Thanks for watching fellow producer 🫂! Get Action Strings 2 here: bit.ly/actionstrings2-onesto What are your thoughts about Action Strings 2, worth it?
I recently bought NI Komplete 14 with AS2. Thanks for your video, very helpful. Especially regarding midi export, this feature isn't very well documented in the manual.
Thanks for watching! AS2 offers such a fantastic jumpstart to a composition. I'm so happy that MIDI export feature was helpful. You really do have to read the manual (which I kind of do) to know that it exists.
That’s a pretty fair assessment of this complex plugin coming from a producer who admitedly, is not rooted in composing classical or neo classical scores. The thing to remember with action strings is its focus on shorter articulations. Yes, they have added some sustained articualtion as well as marcatto (very useful) but no other plugin excels at this stacatto style and is an absolute necessity when composing scores. You wont find this level of detail and flexibility anywhere else and yes i also own Spitfire libraries. As for the reverb and EQ limitations, well we both use seperate plugins for that anyway, so its not an issue. Nice review!
Very very well said. If I had a chance to review this again, I would approach it completely differently. I was definitely out of my depth on this one, but I felt like I represented those producers who love strings but aren't composers in the slightest. Your feedback even helped me see Action Strings in a new and better light. I feel like I have a fuller understanding of the plugin's purpose.
Well I just plopped down for Komplete 13...so I’ll just wait for it to be included in an upgrade. I don’t mind waiting until next June to possibly get this and whatever else they include in Komplete 14.
If strings are not a big part of your sound palette then I would definitely wait for a sale to upgrade to Komplete 14. Have fun messing with all Komplete 13, there's so much great stuff in there. I would even check out Arkhis if you're itching to use something with strings.
@@ThisIsOnesto I get all the string itch scratched with Output Arcade’s Overture line at the moment. I don’t use much strings in my own music as I normally lean towards synths and electric pianos.
@@TeslaOsiris ugh I love arcade. And that overture line is made with spitfire right? They are amazing. I'm taking a break right now, but I can't wait to use them again
@@ThisIsOnesto yea, Overture was made in conjunction with Spitfire. They have a couple newer lines I use a lot: Momento (LoFi jazz mostly), Zero Hour (more futurist, cyberpunky stuff), and Taped (More LoFi meets retrowave)
"Hi, I watched your tutorial where you show how to automatically split MIDI tracks into high and low strings using drag and drop. I'm also using Cubase 12 Pro and would like to export two separate tracks - one for the high strings and one for the low strings. However, it’s not working automatically for me. Are there any specific settings or instruments you’re using that allow Cubase to split it into two tracks? What might I be missing?"
Hmmm, I've never tried writing disco before. It makes sense that you would look to Action Strings for a fast dynamic string. And you can certainly get some nice Staccatos and Staccatisimos in there. However, I have a feeling that you can find a better library for disco strings out there. Action Strings is $299 USD, and although it's very possible to use it in a disco track, I just believe that there's a more affordable choice out there. I looked through my own sound libraries and couldn't find something I recommend for Disco. I wish I could direct you to the perfect library. Maybe check out Spitfire Audio to see if they have some strings better suited for you.
@@ThisIsOnesto Thanks for the reply :) Unfortunately there's not alot of info regarding string arrangement for anything else besides orchestral/cinematic on youtube. Since I dont know music theory and i do everything by ear, I thought the way you can compose with this plugin might help with that.
@@thefunkyborg Yeah i totally get that. How about this, I just remember a producer named Ian Kirkpatrick. He's Dua Lipa's producer. A lot of his videos show how he puts together a track, and there's quite a bit of disco strings. Check out Sol State's channel and search Ian Kirkpatrick. I think should be able to find something you're looking for.
@@thefunkyborg Session Strings 2 from Native Instruments will serve you well for disco/pop strings - it is rather easy to program in classic disco pitch bends.
I'm not sure which plugin you're referring to, but seeing that I don't won anything with "orchestra 2" in its title, I probably can't offer any thoughts on this. Thanks for the question though!
