STEEL STRING STRUMMER

PRODUCED BY TROELS FOLMANN

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the 8DIO Natural Acoustic Series – a studio collection of high-end deep-
sampled acoustic instruments.

Steel String Strummer is the follow-up to our Steel String Guitar library. Steel String
Strummer contains over 4.500 samples spread across 13 different chord types and 13
different rhythm types and utilizing our powerful x-legato technology, which allows you to
blend any chord and rhythm at any time giving you an infinite amount of options.

Steel String Strummer is a round-robin based strum library, so even if you trigger the same
chord/rhythm multiple times - you will get natural subtle variation.

Steel String Strummer contains all the classic chords (ex. Major, Minor, Maj7, Min7, Dim7,
Dom7) used in traditional songwriting, but also contains more elaborate chords (ex.
Maj7B5, Min79, Dom7#9, Sus2, Sus4, 11s Alt Bass and Add11Alt2). The rhythm section is
equally deep from traditional type of strum rhythms to more genre specific ones (ex.
country, fingered arped, muted chugs). In addition we also recorded muted strums of all
rhythms, which gives additional options to design new types of rhythms. Steel String
Strummer also contains intelligent fret noises and velocity based end chords, which allows
you to make a natural ending to a chord progression by playing hard on keyboard.

We also integrated live FX (ex. Delay, Verb, Screamer, Lofi, Convolution) into the patches,
so you can trigger live FX on top of the patches by using key-switches.

♥ Troels Folmann
INSTALLATION
INSTALLATION OF STEEL STRING STRUMMER:

1. Download and install our download utility (found in the email you received from us). We
offer both PC and MAC versions of the download tool.

2. Enter the ENTIRE serial code (found in the email you received from us)

3. The download utility will automatically download and install your library.

4. The library can be found through the regular browser in Kontakt.

TROUBLESHOOTING DOWNLOADS:

The download utility should generally work for all download purposes, however please use
our manual download links if you encounter any issues. The manual download links are
generally slower downloads, but allows you to download the compressed library files (.rar
compression) through your browser. You can access the manual download links here:

http://8dio.net/manuallink

Please use your purchasing email address and enter ENTIRE serial code.

TROUBLESHOOTING KONTAKT:

This library does NOT use the “add library” function in Kontakt and all files must be access
through the regular Kontakt browser (upper left side of Kontakt). Please use the file browser
in Kontakt and locate the program (.nki) files in the library to use it.

Please contact us at support@8dio.com - if you encounter any other unforeseen issues.

PATCH ORGANIZATION
8Dio Steel String Strummer comes in both 24 bit and 16 bit. We decided to offer both
versions to make it accessible for different types of production set ups. In addition we
also included native K5 and K4 patches. We recommend using 16 bit for normal
productions, but render in 24 bit for broadcast quality.

Patch overview:

K5 time machine pro full (2 way round robin) (very memory intensive)

K5 time machine pro light (1 way round robin) (memory intensive)

K4 time machine full (very memory intensive)

K4 time machine light (1 way round robin) (memory intensive)

K4 DFD (memory conservative patch - x-legato disabled) only works at 80BPM

BASIC FUNCTIONS
Steel String Strummer contains two types of articulations: chords and rhythms. The
chords are mapped on keyswitches to the left on your keyboard. The rhythms are
mapped on keyswitches to the right - and the actual chord/rhythms are triggered in
the middle of your keyboard. If you play a hard velocity on your keyboard you will
trigger an “end” articulation, which is a non-rhythmic sustained chord. You can control
how hard you need to play to trigger the “end” articulation on the “velocity end”
pressure and on/off buttons. We also added our intelligent fret-control from Steel
String Guitar, so you will get natural fret noises between chords.
Steel String Strummer can operate in two modes: mono and x-legato. Mono is just the
basic chords and rhythms in the normal form, however our newly developed x-legato
technology allows you to blend any chord or rhythm at ANY time. This gives you the
flexibility to develop new types of chord progressions and advanced rhythms by freely
combining any chord or rhythm at any time. We recommend using x-legato at natural
transitions times, since it can easily sound crazy if you use it randomly. We also added
muted (non-tonal) chugs, which are triggered right below the key triggers on the
middle of your keyboard.
You will also notice some yellow keyswitches to the far right. These are our live FX
keyswitches - allowing you to add live FX at any time to your chords and rhythms. The
circles besides rhythms and chords are “purge buttons” that allows you to load/
unload chords/rhythms for memory conservation.
KEYSWITCHES AND EFFECTS
Steel String Strummer
is incredibly easy to
use, yet incredibly
flexible. You can
control a massive
subset of elements
directly from your
keyboard, including
chord types (upper
left), key triggers
(mid), rhythms (upper
right) and live FX (far
right)

