2006 NAMM Winter Expo: Synful introduced a beta of Synful Orchestra, which now features string sections.

Synful Orchestra automatically generates natural phrasing and articulation. It is not a sampler or a sample library, but a new way to create realistic and expressive orchestral music.

The virtual instrument provides an expressive alternative to sampled instruments. A demo, featuring Beethoven’s String Quartet, Opus 132 is available below.

What’s New in Synful Orchestra 2.3.0

• String Sections. Wind and Brass Sections. Any Synful Orchestra solo instrument can now be turned into a natural sounding section. Synful Orchestra uses the RPM database to guarantee realistic variations between the players. You can select the number of players in the section, how the players are positioned on stage, the rhythmic variation between the players, detuning among the players, and more. Listen to the new Tristan und Isolde example included in the download to hear the naturalness of these sections. See the Synful Orchestra help section on Localization and Section Controls for full details about sections.
• Natural Divisi. Synful Orchestra sections simulate realistic and natural divisi. For example, if you create a ten violin section Program and play a monophonic line then all ten players will play that line. If you play a ten note chord then each player will play one note in the chord. The Synful Orchestra section automatically adapts to the changing polyphony of the part. If you play 3 note chords or polyphony then the ten players distribute themselves automatically 4-3-3 across the notes.
• Player Position. Synful Orchestra virtual players can be positioned in the listening room. The position of the virtual listener can be changed and the room size can be adjusted. The new ability to create sections uses the positioning capability to make the different players in a section sound like they are spread out realistically in space. See the Synful Orchestra help section on Localization and Section Controls for full details about sections. IMPORTANT NOTE FOR LOGIC USERS: If you use Apple Logic and want to use the Synful Orchestra direct, 2 walls, or 4 walls localization controls then you must set the MIDI pan in Logic to the center or to off. This is because Logic performs panning itself which will interfere with the more powerful Synful localization modes.
• Bigger and Prettier User Interface. We have added a number of controls to the Control Panel to support player localization and sections. We have also upgraded the look a bit so it’s prettier and more consistent (we hope!).
• Degradation Over Time Bug. We fixed a problem which caused Synful Orchestra to have reduced performance over time. So if you ran for 1-2 hours you might have to stop Synful Orchestra and the host sequencer and restart them to get rid of clicks and pops that had emerged. This was quite apparent when using Cubase on PC/Windows but it was true to some extent on every platform.
• Better Performance. We have improved the efficiency of Synful Orchestra so you now get more voices on the same computer.
• Better Note Transition Modeling. We now take better advantage of Delay for Expression for modeling note transitions, especially in advance of an upcoming note.
• New Orchestral Example. We have included a new MIDI example of an excerpt from Wagner’s famous Prelude to Tristan und Isolde to demonstrate string and wind sections and the ability to model the entire orchestra.
• Program Locking. There is now a button associated with every MIDI channel on the Control Panel that locks the Program assignment for that MIDI channel so that changes coming from a MIDI controller or from the host sequencer do not override the Program setting in the settings in the Control Panel.
• Enter Control Values By Typing. You can now enter control values in the Control Panel by typing in the numerical display boxes in addition to adjusting the slider or knob positions.

Synful Orchestra Features

• Realistic slurs, tonguing, and bowing created automatically from standard MIDI. No special key switches or phrasing tools.
• Instruments include Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass.
• Realistic string, brass, and woodwind sections. Any solo instrument can be made into a section with natural variation between players.
• Flexible player positioning. Solo instruments or section players are positioned on a virtual stage. Each instrument in the orchestra sounds like its coming from a specific location.
• Natural divisi. Play a line with ten violin players and they all play that line. Play a chord and the players arrange themselves automatically across the notes of the chord.
• Authentic rich vibrato controlled using the Mod Wheel.
• Patented Reconstructive Phrase Modeling technology uses database of recorded phrases. Fragments from the database are spliced together and resynthesized using additive synthesis.
• Innovative Controls: Harmonic Tilt, Harmonic Parity, Transient Noise Trim, Sustain Noise Trim, Gain, Tune, Pitch Wheel Range, Delay For Expression.
• Synful Pitch Wheel mode for realistic portamento slurs and pitch slide effects. Midi look-ahead anticipates upcoming notes and begins note transitions early –like a real player.
• Entire orchestra fits in 32M of memory and loads in seconds. 80-140 real-time voices on P4 1.5 GHz Notebook, 70-125 voices on Mac G4 1.5 GHz Thinkpad
• MAC OSX and Windows XP/2000 Compatible.
• Native AU, VSTi and DXi plugin formats.
• Wagner, Stravinsky, and Beethoven example projects included.

More information, audio demos and a demo download are available at the Synful site.