Sample Libraries

This large hammered dulcimer library runs on the full version of Kontakt 4.2.4 and higher (though not on the free Kontakt player), occupies 2.6GB of disk space and costs less than 50 quid.

To create Dream Machine, EZKeys engineers Mikael Stenberg and Viktor Hansson combined samples of a Fender Rhodes Mark 7 with those of a Schiedmayer Celeste, having discovered that the two instruments complimented each other extremely well.

Eduardo Tarilonte’s libraries always guarantee something special and unusual. Focusing heavily on instruments of ethnic origins and the past, they’re a goldmine for anyone scoring for movies, games or any music that needs a touch of magic.

Sampling veteran Kirk Hunter’s latest instrument aims to cater for all of your violin needs.

Oceania comprises two choirs — men and women — which can be used independently but are at their imposing best when played in tandem.

On offer here is a wide range of more abstract ‘wind-flavoured’ sounds — in fact, just about anything other than traditional brass and wind.

Film scores from the golden era of jazz were the inspiration for Sonokinetic’s latest sample library.

There exists in Bulgaria a rich choral tradition which sounds quite different from the Western classical vocal style....

Microrgan is a fairly straightforward instrument, based on an obscure 49-key reed organ that was made some time in the 1950s...

EastWest’s new Hollywood Choirs library combines cinematic gloss with sophisticated word-building tools.

Sahara not only captures the underlying sound and the unexpected warmth of the Enqoniq Mirage, but also its sometimes imperfect soul...

Available as an EZX expansion pack for Toontrack’s EZdrummer 2 and with an imminent release in Superior 3 format, UK Pop aims to wrap up six decades of UK pop drum sounds using four kits plus extra parts and cymbals, all recorded at RAK Studios in London.

Vir2’s compact and easy-to-use Vital Series of libraries continues with Sticks, whose sounds are derived from various sticks hitting various objects.

Fritz Lang’s Metropolis inspires a third epic sample collection, while Berlin Orchestra Inspire provides a full symphony orchestra in a single package.

Epic Risers and Epic Drops are designed for the full version of Kontakt (v.5.6 or later) and provide the sorts of ‘riser’ and ‘drop’ sounds that have become firm ear-candy favourites for cinematic composers, game sound designers, and music producers in various contemporary genres (EDM and hip hop).

Weighing in at a substantial 40GB uncompressed, SKU therefore has plenty of headroom to focus on sound quality and detail...

I took my first sound design job years ago on a television show whose budget barely afforded me the petrol to the studio. It...

Recording a library of acoustic guitar samples highlighted the importance of repeatability, blind testing, small lasers and double‑sided sticky tape.