music composer’s COMPLETE guide to sample libraries

Updated Feb. 9, 2022

Don’t write another note until you’ve read this short guide ($17 value)!

There are hundreds of companies vying for your attention – many sample instruments and plugins are good, but only a handful are great among the sea of saturation.

Keep in mind that some of these companies offer educational discounts around 30% off and most give significant discounts on Cyber Monday week each year, up to 70% off! Waiting for these sales can go a long way, especially if you plan to buy multiple products at once. Also know that it may take several years to acquire a full setup. I suggest only purchasing what you need to compose for a current project. In many cases, you can add a Music Gear line item to your project budgets to afford the purchase of new libraries. I’ve done this many times to great effect, specifically when a client has requested a sound or instrument that I didn’t have – I would just add the cost of that purchase to my bill in order to enhance the quality of my music and clients have happily paid for this every time. Here’s my top list for any music composer on a budget seeking to assemble a balanced tool belt for composing any orchestral or electronic soundtrack:

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NATIVE INSTRUMENTS: KOMPLETE 13 ULTIMATE ($1,054)

If I could only choose one purchase to last the rest of my career as a composer, it would be Komplete 13 Ultimate by Native Instruments. This insane bundle includes over 100 products and effects, 47,000 sounds, and over 600GB of library content! Most notable in the bundle is Kontakt, a sampler that allows you to create your own sample instruments from scratch. This one plugin has single-handedly changed the way I write music and develop my unique sonic fingerprint. Other staple instruments include Massive, Absynth, FM8, and Reaktor  – all incredibly deep synthesizers that allow you to create an infinite supply of custom electronic sounds from the ground up. Battery is an amazingly useful drum machine and the gigantic number of orchestral instruments, rock instruments, ethnic instruments, and pianos in Komplete is truly all-inclusive. Specific to the Ultimate version are Damage (the premier industrial percussion engine), Evolve cinematic sounds bundle, Symphony Essentials (woodwinds, brass, strings), industry-leading piano samples Una Corda and Alicia’s Keys, and so much more. When comparing versions, I don’t recommend Komplete 13 Select due to the lack of full-version Kontakt (it only includes the free Kontakt Player) and its mild selection of synths. When you purchase through Amazon, this Ultimate bundle includes a physical external hard drive to house all the samples, so this is a great deal to take advantage of.

RED ROOM AUDIO: PALETTE – SYMPHONIC SKETCHPAD ($299)

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Red Room Audio is a new sample library company that has entered the market swinging hard. Their flagship all-in-one orchestral suite Palette: Symphonic Sketchpad features 20 patches that covers the full breadth of modern music production: Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion, Piano, Harp, Choir, Trailer Tools, & a Synth engine. This quality for the price is unmatched, especially for beginning composers who can only afford to invest in one tool for a cohesive sound across all their work. I highly suggest picking this one up and slowly adding more specific libraries over time (a dedicated Strings library, a dedicated Brass library, etc.).

sonokinetic: indie / LARGO / Grosso / espressivo / noir ($297-357)

Indie, Largo, Grosso, Espressivo, & Noir are some of the many sample-based orchestral suites by Sonokinetic. These all-in-one plugins focus on one particular style of composing and feature 100% live recordings that are deeply programmed in Kontakt to stretch to your tempo, start & stop on designated beats of a measure, and delicately change chords as needed. As a bonus, MIDI can be easily transferred between all Sonokinetic products, so the more you own, the easier your composing becomes. I can’t think of a faster way to inject your music with the quality of live instruments on a budget. While these libraries can rarely suffice on their own, they make for incredible beds to build the remainder of your tracks on. The video above is a track I composed in 2 hours with Largo.

SPECTRASONICS: OMNISPHERE 2 ($479)

Omnisphere is the industry-standard synth sampler. I’ve never seen a professional studio without it. I use Omnisphere in almost every track I write. Its extensive library contains thousands of useful presets – most notably Synth Pads, Synth Leads, and Keyboards of all kinds.

heavyocity: gravity ($449)

Gravity by Heavyocity is a powerhouse Kontakt library with hundreds of preset synths, including a full range of sounds: Hits, Pads, Risers, & Stings – all fit for dark & epic environments. This is an ideal library for those who want rich synths without the desire to program custom patches.

U-HE: ZEBRA 2 ($225)

Zebra 2 is my favorite synthesizer, used by Hans Zimmer on many of his film scores. Urs Heckmann designed this synth to mimic analog modular synths. Zimmer’s exact patches from the Dark Knight film series can be purchased in the Dark Zebra expansion.

