Eastwest has been known as a major player in the sample library industry for decades now. With their Hollywood Orchestra lineup, they created a long-lasting benchmark for orchestral sample libraries, adding several exciting new chapters over the last couple of years. When the new Hollywood Strings 2 was announced a couple of weeks ago, it took the composer community by surprise. Given the success of its flagship predecessor, composers were excited to learn more about what this new edition brings to the table. EastWest’s impressive new release, Hollywood Strings 2, promises the same deep sampling and flexibility as its predecessors but adds a more intimate and direct-sounding approach to the string recordings.
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Hollywood Strings 2 features a 21-piece chamber string ensemble, with 6 first violins, 4 second violins, 4 violas, 4 celli, and 3 basses. Produced by the award-winning co-founders of EastWest, Doug Rogers, Nick Phoenix, and sound engineer Shawn Murphy, this ensemble was recorded in EastWest’s own Studio 2, which is known for its tight and intimate acoustics. This particular sonic quality of the studio was famously utilized in the past by Metallica, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, and many more.
EastWest Studio 2 – Photo by EastWest
Hollywood Strings 2 provides composers with a rich variety of detailed articulations. These include classic options like sustains, flautando, tremolo, staccato, spiccato, marcato, and pizzicato, as well as the less common sampled detache. It also features multiple legato transitions, including bow changes, slurs, portamento, and highly responsive playable runs.
Focusing on a proper intimate sonic signature, these techniques have been captured in great detail using a comprehensive array of six microphones. Using innovative recording techniques, the instruments were mic’d closer than ever before, capturing every granular detail of each bow stroke. From ultra close to distant surround positions, composers can shape the sonic signature as they desire.
Hollywood Strings 2 Cello – Photo by EastWest
Hollywood Strings 2 is available as a standalone license and as part of the ComposerCloud+ subscription. The installation process is simple and involves the EastWest Installation Center application that handles the download and disk space management. Given its extensive sampling, the full library requires a significant amount of space: 160 GB after the installation. Luckily, the library also offers the possibility to download individual instruments as needed. Moreover, audio previews within the plugin allow users to make a selection before actually downloading anything.
INTERFACE
Hollywood Strings 2 operates within the fast and efficient OPUS engine, delivering an intuitive yet sophisticated user experience suitable for both beginners and seasoned professionals. The engine is organized into four main tabs, simplifying access to various sections, articulations, and microphone positions. It includes features such as key switching, custom articulation loading, and real-time adjustments for dynamics and expression.
A standout feature of the OPUS engine, introduced with the Hollywood Orchestra, is the Mood functionality. This feature offers three distinct tonal options: Classic, Soft, and Epic, allowing users to quickly tailor the orchestra’s sound to match the mood of their composition. It adjusts settings like microphone mix, reverb, scripts, and MIDI parameters to achieve the desired tone.
All these features and functions of the OPUS engine were discussed in detail in our previous Hollywood Orchestra review, so feel free to check that out if you want to know more about the engine.
Hollywood Strings 2 Interface
THE SOUND OF HOLLYWOOD STRINGS 2
The recording techniques, microphone placement, and acoustics of EastWest Studio 2 give this library a unique sound. Users will immediately notice the strings have a distinct and sharp sonic signature. The developers aimed to create an intimate library that could easily stand out in mixes and intentionally aimed for a brighter sound to avoid a subdued feel. The result is a highly detailed yet very dry library. Although OPUS applies some reverb to all patches by default, removing it reveals the true dry nature of the recordings, which is beneficial for composers who prefer to apply their reverb to the samples.
Beyond the sound quality mentioned above, the library offers a vivid expressiveness: most articulations offer 3 to 4 dynamic layers. The resulting range of expression is different from the original Hollywood Strings. While the latter conveys emotion and warmth through its romantic vibrato sound (reminiscent of the golden era of movie scores), Hollywood Strings 2 is more akin to contemporary soundtracks: a slightly colder, closer, more defined sound. This renders Hollywood Strings 2 particularly useful as a layering library, to add intimacy, bow noise, and definition. Used on its own though, I feel the library tends to lean naturally towards a modern neoclassical soundscape, which is featured in many TV series nowadays. This also shows in the recorded legato techniques: in comparison to the original Hollywood Strings, they tend to sound a bit more precise and clinical.
Users can fine-tune the sound using the OPUS Mood selector, which offers three distinct settings: Soft, Classic, and Epic. Each mood adjusts various parameters such as compression, saturation, and microphone mix to achieve the desired tone.
The OPUS player is highly efficient and well-optimized, running smoothly without resource allocation issues. Additionally, the ability to purge samples makes it flexible and suitable for use on lower-end computers.
