Melda Production has just released a powerful and versatile software instrument for symphonic strings called Power Strings. As the introductory price, it is only $10, which equals a 94% discount from the usual price until June 9.
I always enjoy orchestral plugins when I find a good one. Whether for classical or cinematic arrangements or for different genres like pop or ambient music, they come in really handy for giving your mixes that symphonic feeling.
Power Strings is a rich and vibrant-sounding string virtual instrument made for the Melda Productions MSoundFactory platform. It is a highly versatile and effective plugin for creating lush string arrangements.
The user interface is pretty intuitive but offers quite a lot of control. The intro section has a diverse range of articulations, including soft and hard strings, soft and hard legatos, spiccato, tremolo, pizzicato, and pizzicato snap. It also has Stage-Spread, Piano-Forte, Dark-Bright, Tonal Noise, and Humanize control knobs for crafting your tone. These articulations can be seen and adjusted in detail in the next section, Articulations.
What I enjoyed here is the option to quickly switch between articulations with keyboard shortcuts, which can be really useful in live performances. Also, I appreciated that the plugin allows for multiple articulations at the same time. You can adjust the pitch and volume for each articulation separately if you want to layer sounds. Also, the envelope settings can also be adjusted individually for each layer.
The following section is called Creative, as it allows users to create more modern and different kinds of tones. There are Convolution, FM, Harmonics, and Diffusion controls for modulating your tone. Here, you can push the limits of the plugin and make your strings sound like synths, for example. I think this is where the plugin gets really versatile, as when I tested it, I could create really different tones to use the plugin for different genres like ambient music, hip-hop, pop, or whatever you can imagine.
For sound effects and finalizing your tone, the plugin offers the FX section. With five types of five types of rooms and halls for Reverb, a decent delay, a five-band EQ, Distortion, Chorus, Lofi, Modulation, and Motion FX, you can finetune your sound without the need for extra effect plugins. Here, I liked the Reverb, Chorus, and Motion FX sections, but other effects, such as delay, distortion, and EQ, were a bit disappointing. I recommend using other plugins if you want these effects in your tone.
The last section is called Globals, as it gives you the controls for your output volume, pitch, sound quality, tuning, velocity range, and more. This is kind of like the general settings section of the plugin.
The plugin also offers some presets for easier use. It has 29 Creative presets for more modern tones and 18 String Presets for more traditional orchestral use. I liked some of the presets but mainly used them as starting points for tweaking some controls to reach a better-sounding tone.
I think this is a great string virtual instrument for any genre. It gives you plenty of controls, has many different high-quality sampled articulations, and makes your workflow quite easy and quick.
I also appreciated the plugin’s low CPU use. It has over 600 MB of sampled sounds and offers many controls, but it is still really light on your computer.
To use Power Strings, you have to download the MSound Factory plugin, which has a free version and a paid version. If you have or buy the paid version, Power Strings comes for free. However, you can also download the free version and pay $10 to purchase it.
Also, MSound Factory LE has a 60% discount on Plugin Boutique if you are considering purchasing the paid version.
Melda Productions MSoundFactory is available in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX in formats for Windows and Mac users.
Check out the Power Strings manual here
Berk is a multi-instrumentalist musician from Istanbul, Turkey. He has been playing guitar, handpan, and percussion for over ten years, developing a sound that blends melodic sensitivity with rhythmic depth.
He began his musical journey as a teenager, learning guitar and performing in several bands. In 2016, he discovered the handpan, an instrument that immediately resonated with him on a deeper level and gradually became central to his artistic identity.
Since then, he has performed in streets, festivals, bars, and concert venues across different countries, connecting with diverse audiences through both intimate and large-scale performances.
Alongside his live work, Berk is deeply involved in studio production. He works from his home studio, where he composes, records, and produces his own music. His studio serves as a creative space for layering handpan, guitar, and percussion with modern production techniques, allowing him to shape fully realized, atmospheric compositions from start to finish.
His music explores a wide range of genres and textures, combining organic acoustic instruments with detailed studio production to create immersive and expressive soundscapes.