Sample Libraries

Rating: ***** 5/5 Stars. Rhythmus is built from over 2.5GB of samples taken from a variety of ‘found’ percussion.

EastWest/Quantum Leap unveil their expanded orchestral masterwork and built‑in orchestrator.

Audiobro faces the future with an all‑new divisi strings collection.

Rating ***** 5/5 Stars. For quick and effortless choral mock‑ups, or even more complete works, Choir Essentials boasts a healthy 11.5GB of sample content at a very attractive price.

Rating **** 4/5 Stars. As promised at the time of release, Spitfire Audio are now following up Abbey Road One with a series of smaller, inexpensive mini‑libraries derived from the main collection.

Rating **** 4/5 Stars. As the title suggests, this is a collection of string‑based sound effects designed with horror or tension in mind.

Rating **** 4/5 Stars. The Cinesamples approach to granular synthesis is based on a library of samples taken from recordings of violinist Michael Levine, which are divided into textures, pulses, pads, one‑shots and sound design patches.

Cinematic Studio’s eagerly anticipated Woodwinds library does not disappoint.

We look at the Gospel according to Toontrack.

The Vienna samplemeisters expand their Synchron orchestral range.

Rating **** 4/5 Stars. While Fractured Strings is a fully paid‑up product, Broken Strings is a freely available instrument, with samples drawn from a warped‑Nyckelharp and a broken Autoharp.

Rating **** 4/5 Stars. Auddict are back with a further library that uses the PercX engine: Raw Drum Kits, aimed more at songwriter/producer types.

Rating **** 4/5 Stars. As with its predecessor, this toolkit lacks any rhythmic material, but its astonishing sounds are well worth the entry price.

Rating ***** 5/5 Stars. DEEP’s drum sample content and collections of drum pattern style sets give it a distinct musical flavour within the UJAM drum line‑up.