Hollywood Strings 2 Mood Selection
Here is a demo showcasing some of the long techniques, a mix of sustains and flautando, along with a touch of bow change legato for the first violins:
Click on the button to load the content from soundcloud.com.
As a side note, this excerpt was initially played using the “Full String Ensemble” patch. This patch is super useful for trying out ideas, as the orchestration is automatic and the full string family is spread over the keyboard’s octaves. Once sketched out, the notes were then copied to individual patches for more control and character.
Here is another demo highlighting the short techniques to better showcase the microphone signals. I used the shorts MOD patches here, which allow you to switch between spiccato, staccato, and marcato using the mod wheel, making it very easy to get a musical result:
Click on the button to load the content from soundcloud.com.
Here again, a mix of close, mid-field, and surround signals were used, although the focus was put on close signals this time. The result shows how intimate and dry the library can sound.
A second render was done as a comparison, with a send to Seventh Heaven Mechanics Halls reverb, for a more cinematic result:
Click on the button to load the content from soundcloud.com.
EastWest’s Hollywood Strings 2 was quite a surprise for several reasons. Not only was there a significant time gap since the original release, but we also didn’t expect this new version to be such a stylistic departure from its predecessor. EastWest clearly chose to focus on a sharp and intimate sound. The library tends to naturally lean towards a closer, colder, ultra-detailed sound palette. As a result, on its own Hollywood Strings 2 could be an excellent contender to score vivid neoclassical, tense, or even horror music styles.
For those who own the original Hollywood Strings, the pristine and detailed sound of this new library is highly useful for layering. With its extensive range of techniques and robust microphone signal array, Hollywood Strings 2 is a valuable addition to any composer’s template, especially for scoring contemporary media.
Pros
Detailed and sharp sound
Solid selection of microphone positions
Efficient and reliable OPUS player
Cons
Legato transitions can sound a bit too sterile
RECOMMENDED: 8/10
Hollywood Strings 2 is available for purchase directly from the EastWest website for $299 (regular price: $399). Owners of the Hollywood Orchestra Opus Edition or the Hollywood Fantasy Orchestra can crossgrade to the new Hollywood Strings 2 for $249. Hollywood Strings 2 is also available through EastWest’s ComposerCloud subscription service, which provides access to their entire catalog for a monthly fee starting at $19.99.
HOLLYWOOD STRINGS 2 – VIDEO WALKTHROUGH
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Eastwest has been known as a major player in the sample library industry for decades now. With their Hollywood Orchestra lineup, they created a long-lasting benchmark for orchestral sample libraries, adding several exciting new chapters over the last couple of years. When the new Hollywood Strings 2 was announced a couple of weeks ago, it took the composer community by surprise. Given the success of its flagship predecessor, composers were excited to learn more about what this new edition brings to the table. EastWest’s impressive new release, Hollywood Strings 2, promises the same deep sampling and flexibility as its predecessors but adds a more intimate and direct-sounding approach to the string recordings.
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more
Load video
OVERVIEW
Hollywood Strings 2 features a 21-piece chamber string ensemble, with 6 first violins, 4 second violins, 4 violas, 4 celli, and 3 basses. Produced by the award-winning co-founders of EastWest, Doug Rogers, Nick Phoenix, and sound engineer Shawn Murphy, this ensemble was recorded in EastWest’s own Studio 2, which is known for its tight and intimate acoustics. This particular sonic quality of the studio was famously utilized in the past by Metallica, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, and many more.
Hollywood Strings 2 provides composers with a rich variety of detailed articulations. These include classic options like sustains, flautando, tremolo, staccato, spiccato, marcato, and pizzicato, as well as the less common sampled detache. It also features multiple legato transitions, including bow changes, slurs, portamento, and highly responsive playable runs.
Focusing on a proper intimate sonic signature, these techniques have been captured in great detail using a comprehensive array of six microphones. Using innovative recording techniques, the instruments were mic’d closer than ever before, capturing every granular detail of each bow stroke. From ultra close to distant surround positions, composers can shape the sonic signature as they desire.
Hollywood Strings 2 is available as a standalone license and as part of the ComposerCloud+ subscription. The installation process is simple and involves the EastWest Installation Center application that handles the download and disk space management. Given its extensive sampling, the full library requires a significant amount of space: 160 GB after the installation. Luckily, the library also offers the possibility to download individual instruments as needed. Moreover, audio previews within the plugin allow users to make a selection before actually downloading anything.
INTERFACE
Hollywood Strings 2 operates within the fast and efficient OPUS engine, delivering an intuitive yet sophisticated user experience suitable for both beginners and seasoned professionals. The engine is organized into four main tabs, simplifying access to various sections, articulations, and microphone positions. It includes features such as key switching, custom articulation loading, and real-time adjustments for dynamics and expression.
