Sono Elements has introduced SolinStrings, an ARP Solina string synthesizer emulation.
The instrument features the 6 sounds of the Solina, as well as reverb, stereo tremolo, filter and noise effects.
Here’s what they have to say about it:
The Solina was a multi-orchestral keyboard created in 1974 by Eminent BV. The instrument was ahead of its time in its use of preset synthesizer sounds and has been used by such acts as Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Brian Eno, The Rolling Stones, Joy Division, and the Cure.
More recently, during the 90s, Air used it in their music to create their classic records Moon Safari.
Sono Elements sampled the 6 sounds of the Solina and embedded them in a “no fuss” easy to use plugin.
Audio Demo:
Pricing and Availability
SolinStrings is available now for US $19 as a VST, VST3 and AU plugin for Mac and Windows.
I can see a few people liking this for its drag-&-drop form, but IIRC, a lot of the original’s appeal came from a pair of chorus-centric BBDs that ran out of sync a bit. Its easy to manage that now by dropping in a flanger and making the sound a bit dusty with a filter. Its amusing to see how many people go gaga over sounds that are often just a couple of layers of treated sawtooth waves. GO, FIGHTING SAWTOOTHS! BEAT STATE!
The magic sauce is the bbd tripple Ensemble chorus, it’s output is 100 % wet, no original signal …
It’s a special fx.
I hope I didn’t mix this up with some other pad instrument.
It’s 3 delays modulated by 2 lfos, I can’t remember exactly how they are chained up, but it wasn’t so simple. Iirc.
“…has been used by such acts as Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Brian Eno, The Rolling Stones, Joy Division, and the Cure.”
So good, the Rolling Stones used it twice!
Solina without ensemble effect is like pizza without cheese….
The ensemble effect is the best part of the Solina. Three parallel TCA350Y BBD lines, each with its own LFO. I know ’cause I’ve restored my own Solina IV from the inside out. In 1974 this one effect was built using 3 discrete circuit boards.
A sampler like this is not an “emulation”.
Have a look here (particularly about the octave divider sound and the chorus sound examples):
http://wokwave.com/old-plugins/html/cromina.html