Studio Strings

User Guide
English

Manual Version 1.1

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the AIR Studio Strings plugin instrument. AIR Studio Strings is the brand-new orchestral
strings instrument, bringing the rich and elegant sounds of orchestral, chamber, and solo strings inside your MPC.
Create beautifully articulated masterpieces from a powerful sampled library featuring combined and individual
strings, including Violin, Cello, Bass, and Viola.
This instrument includes:
• Advanced four-part, sample-based string ensemble engine.
• Orchestral, chamber, and solo sample sets.
• Unique, intelligent legato engine.
• Four built-in AIR effects: Flavor, EQ, Delay, and Reverb.

This user guide explains how to use your plugin instrument. For more information on using other parts of the MPC
software or hardware, please consult the respective MPC Software User Guide and MPC hardware User Guide.

System Requirements & Product Support

For complete system requirements and compatibility information, visit airmusictech.com.

For technical support, visit support.airmusictech.com.

Installation

1. Double-click the .exe (Windows) or .pkg (macOS) file you downloaded. Follow the on-screen instructions to
install the software.
2. Open the plugin application.
3. Click Sign In to sign into your inMusic Brands Profile using your Internet browser. If you do not have an inMusic
Brands Profile yet, you will be prompted to create one.
4. Once you have signed in, click Activate in the plugin window to enter your serial key to unlock the plugin. You
can unlock each plugin on up to three devices at a time.
5. If you do not have a serial key, you can click Try Unlicensed to explore the plugin with intermittent audio alerts.
You can also click 10-Day Trial to initiate a free, fully featured trial of the plugin for 10 days.
If you would like to purchase a serial key, click the link to purchase a license at profile.inmusicbrands.com.

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Operation
Overview

Setup
Section

Global
Controls,
Players
Controls

Sound
Controls

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Legato
Controls

Effects
Controls

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Setup Section
1 2 3

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1. Keyboard: Click this icon to enable or disable the virtual keyboard. When enabled, you can click these keys to
input notes, or view notes being played on an external MIDI device.
2. Tempo: Displays the current plugin tempo. To change the tempo:
• Click the number and use your keyboard to input a new value.
• Click and drag the tempo value up or down using your cursor.
• Click the Tap button at regular intervals.
3. Settings: Click this icon to open the Settings window, where you can set the following parameters:
• Output: Click this drop-down menu to select an audio hardware driver in your computer system. Click the
Test button to play a test tone for checking your audio output settings. (Careful! You should lower the
volume on your audio system beforehand.)
• Sample Rate: Click this drop-down menu to select the desired sample rate for your project. This depends
on the available sample rates of the type of MPC hardware you are using or of your audio interface (i.e.,
select 96000 Hz only if your interface allows a 96 kHz sample rate).
• Audio Buffer Size: Click this drop-down menu to set your audio system’s latency. Lower values result in a
more immediate playing response but also more CPU consumption. If you are working with larger projects,
this may cause audible clicks and pops. Higher values are more CPU-friendly but can produce more delay
between pressing a pad and hearing the corresponding sound. The ideal audio buffer size also depends on
your computer’s CPU performance. Experiment with this to find the best setting for your system.
• Active MIDI Inputs: Displays available MIDI input devices. To enable a device, check the box next to its
name.
• Bluetooth MIDI: Click this icon to open your system’s Bluetooth settings menu, where you can select a
Bluetooth-enabled MIDI device to control the plugin.
4. Menu: Click this icon to open the menu, where you can find the following options:
• Scale: Click here to select a value to scale the plugin window to a new size.
• Load Preset: Click here to load a saved preset.
• Save Preset: Click here to save the current preset.
• Open User Guide: Click here to open this User Guide.
• About: Click here to view plugin version information.
5. Preset: Click this drop-down menu to view the list of included plugin presets. You can also click the up and
down arrows next to this field to move to the previous or next preset.

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Players

All parameters in this view except Size and Style can be adjusted in any other plugin view.

Parameter Description Value Range

Players Type of string instrument sound or sounds. All, Violin, Viola, Cello,
Bass

Size Number of instruments emulated. Orchestral, Chamber,

Solo

Style Style of string playing. Sustain, Marcato,

Staccato Down+Up,
Staccato Down, Staccato
Up, Pizzicato 1+2,
Pizzicato 1, Pizzicato 2,
Tremolo

Poly Number of available voices. 1–50

Level Overall volume level of the plugin. -inf – 0.0 – +6.0 dB

Dynamics Adjust the dynamic range between soft and loud 0–100%
notes. At low values, the dynamic range is reduced;
at high values, the dynamic range is expanded.

Formant Decreases or increases resonant frequencies to -12 – 0 – +12

adjust the timbre of the sound.