With Action Strings being 299 and TOC2 450. TOC2 by far, you get so much more value. Full Orchestra with lots of articulations. 200-250 multi's. More advanced engine (I think, don't have action strings 2 yet) for arps/rhytms. TOC2 is probably one of the best sketchtools for orchestral music. However, you can get action strings 2 in komplete 14, so if you're planning on getting that anyway .. @This is Onesto The Ochestra is from the same developers (sonuscore). It has a full orchestra and similar engine, but I believe it's more advanced in TOC. But action strings seems to focus more on the phrasing. So very useful tool still. It depends on what you need. But if someone where to get one or the other and not komplete, I would with no doubt reccommend TOC2 over action strings 2.
One Note pressed in Action Strings 2 take the same CPU power as 10 Spitfrie legato patches played simultaneously fast Passages on my Computer. This Library have terrible performance.
Dang, CPU usage was not something I looked into. If Action Strings 2 really uses that much, that's something they hopefully address in an update. And I really love Spitfire. What are some of your favorite libraries?
Action Strings 2 IS designed to be used as a Composition Tool NOT exclusively as an instrument. It ONLY offers instrumentation to provide more usability to the Compositional Function. To believe otherwise... seems painfully naive. EQ? (LOL)
Hey, thanks for watching. Sorry for being too naive, I try not to be whenever I create these videos. I figured Action Strings was a Compositional Tool. That seemed pretty clear. But I figured that others would want to know how it functioned as an instrument, so I decided to talk about it that way to help others know what to expect. Either way, I hope this video could be of use to you, even if I got a few things wrong.
Thanks for watching fellow producer 🫂! Get Action Strings 2 here: bit.ly/actionstrings2-onesto
What are your thoughts about Action Strings 2, worth it?
I recently bought NI Komplete 14 with AS2. Thanks for your video, very helpful. Especially regarding midi export, this feature isn't very well documented in the manual.
Thanks for watching! AS2 offers such a fantastic jumpstart to a composition. I'm so happy that MIDI export feature was helpful. You really do have to read the manual (which I kind of do) to know that it exists.
Thank you, very helpful review
Glad it could help, let me know if you have anymore questions! Are you thinking of picking it up?
That’s a pretty fair assessment of this complex plugin coming from a producer who admitedly, is not rooted in composing classical or neo classical scores. The thing to remember with action strings is its focus on shorter articulations. Yes, they have added some sustained articualtion as well as marcatto (very useful) but no other plugin excels at this stacatto style and is an absolute necessity when composing scores.
You wont find this level of detail and flexibility anywhere else and yes i also own Spitfire libraries. As for the reverb and EQ limitations, well we both use seperate plugins for that anyway, so its not an issue. Nice review!
Very very well said. If I had a chance to review this again, I would approach it completely differently. I was definitely out of my depth on this one, but I felt like I represented those producers who love strings but aren't composers in the slightest.
Your feedback even helped me see Action Strings in a new and better light. I feel like I have a fuller understanding of the plugin's purpose.
Excellent!👍
Well I just plopped down for Komplete 13...so I’ll just wait for it to be included in an upgrade. I don’t mind waiting until next June to possibly get this and whatever else they include in Komplete 14.
If strings are not a big part of your sound palette then I would definitely wait for a sale to upgrade to Komplete 14.
Have fun messing with all Komplete 13, there's so much great stuff in there. I would even check out Arkhis if you're itching to use something with strings.
@@ThisIsOnesto I get all the string itch scratched with Output Arcade’s Overture line at the moment. I don’t use much strings in my own music as I normally lean towards synths and electric pianos.
@@TeslaOsiris ugh I love arcade. And that overture line is made with spitfire right? They are amazing. I'm taking a break right now, but I can't wait to use them again
@@ThisIsOnesto yea, Overture was made in conjunction with Spitfire. They have a couple newer lines I use a lot: Momento (LoFi jazz mostly), Zero Hour (more futurist, cyberpunky stuff), and Taped (More LoFi meets retrowave)
@@TeslaOsiris I used to always reach for Hooked for vocal chops. And the other vocal line called Far Off Voices, something like that
I got it with NI Komplete 14. I have not used it myself, but I've heard some people like it for ostenatos (or should I say Onestonatos).
