Expressive E has released Soliste, a physically modeled string instrument suite built for real-time expression. The collection includes four solo strings—violin, viola, cello, and double bass. Each one is designed to respond organically to your gestures and playing dynamics.
Building on the legacy of their Arché Collection, Soliste is more than just an update. It’s a complete reimagination of the concept of a virtual string instrument, taking expressiveness to the next level.
Thanks to advanced physical modeling, there’s not a single sample in sight. This approach allows for seamless dynamic control and nuanced articulation without the restrictions of pre-recorded material.
If you’re used to sample libraries that feel rigid or predictable, this one will feel like a breath of fresh air.
What really makes Soliste stand out for me is how much control you have over the playing mechanics. There are three main modes: Classic, Virtuoso, and Expressive Bow.
Classic mode is excellent for newcomers. It triggers a bow stroke when you tap a key and lets you shape dynamics with pressure. Virtuoso mode gives you full manual bow control via MPE gestures. Expressive Bow blends the two, switching between sustain and real-time motion depending on your pressure and speed.
There’s also an automatic tremolo system, a Smart Vibrato feature with manual and assisted options, and an intuitive pitch glide mechanism (including Osmose’s Pressure Glide support).
All of this combines to make Soliste one of the most fluid and intuitive string instruments out there. And the expressiveness on hand is nothing short of incredible.
Another highlight is the customization. You can swap instrument “bodies” to change tonal character, and fine-tune everything from bow position and intensity to vibrato speed and glide time.
The plugin also includes a three-band EQ, convolution reverb, and a streamlined interface that makes deep tweaking approachable.
Soliste is clearly optimized for the Osmose, but it plays nicely with any MPE controller and still offers plenty of functionality with standard MIDI setups. There are even dedicated presets for Expressive E’s Touché controller.
It’s available now in VST2, VST3, and AU formats for macOS (12+) and Windows 11. The intro price is €179.40, and it will rise to €299 on July 18th.
If expressive string performance is a key part of your workflow, Soliste is well worth checking out. The intro offer ends today, so hurry up!
Learn more: Expressive E Soliste (Intro offer ends on July 18th)
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Last Updated on July 18, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
