Native Instruments and London Contemporary Orchestra Team Up for LCO Producer Strings
Native Instruments is back with another heavyweight Kontakt release, this time teaming up with the London Contemporary Orchestra for LCO Producer Strings, out September 25. Known for their work on projects like Deadpool & Wolverine and collaborations with artists like Radiohead, Taylor Swift, Frank Ocean, and The Weeknd, the LCO is one of the most adventurous ensembles working today. Now, their signature sound has been captured and reshaped for producers, composers, and songwriters in the box.
Get all the details at https://www.native-instruments.com/products/komplete/cinematic/lco-producer-strings/
What Makes LCO Producer Strings Different
LCO Producer Strings isn’t a standard string library. Instead of focusing only on lush cinematic tones, it delivers modern, raw, and experimental textures. Recorded at London’s legendary RAK Studios with engineer Fiona Cruickshank, the sessions pushed beyond traditional orchestral playing, tapping into techniques that feel at home in electronic, pop, and experimental contexts.
The instrument runs on a four-layer engine, letting users blend violins, violas, cellos, and synth-based content. That design makes it possible to build hybrid patches that range from pure orchestral timbres to glitchy, evolving textures that blur the line between acoustic and electronic.
Unique articulations like cluster blooms, harmonic flickers, cascading runs, and percussive pizzicatos are baked in, giving producers tools to build strings that cut through a mix or carry an entire arrangement.
The Voices Behind the Project
For Native Instruments, this release continues a long line of Kontakt instruments built to spark creativity across genres. Tim Adnitt, VP of Product Management, summed it up simply:
“LCO Producer Strings makes the unique and striking sound of the London Contemporary Orchestra available to everyone. The world-class musicians, studio, engineer, sampling techniques, and intuitive instrument engine combine to give producers and songwriters the freedom to craft strings that are as bold and unconventional as their ideas.”
On the orchestra’s side, co-Artistic Director Hugh Tieppo-Brunt explained the vision:
“For us, it’s about reimagining what an orchestra can be. This collaboration lets us capture the raw, experimental spirit of the LCO and place it directly in the hands of artists and producers, opening new possibilities for how strings can shape modern music.”
Designed for Today’s Producers
Beyond the sound, the workflow is built for speed. LCO Producer Strings is fully optimized for Kontakt 8 and NKS (Native Kontrol Standard), meaning it integrates tightly with NI hardware and delivers expressive hands-on control. For producers already working with Komplete Kontrol keyboards or Maschine, everything is mapped and ready to play.
Hybrid sources also expand what the instrument can do. The library doesn’t stop at orchestral content — synth textures, granular layers, and evolving pads are included to give tracks extra dimension. That flexibility makes it equally valuable for scoring a film scene, adding texture to a pop record, or layering atmospheres in electronic production.
Why This Release Matters
String libraries are everywhere, but few capture the raw energy of a group like the London Contemporary Orchestra. Their work has already shaped modern music in subtle ways, from the textures on Radiohead’s A Moon Shaped Pool to the massive soundtracks of blockbuster films. With this instrument, those same textures are now accessible without needing a massive scoring budget.
At $99, LCO Producer Strings is priced for accessibility while still offering depth that stands alongside more expensive cinematic packages. It’s a bridge between traditional scoring libraries and experimental sound design tools — a place where strings can be both familiar and completely fresh.
Pricing and Availability
LCO Producer Strings is available now for $99 / €99 / £89 through Native Instruments. It runs in Kontakt 8 and supports NKS for streamlined integration with NI hardware.
For more info, head to Native Instruments’ official site.
