Native Instruments has introduced Action Strings, which they describe as a phrase-based instrument featuring a 60-piece string orchestra. Here's all the details in their own words with their usual use of capital letters for the product's title, although they have managed to miss one this time – see if you can spot it...
Running in KONTAKT 5 or the free KONTAKT PLAYER, ACTION STRINGS delivers driving string phrases and short motifs with an extremely natural and expansive sound. The flexible instrument provides producers of all skill levels with a inspiring resource for adding drama and movement to film and game scores, as well as rock, pop and urban tracks.
Performed by the FILMharmonic Orchestra Prague, Action Strings provides producers with over 14GB of musical phrases, carefully sampled by renowned score production company Dynamedion. The orchestra is made up of a high ensemble featuring 22 violins, eight violas and six cellos, as well as a low ensemble containing ten violas, eight cellos and six basses. The phrases range from basic rhythmic patterns to intricate melodies, each recorded live in every key, and in two dynamic levels.
With ACTION STRINGS, these phrases become playable and adaptable to any project. Producers of any expertise level can instantly create 'big screen' orchestral results, selecting phrases with the left hand while controlling chords, melodies and tonality with the right. Created with ease of use and flexibility at the forefront, ACTION STRINGS allows for blending between dynamic levels via the mod wheel, and simple switching of the harmonic patterns to minor or major via velocity level.
All of the over 150 phrases are organized into themes of five, with five additional custom slots available. All slots can be assigned or changed easily via the phrase browser, with every phrase being playable in all keys. The phrases are selectable via keyswitch and can be played in trigger mode or synced to the '1' of a host software's tempo. Utilizing KONTAKT's Time-Machine Pro time stretching algorithm, tempo can be adjusted in real time, allowing for the creative use of effects such as Ritardando or Rallentando.
ACTION STRINGS was created by Dynamedion – soundtrack composition specialists renowned for their work in the European computer game market. High profile projects such as Halo Legends, Call of Duty 4 and Battleforge games – as well as movie trailer scores for The Last King of Scotland, The Bourne Ultimatum and 10,000 B.C. – have won the company numerous prizes and music awards in the past decade.
Pricing and Availability:
ACTION STRINGS runs in KONTAKT 5 or the free KONTAKT PLAYER, and is available now from the NI Online Shop for $339 / 299 € / 33800 ¥. More information:

• www.native-instruments.com/actionstrings

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