Six-String Virtual Instrument For CreamWare DSP Platform

Electric Model View (Click for a close-up)

Acoustic Model View (Click for a close-up)

At the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim CreamWare presents the Six-String, a new virtual instrument for the SCOPE Fusion Platform systems.

Thanks to a new, patented physical modelling technique, Six-String produces string instrument sounds with realism. Although its focus is on acoustic and electric guitar sounds, the Six-String can easily emulate other stringed instruments as well - from acoustic and electric basses to harps, dulcimers, sitars and various ethnic instruments. And because of its extensive editing capabilities, completely new sounds not based on existing instruments, sounds beyond even string emulation, can also easily be produced. From soft, woodblock-like sounds to metallic, bell-like effects - all fall within the spectrum of the Six-String.

The fundamental Six-String sound production technology was developed by Dr. Rudolf Rabenstein and Dr. Lutz Trautmann at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. Their new mathematical approach for the first time models a "genuine" string, with all its physical characteristics, in real time. Multiple factors - string diameter and tension, rigidity and excitation type etc. - are editable and have exactly the same influence over the sound as in the real world. And because the Six-String was developed specifically with guitar emulation in mind, parameters to emulate other characteristics, such as an acoustic guitar body or electric guitar pickup, are also implemented.

With all the possibilities for direct control of the Six-String, a high value was put on making sure its operation is intuitive. The user simply selects from among different string types (steel, nylon, special bass strings) and the position and type of string excitation (plectrum, fingernail, fingertip). The user can also select from among various body profiles, adjust two virtual pick-ups, control the slap behavior, and much more.

An effects section that includes a guitar amp in addition to chorus and delay effects rounds off the sound generation capabilities. An tube simulation section allows for amplifier characteristics from smooth and round to heavy overdrive.

The Six-String comes with over 250 sounds reflecting the broad sonic spectrum of the instrument and covering a wide range of musical styles.

The Six-String is available now in the CreamWare Online Shop or at CreamWare dealers worldwide. The price is 249 Euro (introductory price of 199 Euro until 28 February, 2003). A free demo version can be downloaded from the Online Shop at www.creamware.com. The plug-in requires one of CreamWare's Luna, PowerSampler, Pulsar, Pulsar XTC or SCOPE /SP DSP systems to run.