8Dio’s latest brass library The New Century Ensemble Brass features every possible articulation for each brass ensemble: 4 trumpets, 2 trumpets, 12 horns, 6 horns, 2 horns, & 3 trombones. This may be a small library, but its legato samples are phenomenal. The New Century Brass Solos features solo horn, trumpet, flugel horn, trombone, bass trombone, cimbasso, and tuba. These two libraries combined give you a full brass section full of warmth and realism. The New Century Brass series focuses on a realistic orchestral sound vs. CineBrass (below) that focuses on a bigger-than-life bright Hollywood trailer sound.

CineSamples: CineBrass Complete ($1199)

There are numerous brass libraries on the market, but only one that I consider a true catch-all for all genres. CineSamples records all its orchestral libraries at the iconic Sony Pictures Scoring Stage in Los Angeles, so their libraries capture a distinct Hollywood sound. CineSamples splits all its orchestral articulations into two packs – Core and Pro. The Core versions contain all basic short and long articulations and the Pro features even more interesting play styles and European orchestral instruments. I consider both essential for a balanced orchestral library palette.

embertone: chapman trumpet & tuba ($30)

If you need a solo trumpet and tuba, look no further than Chapman Trumpet by Embertone. This is the most realistic trumpet sample I’ve ever used. It sounds great by itself, but can also be doubled with any other trumpet library for extra realism. Even though Chapman Tuba isn’t mentioned on the sales page, this bonus patch is included in the library and functions just as musically as the Chapman Trumpet.

SONOKinetic: woodwinds ensembles ($434)

If you want the highest-quality and simplest woodwind ensembles on the market, look no further than Woodwinds Ensembles by Sonokinetic. With only 4 patches, Sonokinetic packs every playable articulation into each instrument ensemble: flutes, oboes, Bb clarinets, & bassoons. Every articulation can be triggered by clicking or a corresponding keyswitch. For quick ensemble writing, I suggest combining all 4 patches together into a Kontakt multi – this way you can change articulations across all 4 patches simultaneously with one key press. The only downside to this library is that it doesn’t have any solo woodwinds. For those, we’ll need to look at CineSamples CineWinds or 8DIO Claire Woodwinds.

CINESAMPLES: CINEWINDS BUNDLE ($899)

CineWinds Core and Pro are the industry standards for woodwind solos. Core includes the basic short and long articulations of the standard woodwind section solos (flute, oboe, Bb clarinet, and bassoon). Pro features the extended woodwind section (alto and bass flute, English horn, Eb clarinet) and multiple great non-orchestral woodwinds, such as the Uilleann pipes, whistles, and recorders.


8DIO: CLAIRE WOODWINDS BUNDLE ($688)

If you already own a woodwind ensemble library, picking up Claire Woodwinds will fill in your need for solo woodwinds – the heart of emotional orchestral music. This library contains seven deeply sampled legato solo woodwinds, including: piccolo, flute, alto flute, oboe, English horn, Bb clarinet, and bassoon. Each instrument is crafted for ultra-realistic performances, featuring patches for both slow and fast passages. These are the most realistic orchestral samples I have ever used. If the higher price is a concern, consider picking up any of the solo woodwinds individually for $138 each. Above is a track I wrote using Claire Woodwinds.

SPITFIRE AUDIO

Spitfire has the highest-quality string libraries on the market, but they are also the most expensive by far. Spitfire is in the United Kingdom, so all their recordings have a distinct British film sound. They have dedicated string ensembles for every scoring occasion, so browse through their guide to choosing the most appropriate for your needs.


8DIO: ADAGIETTO STRINGS ($118)

Adagietto Strings is the most price-sensitive string collection on the market. Its roster is simple with only 4 instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass. Each instrument is deeply sampled with the most realistic legato, staccato, spiccato, tremolo, and pizzicato patches. You won’t find extended techniques here (trills, glissandos, col legno, etc.), but when combined with Spitfire strings, this is a powerhouse budget combo.


sonokinetic: ostinato strings ($109)

Sonokinetic is most known for its Performance-Based Samples where phrases trigger when you play a key on your MIDI keyboard instead of an individual note. Of the Sonokinetic Ostinato series, I’ve found Ostinato Strings to be the most valuable for creating a driving string ostinato that serves as a foundation to build a track on top of. Ostinato Strings is the most realistic string library I’ve ever used, but you will be limited to the rhythms and chord changes built within the programming of this Kontakt library. Thankfully, it’s easy to use and deeply flexible.

embertone: joshua bell violin ($199)

Joshua Bell Violin by Embertone is the most thrilling sample instrument I have ever played. As a violinist myself, my mouth is left wide-open every time I record with this library. Its programming is unparalleled and will leave you questioning if you should even bother recording live violinists anymore…it’s that good. Don’t believe me? Check out the video above where I reviewed it for Embertone (this is the top track on the Joshua Bell Violin sales page)!

