Native Instruments is churning out more and more libraries for Kontakt, covering a vast assortment of genres and instrument types. In this case we are talking about Action Strings, not the usual trite library of strings but a real instrument / tool to direct, with a few clicks, an entire string orchestra of 60 elements.
Features
- A single instrument (.NKI) from which it is possible to recall all sounds (loops)
- 9 GB of compressed samples in Native Instrument NCW format (uncompressed are more than 14 GB)
- 154 Phrases / Loops interchangeable and selectable at will by the user
- Kontakt Player (free) included
How it works
Without wasting too much time let's explain immediately how this behaves string library a bit atypical. Basically we are faced with a series of pre-recorded loops from FILMharmonic Orchestra of Prague sorted by both stylistic and rhythmic categories. Through the keyboard we can “tune” Action Strings and, through the Key Switches (red buttons) change rhythm patterns on the fly. Just press a button and you will immediately feel the power of an entire orchestra at your command. In addition to scrolling through the groups of patterns already organized, you can create your own by mixing the 150 phrases available in the library.
Sentences
With over 154 pre-recorded phrases, or real ones string orchestra loop, it is possible with a few keys to assemble an entire piece by articulating different rhythmic and melodic patterns together. The audio quality is very good, although you can hear some, very minimal, imperfections often on the final tail (when that is the loop ends) probably emphasized by the reverb. Basically, at very, very high volumes it is possible to hear some of the background noise of the room where the phrases were recorded. Nothing to worry about and indeed, everything is absolutely normal. All the phrases can be perfectly integrated into different contexts of mixes of all kinds and it should be emphasized that even in "solo" nothing artificial is heard. In short, it is possible to use Action Strings alone or in the company of other instruments without major problems.
Furthermore, it should be emphasized that all the phrases are oriented exclusively towards rhythmic patterns or at most with few melodic elements. It will therefore be necessary to combine a library of “standard” strings (such as Session Strings Pro) for the melodic parts.
pros and cons
In various forums there has been more or less discussion about the usefulness of having a library of prefabricated phrases / loops that anyone, even with minimal if no musical knowledge, can use to create fragments of trailer or clips of Hollywood music. Above all, a good chunk of users poured very negative comments on the way the product was advertised, marking the very aspect of the question on musical knowledge. In fact, it takes very little, loading two or three instances of Kontakt, pressing two or three keys and Action Strings will do everything by itself.
As for me, I believe that these controversies are completely sterile or at least comparable to the fear of the most naive musicians at the release of the first synthesizers or sequencers on the market. "The machine will replace man". First of all, although the phrases and rhythmic patterns of Action Strings are of excellent quality, there is always a need for the taste of a more or less experienced musician to blend everything into a finished product. Having such tools available helps a lot those who already know about music, saving money and time for those composers oriented towards low-budget productions who are still looking for an excellent final result. Action Strings will never replace the ideas of a composer and the recording of a real sixty-piece string orchestra. But who can afford this? Unfortunately not most of the composers. Furthermore, there is also a more or less didactic aspect of such a library to underline. In my opinion it can be very positive to bring the less experienced to the use of a virtual orchestra without fear of making too much mistakes.
Conclusions
Action Strings is definitely a must-have library for anyone who composes for films, trailers or orchestral music (mostly “epic”) with little time or budget. If combined well with other orchestral libraries (and not) it can give much more credibility and sonic realism. Furthermore, it can certainly be interesting to combine the library with a tube filter such as Valve Filter VF-1 di Audio Thing to create even more nuances and to further enrich the sounds.