Sample Start Starting point of the sample. 0–100%

Width Stereo width of the sound. 0–100%

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Sound

Parameter Description Value Range

Pitch Bend Number of semitones shifted up or down when pitch 0–12, 12Q, Harm, 24
Range bend if applied.
Select 12Q to apply distinct notes up and down an
octave when using the pitch wheel.
Select Harm to apply distinct harmonic notes up and
down when using the pitch wheel.

Vibrato Speed Rate of vibrato modulation. 0–100%

Envelope Attack Length of time for the note to reach full level. 0 ms – 32.00 s

Decay Length of time for the note to reach sustain level. 0 ms – 32.00 s

Sustain Level of the sound while the note is held. 0–100%

Release Length of time for the note to dissipate when released. 0 ms – 32.00 s

Modwheel Volume Amount of influence the mod wheel has on volume 0–100%
control.
At 0, the mod wheel has no control over volume.
At 100, the volume will be all the way down at the mod
wheel center and increase as you move it up or down.
Vibrato Amount of vibrato applied by the mod wheel. 0–100%

Aftertouch Volume Amount of control aftertouch has on volume control. 0–100%

At 0, aftertouch has no control over volume.
At 100, the volume will be all the way down when
aftertouch is 0 and increase as aftertouch is increased.
Vibrato Amount of vibrato applied by aftertouch. 0–100%

Filter Cutoff Filter cutoff frequency. 0–100%

Cutoff Velo Velocity level up to which the filter cutoff is applied. 0–127

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Legato

Parameter Description Value Range

Legato Enables or disables legato, which blends one note to Off, On

the next. When enabled, the parameters below
become available.
Slow Legato Length of legato time between notes below the 0 ms – 1.00 s
Velocity level.

Fast Legato Length of legato time between notes above the 0–200 ms
Velocity level.

Speed Split Note-on velocity level at which legato/glide time is 0–127

Velocity split into a slow and fast ranges.
You can also adjust this by dragging the Speed slider.

Legato Start Lowest note at which legato is applied. C-2 – G8

Note

Portamento Velocity Note-on velocity level below which portamento glide is 0–127, Always
enabled.
When set to Always, portamento glide is enabled for
all velocities.
You can also adjust this by dragging the Porta slider.
Slow Length of pitch gliding between notes below the 0 ms – 1.00 s
Portamento Speed Split Velocity level.

Fast Length of pitch gliding between notes above the 0–360 ms

Portamento Speed Split Velocity level.

Max Up Maximum number of semitones above original note 1–36

where portamento is enabled.
Max Down Maximum number of semitones below original note 1–36
where portamento is enabled.
Crossfade Applies a fade-in-fade-out between the original note Off, On
and the glide note.

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Effects

Parameter Description Value Range

Flavor Use the button in the upper-left corner of this section Off, On
to enable or disable the flavor effect.

Timbre Selects an emulation type to color the sound. Varies

Timbre Depth Amount of timbre emulation applied to the sound. 0–100%

Flutter Amount of speed fluctuation of the sound playback. 0–100%

Monofy Reduces the stereo spread of the sound to mono. 0–100%

Vinyl Distortion Amount of vinyl distortion noise applied to the signal. 0–100%

Vinyl Noise Amount of vinyl noise such as clicks and pops applied 0–100%
to the signal.

EQ Use the button in the upper-left corner of this section Off, On

to enable or disable the EQ effect.

Low Amount of attenuation or boost applied to the low -12.0 – 0.0 – +12.0 dB
frequency band.

Low Mid Amount of attenuation or boost applied to the low-mid -20.0 – 0.0 – +20.0 dB
frequency band.

High Mid Amount of attenuation or boost applied to the high- -20.0 – 0.0 – +20.0 dB
mid frequency band.

High Amount of attenuation or boost applied to the high -12.0 – 0.0 – +12.0 dB
frequency band.

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Effects (continued)

Parameter Description Value Range

Delay Use the button in the upper-left corner of this section Off, On
to enable or disable delay.

Time Amount of time between the dry signal and the 1/16 – 16/4
delayed signal.

Mix Wet/dry amount of the delay effect. 0–100%

L|R Ratio Reduces the delay Time in either the Left or Right 50:100 – 100:100 –
stereo field. This is useful for creating offset, panned 100:50
delays.

Feedback Amount of signal fed back into the delay line. 0–100%

Reso LP Freq Low pass frequency for feedback resonance. 100 – 16000 Hz

Reso Bell Freq Center frequency for feedback resonance. 100 – 16000 Hz

Reso Bell Gain Amount of gain applied to the resonant frequency. 0–100%

Reverb Use the button in the upper-left corner of this section Off, On
to enable or disable the spring reverb effect.

Mode Type of reverb effect applied. Soft, Bright, Studio,

Chamber, Hall,
Ambient

Time Length of reverb tail. 0.3 – 60.00 s

Mix Wet/dry amount of the reverb effect. 0–100%

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Trademarks and Licenses
AIR Music Technology is a trademark of inMusic Brands, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
macOS is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
All other product or company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

airmusictech.com

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