Sonuscore Strings of Winter VST Review

What is Strings of Winter?

Strings of Winter by Sonuscore is a stunningly authentic plugin that features a 41-piece European string orchestra and the unique Mongolian State Morin Khuur Ensemble. The Strings of Winter library is also included in Sonuscore's The Orchestra Complete 4 ($479)

Sonuscore describes Strings of Winter's sound as:

"Arctic plains. Shimmering glaciers. Far-reaching steppes. A one-of-a-kind instrument that perfectly captures the spirit of rough, untamed and raw landscapes. An absolutely honest and atypical new sound that portrays scenes of fragile, cold isolation as perfectly as icy and unbridled power."

What is a Morin Khuur?

The Morin Khuur (also known as the Horsehead Fiddle) is the national instrument of Mongolia. It is characterized by its 2 strings made from nylon or horse tail hairs and its distinct design that resembles the head of a horse. The Morin Khuur is known for its powerful sound that can resemble the whinny of a horse.

Strings of Winter Key Features

Sound Library

• Library Size: Strings of Winter features 60 articulations across 7 sections with an additional 4 instruments that have String Ensemble FX. There are 142 presets within Strings of Winter, but with customization, you can achieve 4,700+ individual samples.
• Microphone Positions: Concert Hall (1/2), Medium Hall (1/2), Small Hall (1/2), Recording Stage (1/2), Cathedral, and Plate.
• Midi Export: You can compose melodies using Sonuscore's engine within Strings of Winter and then export all of the MIDI information directly into your DAW.
• Ensemble Engine: Another big feature of Strings of Winter (The Orchestra Complete 4 works the same way too) is the Ensemble Engine. The engine uses multiple independent arpeggiators, and velocity envelopes to create interactive arrangements and rhythms from any combination of notes. As opposed to a pre-recorded rhythm, the Ensemble Engine allows you to build an entire orchestra section using Sonuscore's critically acclaimed engine that allows up to 5 different instruments to play independently at the same time.

Interface & Usability

Strings of Winter and The Orchestra Complete 4 both require Kontakt 8 (you can use the free Kontakt 8 Player), meaning you can use it fully standalone–although it may take a few extra minutes to set up initially.

• User Interface: The interface is appealing and easy to use.
• Preset Management: There are 142 presets that capture the sounds of a real string ensemble beautifully. You can search and star your favorite presets for easy recall.
• Customization Options: Every instrument, effect, and section has a multitude of customization options for sound design.
• Learning Curve: Strings of Winter is initially very simple to use and beginner-friendly, although as you explore through customization, it begins to open up a lot more options that you might not notice immediately.

Technical Specifications

• Engine: Runs through Kontakt 8 Player (6.0.4 or higher)
• Mac Requirements: Mac OSX.10.10 or higher, Intel Core 2 Duo
• Windows Requirements: Windows 7 or higher, Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD AthlonTM 64 X2
• System Requirements: 4GB Ram and at least 5.7GB of storage free

Sound Quality

Overall, we were very impressed by the quality of sounds that come from Strings of Winter, Sonuscore are the creators of the critically acclaimed Orchestra Complete series, so it's no surprise that Strings of Winter sounds exactly like your own digital orchestra.

Value For Your Money

At $149, Strings of Winter may come across as an investment in the VST market–although without a doubt, Strings of Winter is the best Morin Khuur plugin available.

If you regularly use orchestral tones, whether it's for music, film, or production, you can't go wrong with Strings of Winter or any of The Orchestra Complete plugins.

Strings of Winter - Preset Examples

Watch the video on Sonuscore's YouTube channel below to listen to a demo of different presets from Strings of Winter.

Final Verdict

Pros

• Fully authentic Morin Khuur and Orchestral tones
• Powerful, critically-acclaimed Ensemble Engine
• Convenient MIDI export feature
• Widely customizable tones

Cons

• Setup requires a few extra steps and requires free version of Kontakt 8

Bottom Line

Overall, Strings of Winter is a very impressive and incredibly realistic Orchestra plugin from a tried-and-true developer.

Where to get Strings of Winter?

Official Price: $149

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