For $299 (MSRP, often on sale for $199), you are not just buying samples. You are buying a . You are buying two decades of ethnomusicological research, recorded by world-class Istanbul session players, and packaged into an interface that your DAW understands instantly.
If you are scoring a desert landscape, an ancient historical drama, or fusing ethnic textures into modern electronic music, Sultan Strings is inherently better because it does not require you to "fake" these regional performance styles using Western patches. 2. Phrase-Based vs. Playable Instruments
: The library uses a "one-finger" triggering system where complex, tempo-synced phrases are mapped to the keyboard. This allows you to build authentic soundtracks or pop backdrops rapidly without needing deep knowledge of Middle Eastern scales.
The Royal Tapestry: Why Sonokinetic’s Sultan Strings Remains the Definitive Ethnic Orchestral Library sonokinetic sultan strings kontakt library better
Sonokinetic has established a strong reputation in the sample library community. On Trustpilot, the company maintains a with users praising the company’s unique offerings, sound quality, and usability.
💡 Try layering Sultan Strings underneath a solo violin library. You get the authentic ensemble "wash" from Sonokinetic and the melodic precision from the solo instrument.
This means you’re not buying a one-trick pony. Even when you don’t need full Arabic phrases, the library can provide unique string textures that stand out from more conventional libraries. For $299 (MSRP, often on sale for $199),
When people ask if it is "better," they are usually comparing it to newer libraries like EastWest Ra or Strezov Sampling’s Balkan Strings.
This multi-format approach ensures the library remains accessible regardless of your DAW or sampler preference.
: It features a dedicated ensemble of violins, viola, and cello recorded specifically for the Turkish/Arabic style. Users from forums like VI-CONTROL highlight that it sounds "amazingly good" because it bypasses the "stuck-on" sound of simple single-note samples. If you are scoring a desert landscape, an
: It includes an "octaved overdub" for each phrase, allowing you to quickly thicken the ensemble's sound or build tension. Playable Multisamples
The library covers a vast array of traditional Eastern scales and modes (Maqams). Because these performances were captured by musicians natively trained in these styles, the tuning of the intervals is culturally accurate, avoiding the sterile, mathematically perfect tuning of Western virtual instruments. 3. Harmonic and Melodic Content The library is divided into distinct categories, including:
Sultan Strings utilizes a specialized 11-piece string ensemble (6 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, and 1 double bass).
Before we declare victory, we must define our terms. When most composers compare string libraries, they look at:
For composers working on Middle Eastern-themed projects—documentaries, film scores, video games, or world music productions—Sultan Strings offers an efficiency advantage that more comprehensive libraries simply cannot match.