Best Service releases Emotional Violin for Kontakt Player

Best Service has announced the release of Emotional Violin for Kontakt and the free Kontakt Player.

Emotional Violin has been recorded throughout in a musical context to capture the expressiveness and natural bowing of real instrumentalists. The intelligent scripting enables more than 50 different playing styles and True Legato, making this library extremely versatile. In addition to the usual playing styles and articulations, the Emotional Violin also features techniques such as:

• Paganini Run (Legato).
• Morbid Sustain.
• Riccochet.
• Flautando.
• Sulponti.
• Double Stopped Chords.

Contextual Sampling
Best Service say "Our philosophy during the recordings is called "Contextual Sampling". In order to find the perfect sound, various string instruments were recorded over a period of four years. We came to the conclusion that no technique comes even close to the actual and natural vibrato of a trained musician. The sampling of real vibrato of course has some conceptual drawbacks, but these recordings are always more inspiring and organic than adding an artificial vibrato. So our goal was to perfectly capture these musical aspects and combine them into a great sounding and easy to play instrument."

This sound is rounded off by a multitude of articulations. Thus, different phrases, turns, variations, bars and closing notes can be used as actually independent phrasings without having to repeat themselves. So that these sounds and articulations can be used appropriately to the context, respective keyswitches such as Delicate Fast, Vivid or Moderate have been added.

Emotional Violin also offers unusual articulations that Best Service say you won't find in any other library. Simply select from one of the following:

• Normal Sustains with and without Vibrato.
• Multiple Progressive Vibratos.
• Multiple Espressivo.
• Flautando.
• Sul Ponticello.
• Morbid Sustains.
• Harmonics.
• Multiple Spiccatos.
• Staccato.
• Marcato.
• Tremolo.
• Tremolo Sul Ponticello.
• Multiple Trills.
• Pizzicato.
• Pizzicato Snap.
• Paganini Pizzicato.
• Scratches.
• Piazolla FX.
• Diverse Violin Effects.
• Violin Percussions.

This library also features technical refinements such as Rebowing, which allows you to switch between bow strokes using the Keyswitch - extremely useful for long sustains. The Vibrato Crossfade works in a similar way, allowing you to easily fade from non-vibrato to vibrato.

The Recording
The Emotional Violin was recorded at the Mastermix Studio near Munich in a wood-panelled room with a large ceiling height and the greatest possible distance to the wall. For maximum flexibility, two Neumann KM184 and U87 microphones were deliberately used to record closely. Therefore the room amount is quite subtle and you can use your own effects for further processing. However, you can also use the integrated Convolution Reverb.

Emotional Violin has three True Legato Master Patches, including the "Romantic Violin" and the "Intimate Violin". These contain about 80% of all recorded articulations, which logically overlap. If, for example, you play an opening note that of course has no legato, you will only hear one note with a natural string opening. As soon as you play legato or sustain notes, you will hear a note that originates from the corresponding context of the original recordings.

In addition, the library contains more than 70 articulations, which are grouped into categories and are available as multi-keyswitch patches - everything from simple sustains to dynamic crossfades between four layers is included. So if you don't want to work with keyswitches, this way of working is perfect for you.

To ensure the highest possible liveliness, many variations contain up to 9 Round Robins.

Emotional Violin is the second virtual instrument in this series, produced by Harmonic Subtones, the makers of Emotional Cello. Registered users of Emotional Cello are eligible of purchasing the Crossgrade at a reduced price.

Pricing & Availability

Emotional Violin is available now as box or download product at Best Service and participating key dealers:

• Best Service, Emotional Violin: MSRP € 199 / $ 199 / £ 175.
• Best Service, Emotional Violin Crossgrade: MSRP € 159 / $ 159 /£ 139.