pont to Normale back to Sul Pont
• Sul Tasto
• Tremolo
• Sul Pont Tremolo
• Loure
• Tenuto Overlays (controllable by velocity)

Dynamic Shapes (via Keyswitches)

• 1-1: One bar crescendo, one bar decrescendo
• 2-2: Two bars crescendo, two bars decrescendo
• 1-2: One bar crescendo, two bars decrescendo
• 2-1: Two bars crescendo, one bar decrescendo

Requires free Native Instruments Kontakt Player Version 6.7.1+.

This product works with the free Native Instruments Kontakt Player, the latest version can be downloaded through Native Access, Native Instrument’s download manager!

The minimum required Kontakt version for this product is stated in the product description or can be found on the manufacturers wesite.

System Requirements:

Mac:

• macOS 10.14 or higher 
• 64 bit
• Intel Core i5 or Apple M1 (native)
• RAM: 4GB (6GB recommended)

Windows:

• Windows 10 or higher
• 64 bit
• Intel Core i5 or similar CPU
• RAM: 4GB (6GB recommended)

Supported Interfaces:

• Mac (64-bit only): Stand-alone, VST, VST3, AU, AAX
• Windows (64-bit): Stand-alone, VST, VST3, AAX

Legacy Versions:

If you require legacy installers of Kontakt Player please refer to this Knowledge Base Article.