Ableton have released four new collections of sampled orchestral instruments for Live, their audio and MIDI sequencing software package. The four libraries are categorised in the four sections of an orchestra: Strings, Brass, Woodwinds and Percussion, and can be purchased separately or in a bundle, called the Orchestral Instruments Collection.

Solo instruments include violin, viola, cello, double bass, French horn, trombone, trumpet, tuba, flute, clarinet, bassoon, oboe, English horn, vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, crotales, glockenspiel, tubular bells, cymbals and timpani, giving the user an entire orchestra at their fingertips.

Ableton say that they’ve employed world-class musicians, engineers and producers to record the samples, with multiple velocity layers and numerous different articulations.

To help users make the most out of their orchestral libraries, a technology that’s built into Live (called Smart Priming) manages system resources, and enables users to run as many instances of the instruments as possible. What’s more, each instrument is available in high- and low-fidelity versions, the latter of which can be used for tracking, where CPU resources are limited and top quality isn't essential, and the former employed during the mixdown, for example.

All the new collections are available from Ableton’s web shop now, with the full bundle costing just under £400 at the time of writing. Audio demos of the Orchestral Instrument Collection can also be found on the Ableton web site.

www.ableton.com