Soundpaint Solo Woodwinds & Brass

Soundpaint’s affordable wind instruments contain some hidden treasures.

Anyone engaged in contemporary virtual orchestration will likely be familiar with the name Troels Folmann. Since 2009 this voluble Danish composer has created hundreds of sample libraries, initially under the Tonehammer banner in conjunction with sound designer Mike Peaslee, then in creative partnership with producer Tawnia Knox, who co‑founded the snappily‑named 8Dio Productions with Folmann in 2011.

Based in West Hollywood, California, 8Dio’s extensive catalogue features epic choirs, cinematic percussion and a sprawling range of orchestral sample products that run the gamut from a solo oboe to the 240‑piece Majestica mega‑orchestra. The Legion series’ 66‑player bass, cello, trombone and tuba ensembles are similarly gargantuan, while the musically detailed Century Strings, Century Brass and Adagio string series feature more traditional ensemble sizes.

In October 2021 Folmann and Knox launched Soundpaint, a free, easy‑to‑use sample player jam‑packed with features (see box for more info). Accompanying the new engine was a free deep‑sampled 1928 vintage Steinway grand piano and an intriguing assortment of high‑quality new instruments. The remarkable thing about these products was their price — in a world where sample developers routinely charge hundreds of pounds for their wares, many of them cost $20 or less.

After nearly four years of development, Soundpaint’s catalogue has grown into an Aladdin’s cave of affordable instruments that promise many hours of fun for the acquisitive sample user. I found much to admire in this astonishingly diverse collection, so to get started I’ll shine the spotlight on Soundpaint’s solo woodwinds and brass.

Solo Woodwinds: Flutes

Soundpaint’s seven solo woodwinds made their debut some years ago as the rather expensive 8Dio Claire Woodwinds Kontakt library. The collection has now been re‑formatted for Soundpaint and can be bought as single instruments at decidedly affordable prices. Recorded from close, Decca Tree and wide microphone positions in the amazing concert hall of the Cultural and Congress Centre, Zlín, Czech Republic, these woodwinds feature some exceptional specimens.

The concert hall of the Cultural and Congress Centre, Zlín, Czech Republic, venue for the recording of many of the libraries on review here.

The flute family is represented by the 2004 Flute Platinus, 2001 Piccolo Shire and 1987 Alto Flute Savana. An unnamed flautist sets the tone with some beautifully expressive performances — her platinum instrument’s sweet‑sounding high register is perfect for romantic themes and dramatic swirling note flurries. The versatile piccolo can also tug the heartstrings with romantic melodies, evoke visions of a Hobbit‑ridden English countryside with rustic melodies, or burst your eardrums with piercing fortissimo shrieks. All good stuff, but if you want one flute to rule them all, the alto flute’s sultry, breathy mellow tone, superbly consistent timbre and infinitely stretched range can sound like a complete flute family when played chordally.

Solo Woodwinds: Reeds

In the reed corner we have the 1967 Clarinet Paris, 1982 Oboe Amore, 1995 English Horn Lorium and 2010 Bassoon Firebird. Played with no vibrato in the orchestral style, this Bb clarinet is unsuitable for hot Dixieland jazz but will function perfectly in a traditional score. I like the instrument’s effortless smooth deliveries and liquid, rounded tone, the only small flaw being the noticeably unclean attack of its mf sustains’ E5‑F5 register.

Formerly known as Claire Oboe Virtuoso, the Oboe Amore is not an actual oboe d’amore, but has a strikingly bright, plaintive and distinctive sound of...