MODWHEEL: The
beloved modwheel
controls a low-pass
filter. The default is
set to no filter,
however the second
you start adjusting
your modwheel you will note the sound becomes softer and more muffled based on the level of
filter. This allows you to sculpt the sample to the given “softness” level of your composition and
makes the sample fit better in the mix. Works super well with the bit-resolution on the pitchbender
btw.

LOW-KEY RANGE: The low keyranges on your keyboard controls type of chord you want. You can
select between 13 different chord types and you will see your chord choice highlighted in the
“chord select” section.

MID-KEY RANGE: The mid keyranges trigger the actual chord/rhythm. In addition the keys
corresponds to the chord type (ex. C controls all C based chords). The mid-key ranges also
contains a velocity based feature. If you play your keys very hard - they will trigger an end chord
of the chord type you are playing. You can control the sensitivity of this feature in the “chord end”
section of the interface.

HIGH-KEY RANGE: The high keyranges controls the rhythm type. You can select between 13 different
rhythm types and you will see the rhythm highlighted in the “rhythm select” section of the interface.

VERY HIGH KEY RANGE: The highest keyranges controls our live FX section. This essentially allows
you to trigger effects like delay, reverb, screamer/distortion, lofi, rotator, fuzz. This can be
effective if you want some more unique textures (ex. more distortion for rock) to your music.
FX AND CONTROLS
Steel String Strummer contains 7 different effects that can all be controlled directly from your
keyboard. The the effects are controlled in the high part of your keyboard. All the effects are
marked with yellow keyswitches.You can trigger all of them at the same time if that is your thing.
You can sculpt insane sounds out by triggering these.

Filter (modwheel)

Modwheel controls a
low-pass filter. The
default is set to no
filter, however the
second you start
adjusting your
modwheel the sound
becomes softer and
more muffled based on
the level of filter.

Delay

Delay allows you to

sculpt more
sophisticated rhythms
out of the samples.

Screamer and Fuzz

The Screamer and Fuzz

effects are mainly distorted features giving you that extra bite.

Lofi

A grainy texture to your sound - similar to bit-resolution on the modwheel. But can really be gritty
combined with distortion.

Rotator

The classic hammond organ effect - freshly applied to the samples.

Convolution Reverb (see next page)

CONVOLUTION REVERB
Steel String Strummer contains
two specific FX menus made of
convolution impulses.

The two convolution engines:

“Verb” and “Spaces” each
contain different types of
convolutions. Verb is traditional
convolution impulses of halls and
rooms - where as the “Spaces”
are more abstract and self-
evolving special FX impulses to
create great ambient effects.
Please note that these special
mystery impulses require
significantly more CPU power
than the other impulses, due to
their length.

The convolution system always defaults to bypass mode when you first load an instrument. When
the convolution chain is bypassed/disabled by choosing "none" from the Impulse Response drop-
down menu, this knob is also disabled and only fully dry signal is audible, with no signal
attenuation. If you save an instrument while a convolution impulse is loaded, the instrument will
remember your settings and automatically reload the sample impulse next time you open the
instrument.

Dry Mix: This knob controls the dry signal returning from Kontakt's internal convolution engine.
Turning it up past ~36 increases the gain over the original signal level and therefore may increase
noise or cause distortion in some cases.

