Native Instruments Session Strings Pro 2 User Guide
MANUAL
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All specifications are subject to change without notice.
Document authored by: Adam Hanley
Software version: 1.0 (05/2018)
Special thanks to the Beta Test Team, who were invaluable not just in tracking down bugs, but
in making this a better product.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1 Welcome to SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 ........................................................................
2 SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 Key Features .......................................................................
2.1 About KONTAKT / KONTAKT PLAYER ............................................................................................. 7
3 The Ten KONTAKT Instruments (.nki Files) ..................................................................
4 Using SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 ..................................................................................
4.1 Main Controls ............................................................................................................................. 11
4.2 Main Window View ...................................................................................................................... 15
4.3 Mixer Window View ..................................................................................................................... 31
4.4 Effects Window View ................................................................................................................... 35
4.5 Settings Window View ................................................................................................................. 42
4.1.1 Smart Voice Split ....................................................................................................... 12
4.1.2 Smart Chord .............................................................................................................. 13
4.2.1 Section Setup ............................................................................................................ 17
4.2.2 Velocity Switch Mode ................................................................................................. 18
4.2.3 Key Switch Mode ........................................................................................................ 19
4.2.4 Rhythm Animator ....................................................................................................... 20
4.2.5 Phrase Animator ........................................................................................................ 25
4.3.1 Channel Strip Controls .............................................................................................. 33
4.3.2 Channel Effects ......................................................................................................... 34
4.4.1 Shape Controls .......................................................................................................... 36
4.4.2 Humanize Controls .................................................................................................... 37
4.4.3 Insert Effects ............................................................................................................. 37
4.4.4 Send Effects .............................................................................................................. 40
4.5.1 Chord Detection ......................................................................................................... 43
4.5.2 Dynamic Control ........................................................................................................ 44
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7
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SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 - Manual - 4
Table of Contents
4.5.3 Pitchbend Setup ........................................................................................................ 45
4.5.4 Memory Management ................................................................................................ 46
4.5.5 Tuning ....................................................................................................................... 47
5 Credits ......................................................................................................................
48
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 - Manual - 5
Welcome to SESSION STRINGS PRO 2
1 Welcome to SESSION STRINGS PRO 2
Thank you for choosing SESSION STRINGS PRO 2.
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 is a huge advancement on the original SESSION STRIGS PRO, updated with a more versatile sound, new features, and an improved interface.
With SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 you have command of a top-notch string ensemble that offers
a diverse number of playing styles, sound varieties, and outstanding sound quality.
We hope you enjoy using SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 and we would be delighted to hear your
feedback and ideas! You can find e-instruments on the web under http://www.e-instru-
ments.com.
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 - Manual - 6
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 Key Features
About KONTAKT / KONTAKT PLAYER
2 SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 Key Features
▪ The SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 sounds were recorded with utmost precision and are de-
signed for maximum flexibility.
▪ All sections were sampled in both a modern seating arrangement and a traditional seating
arrangement, so you can chose the arrangement that suits your work.
▪ SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 features authentic phrases and sound settings for a variety of
different genres. Its intuitive approach lets you quickly produce excellent phrases and arrangements, even if you don’t have prior detailed knowledge of strings arrangement.
▪ SESSION STRINGS PRO 2’s unique Smart Voice Split allocates each note of a chord to
the corresponding string instrument.
▪ The Animators turns chords into authentic phrases while maintaining real-time perform-
ance capabilities. The Animators always follow the played chord and adjusts the phrase to
proper voicing.
▪ A Smart Chord mode lets you play authentic string chords and voicings with just one or two
fingers.
▪ A variety of creative mix and mastering presets provides a scope of inspiring sound images.
2.1 About KONTAKT / KONTAKT PLAYER
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 is an Instrument powered by KONTAKT; you will, therefore, need
KONTAKT or the free KONTAKT PLAYER installed on your computer in order to use SESSION
STRINGS PRO 2. Refer to the KONTAKT/KONTAKT PLAYER documentation to learn how to
load and configure KONTAKT Instruments.
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 - Manual - 7
The Ten KONTAKT Instruments (.nki Files)
3 The Ten KONTAKT Instruments (.nki Files)
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 provides you with ten separate KONTAKT *.nki files, but these can
be broken down into simple categories.
There are two main instrument types:
▪ Individual Instrument Groups – these nkis contain the samples of the two sections of a single
string instrument:
◦ Violins
◦ Violas
◦ Celli
◦ Basses
▪ Ensemble – the ensemble nkis contain a full string orchestra, combining all of the string
sections into one nki.
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 - Manual - 8
The Ten KONTAKT Instruments (.nki Files)
For each nki there are two variations, which define how the sections are seated on the recording stage:
▪ Modern – the sections are spread out wide, but evenly.
The Modern Seating Arrangement
▪ Traditional – the sections are seated more closely, with violins on the left and celli on the
right.
The Traditional Seating Arrangement
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 - Manual - 9
The Ten KONTAKT Instruments (.nki Files)
From a functionality perspective, there are only differences between the Instrument Group nkis
and Ensemble nkis.
Generally speaking the Ensemble nkis have more features, but even then the feature sets are
similar. In this manual features will be described for both and differences will be highlighted
where appropriate.
