Free Arturia plugin: hybrid strings instrument kicks off ‘Augmented’ software series

Arturia Augmented Strings Intro
(Image credit: Arturia)

Arturia has kicked off its new ‘Augmented’ music software series with a free plugin, Augmented Strings Intro. This hybrid instrument combines sampled strings with synth engines to create “an entirely new sonic experience”.

Each preset in Augmented Strings Intro features up to four layers - any combination of string samples, virtual analogue, wavetable, harmonic and granular synthesis. You can morph between layers with a dedicated control, which also adjusts multiple parameters simultaneously.

Augmented Strings Intro’s GUI is based on streamlined macro controls that “intelligently alter” your sound, which should make tweaking a breeze.

The Augmented Series is designed to offer a fresh approach to acoustic instruments in software, blending sampling, synthesis and expression control. It’s designed for creating modern-day sounds that are suitable for today’s producers.

We’ll find out more about specific releases in due course - a more advanced version of Augmented Strings seems a certainty - and you can download Augmented Strings Intro for free until 30 April via the Arturia website.

Ben Rogerson

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it. 

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