Liminal: Abstract Strings

The deal

$55.97 at Loot Audio (down from $79.95), 30% off. No coupon needed. Deal runs through July 31, 2026.

What it is

Liminal: Abstract Strings is a Kontakt instrument from Crocus Soundware, built from deeply recorded viola samples captured with large-diaphragm condenser microphones placed centimeters from the instrument's sound-holes, fingerboard, and bridge. The articulations are aleatoric, long, and evolving rather than tightly performed, ranging from solo viola to small ensembles and large sections of 20+ players. Instead of fast runs or soaring melodic lines, it leans toward naturalistic pads with humanistic detail and creative imperfection baked into the samples.

Who it's for

Composers and sound designers building cinematic textures, ambient beds, or unsettling atmospheres who want organic, breathy string tone instead of the polish of a traditional orchestral library.

Key features

• The interface lets you layer, mix, and reverse articulations to build custom textures from the raw samples
• A crossfade gizmo blends sound layers together with intuitive, color-coded controls
• Built-in LFOs can sync to your DAW's tempo, unlocking tempo-synced swells and continuously evolving modulation
• Requires the full version of Kontakt 6.7 or higher; it is not compatible with the free Kontakt Player