Hahaha, Onestonatos, that's hilarious. Thanks for watching and for the greatest pun ever!
I luv plugin reviews
Nice! Thanks for checking this review. I do a lot less "reviews" these days, but still always down to show off a plugin.
"Hi, I watched your tutorial where you show how to automatically split MIDI tracks into high and low strings using drag and drop. I'm also using Cubase 12 Pro and would like to export two separate tracks - one for the high strings and one for the low strings. However, it’s not working automatically for me. Are there any specific settings or instruments you’re using that allow Cubase to split it into two tracks? What might I be missing?"
Question everyone: Action Strings 2 vs The Orchestra
Can we achieve the same results?
Not really... perhaps with strings, but the orchestra is not only strings, but a full orchestra. I'd choose the orchestra over as2
Hey mate nice video, do you think it can be used to create disco strings? Thanks in advance!
Hmmm, I've never tried writing disco before. It makes sense that you would look to Action Strings for a fast dynamic string.
And you can certainly get some nice Staccatos and Staccatisimos in there. However, I have a feeling that you can find a better library for disco strings out there. Action Strings is $299 USD, and although it's very possible to use it in a disco track, I just believe that there's a more affordable choice out there.
I looked through my own sound libraries and couldn't find something I recommend for Disco. I wish I could direct you to the perfect library. Maybe check out Spitfire Audio to see if they have some strings better suited for you.
@@ThisIsOnesto Thanks for the reply :) Unfortunately there's not alot of info regarding string arrangement for anything else besides orchestral/cinematic on youtube. Since I dont know music theory and i do everything by ear, I thought the way you can compose with this plugin might help with that.
@@thefunkyborg Yeah i totally get that.
How about this, I just remember a producer named Ian Kirkpatrick. He's Dua Lipa's producer. A lot of his videos show how he puts together a track, and there's quite a bit of disco strings.
Check out Sol State's channel and search Ian Kirkpatrick. I think should be able to find something you're looking for.
@@ThisIsOnesto I will check him out, Cheers :)
@@thefunkyborg Session Strings 2 from Native Instruments will serve you well for disco/pop strings - it is rather easy to program in classic disco pitch bends.
What do you think about the Orchestra 2 compared to this?
I'm not sure which plugin you're referring to, but seeing that I don't won anything with "orchestra 2" in its title, I probably can't offer any thoughts on this. Thanks for the question though!
With Action Strings being 299 and TOC2 450. TOC2 by far, you get so much more value. Full Orchestra with lots of articulations. 200-250 multi's. More advanced engine (I think, don't have action strings 2 yet) for arps/rhytms. TOC2 is probably one of the best sketchtools for orchestral music. However, you can get action strings 2 in komplete 14, so if you're planning on getting that anyway .. @This is Onesto The Ochestra is from the same developers (sonuscore). It has a full orchestra and similar engine, but I believe it's more advanced in TOC. But action strings seems to focus more on the phrasing. So very useful tool still. It depends on what you need. But if someone where to get one or the other and not komplete, I would with no doubt reccommend TOC2 over action strings 2.
I combined this with the orchestral essentials
Nice! That's a solid combination.
SOMebody knows how much is the upgrade from select to standard??
£170 OR LOOK ON NI site for your currency.
Sorry about caps
One Note pressed in Action Strings 2 take the same CPU power as 10 Spitfrie legato patches played simultaneously fast Passages on my Computer. This Library have terrible performance.
Dang, CPU usage was not something I looked into. If Action Strings 2 really uses that much, that's something they hopefully address in an update.
And I really love Spitfire. What are some of your favorite libraries?
Action Strings 2 IS designed to be used as a Composition Tool NOT exclusively as an instrument. It ONLY offers instrumentation to provide more usability to the Compositional Function. To believe otherwise... seems painfully naive.
EQ? (LOL)
Hey, thanks for watching. Sorry for being too naive, I try not to be whenever I create these videos.
I figured Action Strings was a Compositional Tool. That seemed pretty clear. But I figured that others would want to know how it functioned as an instrument, so I decided to talk about it that way to help others know what to expect.
Either way, I hope this video could be of use to you, even if I got a few things wrong.