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 - Manual - 10
Using SESSION STRINGS PRO 2
4 Using SESSION STRINGS PRO 2
This section gives you an overview of the SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 interface and explains
how to use it.
4.1 Main Controls
At the top of the instrument interface you will find the main controls, these are always visible
and control both how the instrument is played and how it sounds.
The exact configuration of controls available depends on the instrument type.
The Main Controls of the Ensemble Interface
Main Controls
The Main Controls of the Instrument Group Interface
All instrument types have the Mode menu, which can be used to set how the instrument plays:
▪ All instruments have the Key Switch and Velocity Switch modes, which allow you to play
and switch between articulations manually.
▪ The Ensemble instruments also have the Rhythm Animator and Phrase Animator modes,
which give you the ability to play back realistic and complex phrases by only holding a note
or chord.
Details on how to use the different modes, and their controls, can be found here: ↑4.2, Main
Window View
The Sound menu in the Ensemble interface and the Presets menu from the Instrument Groups
each allow you to select a preset configuration of the sections, mixer, and effects. In essence
these allow you to quickly change how the overall instrument sounds.
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 - Manual - 11
Using SESSION STRINGS PRO 2
The Ensemble interface has two additional sections that control the ensemble voicing:
▪ Smart Voice Split – a system that divides the notes you play between the different sections
of the ensemble.
▪ Smart Chord – a system that creates chords from single notes.
Both of these will be described in more detail in the following sections.
4.1.1 Smart Voice Split
The Smart Voice Split system splits the notes you play across the sections in a realistic manner. For example, if you play a C major 7th chord, it might assign C to the basses, E to the celli,
G to the violas, and B to the violins (depending on the range in which you play the chord).
The Smart Voice Split system will also work out the root note of the chord you are playing and
assign that to the Bass section.
This system avoids a problem often found in string sample libraries where the size of the ensemble changes depending on the number of notes you are playing. For example, playing one
note triggers 4 violins, but an additional note also triggers 4 violins, so suddenly you go from 4
violins to 8 violins, then 12, then 16, and so on.
Main Controls
If you do not wish to use the Smart Voice Split system, you can turn it off and the ensemble
will play like a more traditional sampled string instrument.
Editing Key Ranges
When Smart Voice Split is turned off, new controls are revealed on the Main Window view that
allow you to assign the ranges of the different sections.
► To view the Key Range editor, click on the Keyboard icon to the lower left side of the en-
semble view.
The Key Range Editor
In this view you can set the key-split points. The instrument groups are then blended from one
to the other at these points. In the above example, the violas will blend into the violins around
C3.
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 - Manual - 12
Using SESSION STRINGS PRO 2
Each group’s key range has a color:
▪ Basses – orange.
▪ Celli – Yellow.
▪ Violas – Green.
▪ Violins – Blue.
These colors are also displayed on KONTAKT’s virtual keyboard, as well as the KOMPLETE
KONTROL keyboards (if you have loaded the instrument in the KOMPLETE KONTROL software).
The Virtual Keyboard
You can also see here where the different sections blend. For example, the blend between
Basses (orange) and Celli (yellow) is a lighter shade of orange.
► To set your own key-split points, click and drag on the sliders.
Main Controls
4.1.2 Smart Chord
The Smart Chord function lets you play chords by pressing one or two keys on your external
MIDI controller keyboard.
► To activate the Smart Chord function, click the power button next to the text Smart
Chord.
Now you can set up the Smart Chord function:
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 - Manual - 13
Using SESSION STRINGS PRO 2
► Open the Smart Chord setup window by clicking the chord button beside the Smart Chord
text.
Main Controls
Smart Chord Setup Window
The chords defined by root note and chord map will automatically be assigned to the (“white”)
keys on your controller keyboard, starting with the C key.
If you select “F” as root note and “major” as gender, pressing the C key on your keyboard will
therefore create an F major chord.
► Use the ROOT menu and CHORD SETS buttons to select the key for the smart chords.
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 - Manual - 14
Using SESSION STRINGS PRO 2
Main Window View
Now you can play the resulting chords by pressing the respective key on your external keyboard
controller. If you don't additionally press a modifier key, the degrees of the selected scale are
used. These already include chord inversions.
The exact voicing of the chords is set using the VOICING options:
▪ Wide – the notes of the chord will be spread out.
▪ Close – the notes of the chord will be clustered near each other.
By additionally pressing a modifier key—the “black” keys—you can further modify the resulting chords.
If you use Smart Chord in conjunction with the Animator, it may sometimes happen that pressing a
modifier key yields no or only a slight change. This depends on the harmonic structure of the Animator phrase that you want to modify.
Memory Key-Switches
If your project shifts between different keys, you can use the memory slots to switch between
chord sets using key-switches.
You have access to four memory slots, which can be selected either by clicking on the buttons
on the interface, or by pressing the corresponding key-switch.
Changes made to the chord sets are automatically saved in the selected memory slot.
You will need to save the nki or Snapshot to recall these changes after closing KONTAKT.
4.2 Main Window View
► Click the MAIN button at the bottom of the interface to bring up the Main Window View.
SESSION STRINGS PRO 2 - Manual - 15
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