EastWest has announced a major update of its a virtual instrument featuring the sounds of a 21-piece string ensemble. Free for owners of Hollywood Strings 2 and ComposerCloud subscribers, the update gives users more control, flexibility, and instant playability.
The instrument library now includes “Movie Mixes”, a brand-new feature that lets you dial in the perfect cinematic sound in seconds.
These expertly designed Movie Mixes give you instant, ready-to-use scoring profiles for a variety of genres — from gritty Horror and intimate Drama, to bold Action, expansive Sci-Fi & Fantasy, and a Cinematic Mix built to blend seamlessly with Hollywood Strings 1.
Alongside these mixes, the update enhances legato realism, expands vibrato expressiveness, and adds alternative tunings for unique tonal character. With greater playability straight out of the box, Hollywood Strings 2 makes it easier than ever to shape your score to fit any story.
EastWest has also updated the Opus software engine to version 1.6.0, which includes support for the Hollywood Strings 2 update, alongside some improvements and fixes.
Hollywood Strings 2 is currently on sale for $199 USD at the SoundsOnline store and from distributors Plugin Boutique and AudioDeluxe.
A bundle of Ancient Kingdom and Hollywood Strings 2 is only $239 USD during the promotion, which expires October 31st, 2025.