EMBERTONE: Intimate solo strings bundle ($297)

Just as important as large, sweeping string ensembles are for your tracks, solo strings play a vital role too. Intimate Solo Strings by Embertone is the most price-sensitive solo string collection on the market. It only contains 4 instruments – Friedlander Violin, Fischer Viola, Blakus Cello, & Leonid Bass – but each is deeply sampled with every needed articulation. None of these are nearly as musical as Joshua Bell Violin (released years later than Intimate Solo Strings), but will have to do until Embertone blesses us with viola, cello, and bass libraries just as powerful.

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Saga: Acoustic Trailer Percussion is the go-to library for all things acoustic percussion, including Orchestral & World Drum Ensembles, World Solo Drums, Cymbals & Gongs, Oil Drums, Anvils, Destroyed Metals, & Field Recordings (battle gear, tools, machinery, metal doors, tanks, & giant solos). Watch my review above and check it out for yourself!


HEAVYOCITY: DAMAGE 2 ($299)

When you need edgy, modern percussion for hybrid scores, Damage is the solution. This pack includes both loop and kits classified into four styles: Epic Organic, Epic Tech, Industrial Electronic, and Mangled Pop. My most-used patches are the epic Armageddon Ensemble and metallic Dumpster, highly useful when scoring movie trailers and television commercials. Keep in mind that Damage is included in Komplete 13 and buying this within a bundle will save you hundreds.

If you want the best choir library on the market, look no further. The best is also the most expensive though. The Insolidus Choir by 8DIO is a legato choir complete with 4 microphone positions, 4 spot microphones, a phrase-sequencer, dynamic multi-vowels, shorts, sustains, and tonal effects. It has everything you need to create a huge, lush choir for epic moments in your projects.

sonokinetic: tutti vox ($357)

Tutti Vox by Sonokinetic is the most interesting choir library on the market in my opinion due to its incredible atonal-centric phrases and chanting techniques. If you want a dark & brooding choir for your epic music, look no further. This library even contains lyrical vowels, making it a strong contender against 8DIO Insolidus Choir at a cheaper price point. Above is a track that I composed featuring Tutti Vox chants and Sonokinetic Espressivo.


SOUNDIRON: REQUIEM LIGHT ($199)

There are numerous choir libraries on the market, but Requiem Light is my top budget recommendation. It contains full choir, male choir, female choir, and soloists with legato vowels, staccato shouts, and a phrase builder. Even though this library is slightly dated, Requiem Light remains my favorite sample choir in any epic orchestral scoring situation.


8DIO: Barbary solo vocals ($78)

If you need a soaring soprano, Barbary Solo Vocals by 8DIO is the way to go. From English to Gaelic to chants, Barbary contains hundreds of phrases that will add depth to your tracks.

SPITFIRE LABS: ERIC WHITACRE CHOIR (FREE)

This choir only features one simple Ooo articulation, but this instrument is too good to be free. This choir is at home in any soft, ambient orchestral track.

JADE Ethnic Orchestra by Strezov Sampling is the a one-of-a-kind library featuring the most iconic Chinese instruments for film & video game scores. This large collection includes both solo and ensemble Ethnic Bowed strings, Plucked strings, Woodwinds, Choirs, Percussion, & Sound Design Pads...this thing has it all for adding an ethnic flare to your scores. The price tag is high, but so is the quality.

