Sample Libraries

EastWest take all the famous synth sounds from the hits of the ’80s and put them in one virtual instrument.

Can NI make Komplete even more complete?

A striking new sample collection brings SAM’s orchestral percussion bang up to date.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars. This library is Christian Henson’s attempt to combine the Yorkshire brass tradition with the sound of his favourite film noir soundtracks.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars. MusicLab's new virtual instrument samples the Godin Multiac Spectrum SA, a semi‑solid‑bodied hybrid that shares the qualities of both electric and acoustic guitars.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars. Devastator Breakout is the latest and largest library in Keepforest’s cinematic Evolution series.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars. Disco Studio Strings offers a lush and authentic recreation of ’70s disco and funk string sections.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars. Built from a collection of acoustic, mechanical, and electronic toy‑like instruments, Low End Toys focuses on the lower end of the frequency spectrum.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 4/5 Stars. Capturing the sound of her personal Yamaha CP‑70 electric grand piano, Alicia's Electric Keys aims to cover "a vast range of tones that blend classic electric pianos with flexible modern soundscapes".

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 4/5 Stars. Pyramid's source sounds come from crystalline quartz instruments fashioned in the outline shape of pyramids.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars. Deep Pool blends detailed sampling of acoustic drums, electronic drums and some sound‑designed elements to create a suite of very stylish drum and percussion sounds.

Drum Workshop bring their considerable experience of drum hardware to the virtual world.

Toontrack’s latest EZX expansion brings classic and contemporary pop drums to EZdrummer and Superior Drummer.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars. While aimed firmly at media composers, Arpology X could undoubtedly find its way into any contemporary electronic music context.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars. Oblivion: Aggression Designer unleashes a fresh set of rhythmic pedals, leads and basses, textures, pads, drones, stings, noises, risers and dives.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars. Striking Strings Glissandi is geared toward the common dilemma of creating string risers in a controlled manner, where you want strings to naturally rise to a climax.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars. Bowing to public demand, VSL's large sampling project now bears fruit in the shape of Synchron Solo Violin and Synchron Solo Cello.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars. Rebuilt and sporting a colourful, musically instructive new GUI, Balinese Gamelan has been relaunched to tie in with the release of the Balinese Flutes collection.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars. This sampled instrument takes the guitar sound and transforms it into something altogether more cinematic.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars. Sharing the same underlying sound‑design engine as 2023 release Strands, Folds is based upon samples of the human voice.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 Stars. Giving users a perfectly synchronised double string orchestra, VSL have added three new titles to the series.