Wet Mix: This knob controls the 'wet' effected signal returning from Kontakt's internal convolution
engine. Turning it up without balancing it against the dry level can quickly increase the total
combined gain over the original signal level and therefore may increase noise or cause distortion
in some cases.
SCORING TIPS
Steel String Strummer contains over 4.500 individually sampled strums - covering the vast majority
of common chords and rhythms used in traditional song-writing. However there is a variety of tricks
that can help you sculpt the strums to become your own. The first option is to use our x-legato
technology, which allows you to change chords/rhythms at any time. We recommend using this at
natural transition points for 100% realistic results. X-legato allows you to change chords/rhythms
inside of a given phrase, so you can play a major chord - then switch to minor chord inside of a
given rhythm - or even change both chords and rhythms inside of a given rhythm. Please note that
x-legato follows the length of the rhythm, which eventually ends. This means you have to retrigger
the x-legato if you want to repeat the strum.

We also recommend using our muted strums, which are found right below the key triggers in the
middle of your keyboard. The muted strums can be triggered for any rhythms and essentially
allows you to blend non-tonal with tonal strums. This is great if you want to create new rhythms
and especially powerful when used with our x-legato technology.

Another cool trick is to use the “end” chord together with muted strums and x-legato. The end
chord is triggered when you play your keyboard hard - and can be used to shape additional
rhythms. Also remember to play around with the live FX (yellow keyswitches) in top of your
keyboard.

But there is no right way of using the library. Its simple of matter of what is right to you ♥ T.
8DIO
GENERAL LICENSING AGREEMENT
LICENSE AGREEMENT
By installing Steel String Strummer you accept the
following product license agreement:
LICENSE GRANT
The license for this product is granted only to a
single user. All sounds and samples in this product
are licensed, but not sold, to you by 8DIO, Inc. for
commercial and non-commercial use in music,
sound-effect, audio/video post-production,
performance, broadcast or similar finished content-
creation and production use.
8DIO allows you to use any of the sounds and
samples in the library(s) you've purchased for
commercial recordings without paying any
additional license fees or providing source
attribution to 8DIO, Inc. This license expressly
forbids any unauthorized inclusion of content
contained within this library, or any any 8DIO
library, into any other sample instrument or library
of any kind, without our express written consent.
This license also forbids any re-distribution method
of this product, or its sounds, through any means,
including but not limited to, re-selling, trading,
sharing, re-sampling, mixing, processing, isolating,
or embedding into software or hardware of any
kind, for the purpose of re-recording or
reproduction as part of any free or commercial
library of musical and/or sound effect samples
and/or articulations, or any form of musical sample
or sound effect sample playback system or device.
Licenses cannot be transferred to another entity,
without written consent of 8DIO, Inc.
RIGHTS
8DIO retains full copyright privileges and complete
ownership of all recorded sounds, instrument
programming, documentation and musical
performances included in this product.
REFUNDS
Downloaded libraries can't be returned, so we
can't provide refunds. We may choose do so at our
own discretion,but please be aware that as soon as
you've downloaded it, you can't return it.
RESPONSIBILITY
Using this product and any supplied software is at
the licensee’s own risk. 8DIO holds no
responsibility for any direct or indirect loss arising
from any form of use of this product.
TERMS
This license agreement is effective from the moment
the product is installed by any means. The license
will remain in full effect until termination. The
license is terminated if you break any of the terms
or conditions of this agreement, or request a refund
for any reason. Upon termination you agree to
destroy all copies and contents of the product at
your own expense.
VIOLATION
This product uses a form of copy protection, user-
specific watermarking. Users who attempt to
circumvent this copy-protection systems or
otherwise violate the terms of this licensing
agreement are subject to criminal and civil
penalties and liable for monetary damages. If
you've done any “deep sampling” and the labor-
intensive programming that comes with it, you
know that it is very hard work. Remember, the
more you support us, the more awesome libraries
we can afford to make for you.
Thank you so much for purchasing the 8DIO Steel String Strummer

The production of Steel String Strummer is not only a product of my own

vision, but also a product of patience from friends and family - and a product
of countless discussions with a variety of great composers, producers and so
forth.

Special thanks to Frederick - gorgeous playing makes for a gorgeous library.

Special thanks to Caaaaamazing, Jarrrrn and Tawnia for keeping it together

and dealing with my mad brain. You guys are the real jedis!

If you have any questions, concerns, love-letters or hate mail feel free to send
it to: support@8dio.com

♥ Troels Folmann

All programming, samples, images and text © 8DIO 2011. All Rights Reserved.
8DIO is a registered trademark of 8DIO, LLC.