Sample Libraries

Modartt’s modelled piano goes from strength to strength and is now, remarkably, available for iOS.

Rating ***** 5/5 Stars. The latest in UJAM’s Beatmaker collection is Cozy, released with the aim of tapping into the lo‑fi market that has become so popular in recent years.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Rytmik II follows the same broad concept as the original version but promises to make something that was already very good even better.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Sample Logic’s Drum Fury Motion combines a sample‑based drum and percussion library with a powerful step‑based pattern sequencing engine.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Currently retailing at a cool £156k, the nine‑foot Steinway Model D‑274 grand is the star in this Spitfire Audio piano sample library.

Hot on the heels of EZkeys 2 comes its first sound expansion, Soul Roads EKX.

Cinematique Instruments’ inspirational virtual instrument receives a major reworking.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. As with the original Atlantis release, the style of the vocal samples for Atlantis 2 suits epic fantasy with a strong medieval/Celtic vibe.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Like its predecessors, Neon delivers a specific palette of sample‑based vintage and analogue synthesizer sounds alongside the impressively powerful Mosaic front end/engine.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Solaris GTR is an inexpensive yet impressive‑sounding virtual instrument that uses sampled guitar sounds as sources before processing them to create a range of delicate textures.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars. Double Bass Textures is capable of some pretty remarkable sounds, thanks to its enormous resonating cavity and potential to bow in numerous different styles.

If you like your drums heavy, the Hertz Drums Bundle might be just the thing.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. This hybrid/organic strings toolkit is a follow‑up to the company’s excellent Sunset Strings.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Looking for contemporary tribal and warrior percussion? Elements Cinematic Rhythms combines over 100 single instruments, hundreds of loops, an impressive collection of multi‑presets, internal sequencing, mic options and effects.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Hemisphere is simply gorgeous, with a varied range of carefully curated sound sources, additional effects, and some unique features.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. If you have a liking for the unconventional in your virtual instruments, then Cinematique Instruments should be on your radar.

Orchestral Tools get up close and personal with some intimate soundscapes.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. The second instalment in Spitfire’s new modular series is a direct continuation of the first.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Sandstorm provides an easy‑to‑use platform for creating evolving soundscapes and sonic textures.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars. The instrument allows users to pick any two clarinet textures from a library of 15 available textures, blending and shaping them with onboard tools.

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. If you have a passion for composing for film/TV contexts, or for more experimental song‑based production, then Void & Vista Strands may be worth auditioning.