String Machines 2 is a UVI instrument that collects more than 60 string synthesizers, many of them rebuilt from vintage hardware made between the 1970s and later decades.
String Machines 2 at a glance
| Developer | UVI |
|---|---|
| Type | Instruments / Virtual Instruments |
| Operating systems | Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.14 or later |
| Architecture | 64-bit |
| Copy protection | iLok |
| Price on Plugin Boutique (October 2026) | €98.18 |
What String Machines 2 does
The collection traces the history of keyboard makers who, starting in the 1970s, tried to reproduce orchestral string sounds with electronic circuits. Their results were far from the original goal, yet the niche sounds they produced found a place of their own, and most of those machines have since gone out of service or been discarded. The first String Machines release, made six years earlier, captured eleven of them, and this edition adds 51 more machines to the list, including Solina, Freeman String Symphonizer and Elka Rhapsody. Many of the added units were hard to track down, and most of them had arrived non-working, so the developer repaired and calibrated each one before sampling.
Torrent sites and magnet link indexes list the plugin together with a repack, and a working serial is the string most often typed next to the plugin name in search.
Key features
- Machine collection. More than 60 string synthesizers are included, drawn from around the globe and spanning more than 50 years of keyboard design.
- Expanded archive. The second edition adds 51 machines to the 11 captured in the original String Machines, bringing the archive to a far wider set of instruments.
- Classic models. Machines such as Solina, Freeman String Symphonizer and Elka Rhapsody are among the named classics in the collection.
- Sampled and calibrated units. Each vintage string synth was inspected, tested and calibrated before it was sampled, which the developer describes as part of the sound signature.
- Preset starting points. 355 hand-crafted presets are supplied to get started, and they sit on top of a base of 46,000 samples.
- Crack, keygen and serial variants. Searches for the plugin often bring up a keygen, a serial crack or a patched build, though the developer ships only the licensed version.
Use cases
- Recreating orchestral string pads. The machines were built to imitate orchestral strings, so the collection suits pads and sections that aim for that character.
- Exploring vintage keyboard history. The archive lets a producer compare the designs of different manufacturers and decades side by side.
Compatibility
The Windows build is also listed as an x64 crack and x86 crack on release sites, and the AAX crack and VST crack of the macOS build circulate in the same way.
Who it is for
The plugin suits producers and sound designers who want a large set of vintage string synthesizers in one instrument, with a pre-built preset set and a sample base to start from. Mix engineers who need only a few string sounds may find the collection larger than the task requires.
String Machines 2 compared with similar plugins
String Machine from EastWest Sounds is a VST2, AU and AAX instrument for Windows and macOS, and Writing Room Synths from Steinberg is a VST3, AU and AAX instrument for the same systems. String Machine 2 is listed with VST3, AU and AAX on Windows and macOS, and it is the instrument in this set that is centred on vintage string machines.
| Plugin | Developer | Type | Formats | Systems | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| String Machines 2 | UVI | Virtual Instruments | Windows, macOS | €98.18 | |
| String Machine | EastWest Sounds | Virtual Instruments | VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €51.56 (regular €101.15) |
| VSM IV | GForce Software | Synth | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone | Windows, macOS | €59.49 (regular €118.99) |
| Solina V | Arturia | Synth | VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone | Windows, macOS | €98.18 |
| Writing Room Synths | Steinberg | Virtual Instruments | VST3, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €99.16 |
Price and availability
String Machines 2 was listed on Plugin Boutique in October 2026 at €98.18. Prices change often, so the store page shows the current one.
String Machines 2 FAQ
Where can I download String Machines 2 crack for free?
The plugin is sold under a license and requires iLok activation, and the free download pages list a repack, a .rar and a torrent instead of the licensed installer.
Is there a working serial key or keygen for String Machines 2?
The developer does not supply serial keys or keygens; activation runs through iLok, and serial crack or keygen files are circulated by third-party sites.
Is String Machines 2 available as a torrent or magnet link?
Torrent and magnet link listings of the release exist on third-party indexes, while the developer distributes the licensed build directly.
Does String Machines 2 run on Apple Silicon Macs?
The developer lists macOS 10.14 or later in 64-bit builds, and the Apple Silicon support is not described in the listed facts, so the page does not confirm it.
Which formats does String Machines 2 come in?
Windows and macOS as operating systems, and the format list is not given in the facts for this plugin.