Synth Strings
Key Features
- Five patches sampled from a real ARP Solina String Ensemble, covering strings, brass, and blended ensemble voices
- Built-in expression and dynamics controls with adjustable reverb and a tightness knob for instant tone shaping
- Sampled modulation presets that add movement and width beyond the original hardware's ensemble effect
- Processed pad patches designed for ambient, cinematic, and electronic production
- Runs inside the Spitfire Audio App with support for VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats
- Compatible with Windows 10/11 and macOS 10.15 through macOS 13 on both Intel and Apple Silicon
Description
Synth Strings is a sampled instrument from Spitfire Audio's LABS series that recreates the sound of the iconic ARP Solina String Ensemble from 1974. The Solina's swirling, chorus-drenched tones appeared on records by The Eagles, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Joy Division, and the original Blade Runner soundtrack.
Recorded at Spitfire HQ by Harry Wilson and Hannah Roberts-Owen, the library captures five distinct patches: Classic Strings, Classic Brass, Strings & Brass Pad, Brass Pad, and Classic Strings & Brass. Each patch delivers a different blend of the Solina's string and brass voices, from delicate shimmer to full-bodied ensemble warmth.
The sound ranges from fuzzy, warm vibrations to bright stabs that cut through a mix. Built-in controls for expression, dynamics, reverb, and a tightness knob let you shape each patch without reaching for external processing.
Sampled modulation and processed pad presets push the instrument beyond vintage territory. The modulated textures work equally well under a Herbie Hancock-inspired funk groove or layered into a cinematic ambient bed.
Synth Strings runs inside the Spitfire Audio App (now part of Splice INSTRUMENT) and supports VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX formats on both Windows and macOS. The download weighs 1.90 GB.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a string synth and how does Synth Strings recreate one?
A string synth (or string machine) is a type of keyboard from the 1970s that used divide-down oscillators and chorus effects to simulate orchestral strings. Synth Strings captures the sound of the ARP Solina String Ensemble by sampling the original hardware, preserving its characteristic warmth, chorus, and ensemble width in a modern plugin format.
Does Synth Strings require Kontakt or any third-party sampler?
No. Synth Strings runs inside the Spitfire Audio App, which is a standalone sample player that also works as a VST2, VST3, AU, or AAX plugin. You download the Spitfire Audio App first, then install the Synth Strings library from within it.
How does Synth Strings compare to a full Solina emulation like Arturia Solina V?
Synth Strings provides five ready-to-play sampled patches from a real Solina, while Arturia Solina V is a full physical model with per-voice control, paraphonic mode, and deep sound design options. Synth Strings is ideal for quickly dropping authentic Solina tones into a mix, whereas Solina V offers more flexibility for sound design.
Can I use Synth Strings for genres beyond disco and retro music?
Absolutely. The processed pad presets and modulation options push the sound into ambient, electronic, and cinematic territory. The Blade Runner-style textures and warm brass pads work well in synthwave, lo-fi, film scoring, and any production that benefits from lush analog-style string layers.
