A comprehensive solo viola sample library for Kontakt Player, featuring three instruments, 38 articulations, true legato, and extensive sound-shaping tools for realistic performances.
Instrument Overview
Chris Hein – Solo Viola EXtended is a detailed sample library dedicated to the viola, including three distinct solo instruments: a standard solo viola, a Canadian viola, and a French viola. These were recorded dry with close miking to allow flexible placement in any acoustic environment.
The library contains over 20,000 samples with up to 38 articulations and eight velocity layers. All samples are phase-aligned to ensure smooth crossfades, and the pitch range extends to G5. It runs on Kontakt Player 5.6.8 or newer, with a library size of about 5.5 GB.
Key Capabilities
The instrument offers four legato transition types, including true legato in up to four dynamic layers. A Note Head Designer provides 102 attack shapes, allowing you to match short notes with sustain articulations for realistic attack and release behavior. These short variations are available in eight dynamic layers.
Special effect articulations such as flautando, flageolets, and ponticello are included, expanding the sound palette for experimental and cinematic work. An Ensemble Maker can turn the solo instrument into an ensemble using all articulations, and pre-made multis offer detuned, stereo-widened ensemble effects.
Workflow and Performance
The custom Kontakt interface includes four dynamic modes, key vibrato, hot keys, and articulation presets that facilitate live-style playing. Keyswitch presets are pre-programmed at the lower keyboard range, allowing immediate play without deep editing.
A modular loading approach lets you start with a clean configuration containing only a sustain variation, then add articulations as needed. This reduces memory use and load times, making the library suitable for mobile or compact production systems. The twin convolution reverb sections, for body and room, provide adjustable acoustics from close to concert hall.
Practical Applications
This viola is suitable for solo performances, ensemble writing, and a wide range of genres including classical, film scores, gypsy-jazz, folk, and pop ballads. The expressive articulations and dynamic control support authentic phrasing in melodic lines.
For sound design and experimental music, the effect articulations and tenfold DSP effects rack allow the creation of textured clusters, atmospheres, and surreal soundscapes. The dry recording nature ensures the instrument mixes well with other libraries, and the configurable setup adapts to different compositional workflows.
Key features
- Three solo viola instruments with unique sounds
- Over 20,000 phase-aligned samples and 38 articulations
- Four legato transitions with true legato in four dynamic layers
- Note Head Designer with 102 attack shapes for short notes
- Special effects like flautando, flageolets, and ponticello
- Ensemble Maker and pre-set multis for ensemble effects
- Modular loading for efficient memory usage
Best for
Best for composers and sound designers who need a versatile solo viola with deep articulation control and realistic performance. It excels in classical, film scoring, and experimental genres, offering both expressive solo play and ensemble possibilities. Its dry sound and effects make it ideal for sound design and mixing with other libraries.