A standout feature of the OPUS engine, introduced with the Hollywood Orchestra, is the Mood functionality. This feature offers three distinct tonal options: Classic, Soft, and Epic, allowing users to quickly tailor the orchestra’s sound to match the mood of their composition. It adjusts settings like microphone mix, reverb, scripts, and MIDI parameters to achieve the desired tone.
All these features and functions of the OPUS engine were discussed in detail in our previous Hollywood Orchestra review, so feel free to check that out if you want to know more about the engine.
THE SOUND OF HOLLYWOOD STRINGS 2
The recording techniques, microphone placement, and acoustics of EastWest Studio 2 give this library a unique sound. Users will immediately notice the strings have a distinct and sharp sonic signature. The developers aimed to create an intimate library that could easily stand out in mixes and intentionally aimed for a brighter sound to avoid a subdued feel. The result is a highly detailed yet very dry library. Although OPUS applies some reverb to all patches by default, removing it reveals the true dry nature of the recordings, which is beneficial for composers who prefer to apply their reverb to the samples.
Beyond the sound quality mentioned above, the library offers a vivid expressiveness: most articulations offer 3 to 4 dynamic layers. The resulting range of expression is different from the original Hollywood Strings. While the latter conveys emotion and warmth through its romantic vibrato sound (reminiscent of the golden era of movie scores), Hollywood Strings 2 is more akin to contemporary soundtracks: a slightly colder, closer, more defined sound. This renders Hollywood Strings 2 particularly useful as a layering library, to add intimacy, bow noise, and definition. Used on its own though, I feel the library tends to lean naturally towards a modern neoclassical soundscape, which is featured in many TV series nowadays. This also shows in the recorded legato techniques: in comparison to the original Hollywood Strings, they tend to sound a bit more precise and clinical.
Users can fine-tune the sound using the OPUS Mood selector, which offers three distinct settings: Soft, Classic, and Epic. Each mood adjusts various parameters such as compression, saturation, and microphone mix to achieve the desired tone.
The OPUS player is highly efficient and well-optimized, running smoothly without resource allocation issues. Additionally, the ability to purge samples makes it flexible and suitable for use on lower-end computers.
Here is a demo showcasing some of the long techniques, a mix of sustains and flautando, along with a touch of bow change legato for the first violins:
Click on the button to load the content from soundcloud.com.
Load content
For this demo, a mix of microphone signals was used, including close, mid-field, and surround.
As a comparison, I also rendered the same demo with an added reverb send (Seventh Heaven Mechanics Hall), for some cinematic ambience:
Click on the button to load the content from soundcloud.com.
Load content
As a side note, this excerpt was initially played using the “Full String Ensemble” patch. This patch is super useful for trying out ideas, as the orchestration is automatic and the full string family is spread over the keyboard’s octaves. Once sketched out, the notes were then copied to individual patches for more control and character.
Here is another demo highlighting the short techniques to better showcase the microphone signals. I used the shorts MOD patches here, which allow you to switch between spiccato, staccato, and marcato using the mod wheel, making it very easy to get a musical result:
Click on the button to load the content from soundcloud.com.
Load content
Here again, a mix of close, mid-field, and surround signals were used, although the focus was put on close signals this time. The result shows how intimate and dry the library can sound.
A second render was done as a comparison, with a send to Seventh Heaven Mechanics Halls reverb, for a more cinematic result:
Click on the button to load the content from soundcloud.com.
Load content
CONCLUSION
EastWest’s Hollywood Strings 2 was quite a surprise for several reasons. Not only was there a significant time gap since the original release, but we also didn’t expect this new version to be such a stylistic departure from its predecessor. EastWest clearly chose to focus on a sharp and intimate sound. The library tends to naturally lean towards a closer, colder, ultra-detailed sound palette. As a result, on its own Hollywood Strings 2 could be an excellent contender to score vivid neoclassical, tense, or even horror music styles.
For those who own the original Hollywood Strings, the pristine and detailed sound of this new library is highly useful for layering. With its extensive range of techniques and robust microphone signal array, Hollywood Strings 2 is a valuable addition to any composer’s template, especially for scoring contemporary media.
Pros
Cons
RECOMMENDED: 8/10
Hollywood Strings 2 is available for purchase directly from the EastWest website for $299 (regular price: $399). Owners of the Hollywood Orchestra Opus Edition or the Hollywood Fantasy Orchestra can crossgrade to the new Hollywood Strings 2 for $249. Hollywood Strings 2 is also available through EastWest’s ComposerCloud subscription service, which provides access to their entire catalog for a monthly fee starting at $19.99.
HOLLYWOOD STRINGS 2 – VIDEO WALKTHROUGH
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HOLLYWOOD STRINGS 2 – BEHIND THE SCENES
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