Sample Libraries

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Slow offers a selection of mainly gentle sounds that would slot well into ambient or New Age compositions...

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Need the distinctive tones of a dobro guitar, but can't play the real thing? IK Multimedia’s The Resonator can help plug your skill gap...

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. These affordable mini‑libraries provide users with the immediately recognisable and colourful instrumental combinations frequently heard in classic movie scores.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. This 3GB of sample content is aimed at the more raucous end of the drumming scale; think rock, garage, punk and grunge.

Toontrack add a fine and upstanding acoustic expansion for EZbass.

Orchestral Tools’ Baroque collection shines a modern light on a historic sound.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. As a type of tuned percussion, Hang Drum's roots in the steel drums of the Caribbean are obvious but, in the right hands, the sound can be both beautiful and hypnotic.

Rating: **** 4/5 Stars. Zero G’s Elements is a Wavetable Hybrid Synth aimed at those working on creating contemporary soundtracks and sound design...

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Nova is a sample‑based virtual instrument built around a collection of textures, pads and soundscapes.

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.