Sample Libraries

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Looking for great layering options or want to create an orchestral mix using instruments which are different and folk‑like? Solstice delivers a surprising array of choices...

For their latest SD3 expansion, Toontrack made a pilgrimage to the hallowed ground of Rockfield Studios in Wales.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. If your next musical project needs to create the authentic sound of an old‑school, late‑night jazz club, Ueberschall’s Jazz Works series might make a great place to start.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Bold is a sound library with a colourful user interface that features sampled drums, effects/Foley, keys and bass sounds.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. These cinematic libraries focus on bowed guitar and bowed piano textures.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. This loop‑based instrument uses threerhythmic layers plus processing to create rhythm loops, sequencer‑like riffs, pulses, grooves and even shifting textures.

Spitfire’s blockbuster percussion library makes a big impact.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. This library leans more towards percussion but there are still plenty of drum sounds included to provide a complete sound palette for creating ethnic rhythms.

Rating: 5/5 Stars. This deep-sampled, pristine sound library focuses on more traditional tuned percussion: tubular bells, crotales and glockenspiel.

Rating: 5/5 Stars. Saxophone Explorations is not your traditional instrumental sample library, but an eclectic and diverse set of samples, which take the instrument to the outer edges of its technical and tonal capabilities.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Based on evocative female vocal sounds performed by soprano Roksana Korban, this vocal library is more about texture and ambience than creating realistic lead melodies.

Slate + Ash take a different approach to the orchestral sample library.

VSL’s new hall‑recorded brass collection aims for maximum grandeur.

Rating: 4/5 Stars. As the title suggests, the main instrument is a very decent Musser M250 concert marimba sampled at multiple dynamics over its full A2‑C7 range.

Rating: 4/5 Stars. If you need keyboard‑based parts but don’t have keyboard‑based skills (or a budget to hire them), EZkeys is a seriously good tool.

Rating: 4/5 Stars. Emerge is a huge collection of overtly processed sounds divided into categories and then subcategories for use in contemporary soundtrack composition.

Soniccouture’s new library steps into a strange new world of sci‑fi and horror.

A top‑tier film composer shares his coveted percussion collection. Is this the best cinematic drums library ever?

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Whether you are a busy media composer or producer of song‑based music, this library is great for designing complex evolving pad/drone‑type sounds.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. This Stefano Maccarelli production with vocals provided by the hugely versatile Clara Sorace, includes five multisampled Kontakt instruments, all with a Middle Eastern flavour.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars.  This lovely little library blends beautifully with the rest of the Big Bang Orchestra range.