Sonokinetic’s Sultan Strings for Kontakt delivers rich, authentic Middle Eastern string textures, and this extra-quality patch elevates that sound with careful mixing and advanced scripting. Designed for Kontakt (full version), the patch offers:
Use cases:
Tips:
This extra-quality Sultan Strings Kontakt patch offers expressive, playable results that sit well in mixes while retaining the instrument’s regional character.
Given the specificity of your query, here are a few potential issues or considerations:
If you're looking for reports or reviews of the Sonokinetic Sultan Strings library, there are various music production forums and websites (like KVR Audio, Reddit's r/WeAreTheMusicMakers, and music production blogs) where users share their experiences and opinions on sample libraries. These can be a great resource for making an informed decision about whether a particular library meets your needs.
Sonokinetic Sultan Strings is a specialized Kontakt library dedicated to authentic Middle Eastern string ensemble performances. Unlike standard orchestral libraries, it focuses on the unique melodic ornaments and styles characteristic of Arabian music. Core Features and Performance
Ensemble Composition: The library features a specialized ensemble consisting of three violins, one viola, and one cello, recorded to deliver a strong, convincing Middle Eastern sound.
Performance Phrases: It includes 50 tempo-synced 2-bar phrases. These phrases are recorded as live performances by world-class ensembles and are designed to be impossible to recreate with standard MIDI programming.
Tempo Syncing: All phrases and runs are automatically synced to your DAW's tempo, ensuring they fit seamlessly into your production regardless of the project's speed.
Playability: Beyond phrases, the library offers playable patches with various articulations, including: Sustains (with dynamic crossfading to vibrato) Tremolos, Trills, and Glissandi Tempo-synced runs (up, down, and up-down) Technical Specifications extra quality sonokinetic sultan strings kontakt patched
Library Size: Approximately 5.33 GB of 24-bit sample content (extending to over 10 GB when including all formats like Apple Loops). Sample Count: Includes over 5,500 individual samples.
Interface: Features a custom 4-panel interface (Main, IR, EQ, and Credits) for Kontakt 4.2.4 and higher.
Memory Efficiency: Uses dynamic sample loading and purging to keep RAM usage low. Why It Is Considered "Extra Quality"
The term "extra quality" often refers to the library's focus on authenticity over versatility. By recording specific phrases and runs performed by musicians steeped in the tradition, it captures nuances like microtonal slides and specific vibrato styles that standard Western-tuned libraries cannot replicate. Users frequently combine it with other ethnic libraries, such as those by Eduardo Tarilonte, to create complete Middle Eastern or desert-themed scores. Sultan Strings by Sonokinetic BV - Ethnic Strings
Many users convert the original 24-bit samples to 16-bit to save space. An "extra quality" version insists on keeping the original 24-bit/48kHz resolution. This preserves the harmonic richness of the string overtones, especially in the high-frequency ornaments (trills and glissandos).
As of 2025, Native Instruments has moved to Kontakt 7 and 8. However, Sonokinetic Sultan Strings remains a legacy masterpiece. The "patched" and "extra quality" versions circulating on private trackers are simply doing what Sonokinetic should have done in a paid 2.0 update: optimizing the sample start points, fixing the legato script, and increasing the voice pool.
Our recommendation: Buy the library from Sonokinetic (they have 50% off sales twice a year). Then, use the legal "patching" techniques described in Section 4 above. You will achieve 99% of the performance of the mythical "extra quality" crack without the malware risk or ethical guilt.
When Sultan Strings is properly patched and set to extra quality, it doesn’t just sound like a sample library—it sounds like a lost recording from the Topkapı Palace. And that is a sound worth paying for.
Have you successfully optimized your Sultan Strings library? Do you have a custom "extra quality" Kontakt script? Let us know in the comments below. For more deep dives into world instrument libraries, check out our guide on "ERA II Medieval Legends Optimization."
Sonokinetic Sultan Strings is a Middle Eastern performance string ensemble library for Native Instruments Kontakt Use cases:
that specializes in authentic, live-recorded Arabian-style phrases and performances. Key Features and Library Details Instrumentation
: The library features a specialized ensemble including violins, viola, and cello, specifically trained and recorded to capture Middle Eastern performance techniques. Sample Content : It contains over 4 GB of original samples. Authenticity
: Unlike standard orchestral libraries, it focuses on custom-composed Arabian phrases and live performances that are difficult to replicate with traditional multi-sampled instruments. Compatibility : Designed for formats and is compatible with Komplete Kontrol
: Features a custom-designed Kontakt GUI for real-time control and mixing of the phrase-based content. Sonokinetic Patched / Native Instruments Support Kontakt Player License : The library includes a license for the free Kontakt Player
, meaning it can be added via a serial number in Native Access rather than requiring the full paid version of Kontakt. NKS Integration : It is "patched" for NKS (Native Kontrol Standard)
, allowing for deep integration with hardware controllers like the Komplete Kontrol S-Series keyboards. Sonokinetic Complimentary Libraries Sonokinetic often suggests pairing Sultan Strings with Sultan Drums
, a dedicated Middle Eastern percussion collection that uses a similar phrase-based engine alongside multi-sampled single hits. Sonokinetic Further Exploration
Discover more about authentic Middle Eastern performance sampling on the Sultan Strings product page at KVR Audio Review the technical specifications and instrument lists on Sonokinetic's official website Explore the Sonokinetic product manuals
for insights into their orchestral and phrase-based engine mechanics. specific articulations included in this library or information on how to integrate it into a modern DAW? Sonokinetic Sultan Strings | ВКонтакте - VK
library is a well-known tool for composers looking for authentic Middle Eastern string performances. What is Sonokinetic Sultan Strings? The Sound Board
Released originally in 2011, this library focuses on live performances by a professional Middle Eastern string ensemble. Unlike standard orchestral libraries that focus on individual notes (multisamples), Sultan Strings specializes in:
Authentic Phrases: A massive collection of royalty-free, custom-composed Arabian-styled phrases.
Tempo Syncing: Designed to be flexible, allowing the phrases to sync with your DAW's tempo.
Layering: Includes octaved overdubs (recorded separately) to help "fatten" the sound and build tension. The "Patched" or "Extra Quality" Context
In the world of Kontakt libraries, terms like "patched" or "extra quality" often appear in unofficial community forums or third-party modification sites. These usually refer to:
Unofficial Updates: User-made patches to fix script bugs or update the interface for newer versions of Native Instruments Kontakt.
Third-Party Rescripting: Some users create custom scripts to add features like legato or better envelope control that weren't in the original 2011 release.
A Note on Safety: Always ensure you are downloading library updates or "patches" from reputable sources. Files found on unofficial "extra quality" blogs can sometimes contain malware or be pirated versions of the software. For the most stable and secure version, check the official Sonokinetic website. Sonokinetic Sultan Strings, multi format sample library
The most reliable "extra quality" patch can often be found on official Sonokinetic forums, The Sound Board, or VI-Control. Look for a post by users like "mk282" or "zedbed"—known contributors for phrase-timing fixes. Download the .nki instrument files and any accompanying .nkx monolith patches.
Purge all samples. Play every key switch and interval you intend to use. Then, use Save As to create a new patch called Sultan_Strings_Extra_Quality_Patched.nki. This new patch contains only the samples you need for your specific project, drastically reducing RAM.