I am often asked via email & YouTube comments what are my go-to sample libraries and so in this newsletter I thought I would provide you with my favourites, from free offerings up to the more expensive. (Most of the paid libraries will have sales in the next few weeks as well.)

Most DAWs come with stock samples, although rarely with a good selection of orchestral sample libraries. No fear though - it is much easier to get your hands on some great sounding libraries either completely for free or for a small cost, that won't break the bank. Below are my favourite libraries from the free, cheap and cheerful, all the way through to higher end libraries, which will require some investment.

Free Sample Libraries

BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover (Spitfire Audio)

​https://www.spitfireaudio.com/virtual-instruments/bbc-symphony-orchestra-discover#walkthrough​

The BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover library is the cut down version of the main BBC Symphony Orchestra range by Spitfire Audio. It offers amazing value for money, as it provides various articulations for nearly every instrument in the orchestra, for you to have at your fingertips.

Taking up just 174mb on your hard drive, while it lacks details such as dynamic layers or round robins, (which help to make samples sound more realistic), it requires minimal computer resources, meaning that just about any computer will be able to run these sounds. Perfect for any composer just starting out!

Project Sam The Free Orchestra 1 & 2

​https://projectsam.com/libraries/the-free-orchestra​

A lot of the patches in these two libraries are taken from Project Sam's flagship Symphobia series, which used to cost thousands. Primarily ensemble-based libraries, the number of instruments or articulations is not as comprehensive as BBC Discover, but the high quality of the instruments make this an absolute must for any composer who wants to build their collection of samples.

Performance Samples Pacific Percussion Freebee

​https://www.performancesamples.com/pacific-percussion/#description​

I love a great Percussion library - adding percussion to a piece is probably my most favourite part of composing so I am always actively looking for great sample libraries.

This basic library features 6 instruments, ranging from stick hits, Toms, Taikos, Tenor Drum and a Bass drum. Although there isn't a huge selection of instruments to choose from, the patches available are extremely playable. If you are just starting out with percussion libraries, I wouldn't hesitate to download this one right away.
Note: needs full version of Kontakt.

Small investment

8dio Epic Dhol, Epic Toms & Epic Frame Drum $28 each

​https://8dio.com/products/epic-dhol-ensemble?variant=41309929668808 ​

Yes, it is percussion again but these are my oldest libraries - Epic Dhol was the first sample library I ever bought, back in 2010! They are my all time favourite percussion libraries and I use them in the majority of my compositions that need it. I cannot recommend enough!
These are actually on offer at the moment from $78 to $28 so worth a purchase if you can.

Nucleus Lite Audio Imperia - $99

​https://www.audioimperia.com/product/nucleus-lite-edition/​

Like the BBC Discover library, 'Nucleus Lite' by Audio Imperia is a cut down version of their main offering 'Nucleus'. The library is an example of an 'ensemble' library - instead of individual instruments such as Violins or Violas available separately, each section is recorded together, which can help to give a more unified sound.

Featuring long and short articulations for each main family of the orchestra, including Choir, the library also offers two mixes for each sound - 'Classic' and 'Modern', which help you to tweak the sound to your liking.

When I was getting the website links for these libraries, I noticed I feature on Audio Imperia's page, with an older YouTube video I made on the library. If you want to take a look (and listen) to these sounds check out the video below:

Investment

Spitfire Audio Albion One - £399

​https://www.spitfireaudio.com/albion-one​

This library was recorded in the popular Lyndhurst Hall at Air Studios in London. I have been lucky enough to visit the hall numerous times - it's influence on the sound of Hollywood movies is immeasurable. The original Spitfire Albion was Spitfire Audio's first main commercially available library, released in 2011.

Albion One is an updated version of the original Albion. The library contains a 109 piece Orchestra, featuring mainly ensemble patches as well as loops and some synth sounds. Keep an eye on their website because they do seem to offer sales on this particular library quite regularly.

Cinematic Studio Strings - $399

​https://cinematicstudioseries.com/strings/​

I could not write a newsletter on sample libraries without including this one in particular. I think it is the one library that I use on just about any piece that has Strings. There are a whole host of articulations and the sound quality of the library is fantastic. A truly workhorse library, which you'll find on just about every Hollywood Composer's system.

Metropolis Ark 1 - £549

​https://www.orchestraltools.com/store/collections/metropolis-ark-1​

This orchestral library is focused more on the brash loud sounds that are needed for more epic music styles, such as trailer music. Again an ensemble based library, it features a huge array of articulations, or playing techniques, giving you plenty of options. As well as all the main sections of an orchestra, it features some AMAZING choir sounds (my favourites from any library, including specialised choir libraries!) along with some rock instruments such as guitar and drums. Given the price, it's also the biggest library in terms of GB, coming in at nearly 70GB.

Omnisphere - $499

​https://www.spectrasonics.net/products/omnisphere/​

I am going to include a synthesiser here as I can guarantee this is in every well known film composer's studio. Containing thousands of patches (with many more available from awesome 3rd party patch developers such as The Unfinished), many say it will take you a lifetime to explore all of it's features and sounds.

I could ramble on all day about the best libraries out there but these are my absolute favourites and ones you will see most regularly on my videos, my course & any of my library music.

If you want more information or to hear some of these libraries in action, I have another video on my YouTube channel that compares the sounds of 5 Orchestral Sample Libraries. I play the exact same piece, with default settings so you can get an idea of how each sample library compares to others.