Hollywood Strings 2 represents a deliberate recalibration of EastWest's string library philosophy. Rather than pursuing the expansive orchestral scale of its predecessor, this crossgrade path delivers a purpose-built tool centered on a lean 21-piece ensemble recorded at close quarters in EastWest Studio 2. The shift reflects a growing recognition within professional scoring that intimate, detail-rich string textures often serve contemporary composition and film work more effectively than bloated ensemble recordings.
The library encompasses 134 instruments with comprehensive articulation coverage - legato, detache, pizzicato, staccato, spiccato, marcato, col legno, and specialized techniques like flautando - each captured across four dynamic layers. What distinguishes Hollywood Strings 2 from competing libraries is its microphone architecture: three independent close-mic channels, including contact mics on individual instruments, plus traditional main, mid-field, and surround positions. This multi-layer capture approach grants producers genuine mixing flexibility, moving beyond preset EQ curves toward true spatial control.
The close-miking strategy yields immediately audible results. Rather than pristine, sanitized string tones, you're hearing the mechanical reality of bow contact, finger noise, and room resonance. This transparency works particularly well for documentary scoring, intimate chamber passages, and contemporary music where string artificiality reads as dishonest.
The engineering team - Doug Rogers, Nick Phoenix, and Shawn Murphy - bring pedigree from the original Hollywood Strings, and their experience shows in the capture methodology. Atmos compatibility adds future-proofing for spatial audio workflows.
For producers seeking strings with genuine character rather than orchestral grandeur, Hollywood Strings 2 delivers a focused, technically accomplished alternative to broader ensemble libraries.
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