UVI: WORLD SUITE ($299)

With over 320 ethnic instruments (50,000 samples) and 8,000 loops and phrases, World Suite by UVI is an essential collection of traditional instruments from around the globe. This one suite fills in the gap where Komplete 12 Ultimate and all the above orchestral libraries fall short. World music is often overlooked by composers but is a crucial piece for crafting modern soundtracks for international markets. This pack features instrument categories: Africa, Asia, Australia, Celtic, Eastern Europe, India, Indonesia, Middle East, Occidental, South America, Spanish Gypsy, and West Indies. Above is a short film I scored using World Suite extensively.

embertone: shire whistle ($20) / ivory wind (FREE)

Shire Whistle & Ivory Wind by Embertone are two of my favorite ethnic sample instruments. Embertone’s unparalelled Kontakt scripting makes both of these wind instruments deeply musical and usable in a variety of tracks.

If you’re seeking to create authentic retro video game music, DefleMask is the best tracker available. Unlike DAWs, trackers notate music through hexadecimal code and require a bit of learning. The result is well worth the effort though. DefleMask allows you to compose chiptunes for SEGA Genesis, SEGA Master System, Nintendo Game Boy, NEC PC-Engine, Nintendo NES, Commodore 64, and Arcade System – all with the same coding language. When you finish a track, you can export it as a WAV (to be used in a game engine) or a VGM/MMF/ROM to port it directly into the original console hardware. Best of all, Deflemask is free and available on both PC and Mac. Above is a track I wrote in DefleMask for Cybarian: The Time Travelling Warrior.

 

PLOGUE: CHIPSOUNDS ($95)

If you plan to compose video game music in a DAW, Chipsounds is a must-have. Thankfully, traditional 8Bit channels (pulse wave, triangle wave, and white noise) are easy to emulate freely in most default DAW synths. However, when you decide to dive deeper into recreating vintage sounds such as old arcade chips, Atari 2600, Commodore 64, etc., your options are to compose in a tracker, acquire the actual hardware, or use Chipsounds in a DAW. As much as I enjoy composing in trackers, there are times when I need the flexibility of composing MIDI in a DAW with the exact retro sounds.


IMPACT SOUNDWORKS: SUPER AUDIO CART ($149)

Super Audio Cart by Impact Soundworks is the definitive sample library for 8-bit & 16-bit video game consoles including Atari 2600, Commodore 64, Nintendo NES, Nintendo Famicom, Nintendo Game Boy, Super Nintendo, SEGA Master System, and SEGA Genesis. Above is a track I composed with Super Audio Cart.

UGRITONE: KOJI 16-BIT VST ($45)

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The 16-bit Super Nintendo sound is characterized by highly-compressed samples. Most SNES composers created their own samples by compressing sounds from Yamaha keyboards into small enough sizes to fit on the limited game cartridge memory – the result was a unique instrument palette for each game. Thankfully, Ugritone has done this sampling and compression process with Koji (named after legendary composer Koji Kondo, who crafted the soundscapes of Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda). This simple library includes 57 instruments, all crafted for instant composing out-of-the-box. Koji has been a vital addition to my 16-bit SNES templates.

SONOKINETIC: Arpeggio ($54)

If you need just a harp, Arpeggio by Sonokinetic has you covered. This solo orchestral harp features every articulation a harp can play: short, sustain, tremolo, glissandi, FX, and everything in-between.

8DIO: The new acoustic grand ensembles II ($198)

If you’d like a harp ensemble and the power to mutate it into an endless number of synths, pads, & ambiances, check out The New Acoustic Grand Ensembles II by 8DIO. This library contains ensemble recordings of harps, cimbaloms, marbimas, and windchimes. The clean samples of multiple articulations are fantastic, but this library shines most when you use the synth tools to create new alien sounds.

Keyscape is the industry-standard keyboard sampler. This massive collection features 36 keyboard models, including the famous Yamaha C7 grand, Rhodes electric pianos, Wurlitzers, Planets, Clavichord, and many more. I use the pianos in this library on almost every project. As a bonus, all Keyscape patches can be loaded directly into Omnisphere 2 to create versatile multis. Above is a film score I wrote using Keyscape extensively.

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS: NOIRE ($149)

Noire is the latest piano VST by Native Instruments and is a faithful studio sampling of the legendary Yamaha C7 grand piano. This rich tone is ideal for cinematic, jazz, and pop music. Aside from an amazingly intimate piano, Noire also includes a particle engine that transforms the piano into a pad-like synth that can be mutated in infinite ways, providing incredible background ambiance for any of your tracks.

SPITFIRE LABS: SOFT PIANO (FREE)

This felt piano is extremely quiet and will need to be boosted (or doubled with another piano) to be audible in your mix, but this is the most beautiful, intimate piano sample I have every used…and it’s free! This is an ideal piano sample for soft film scenes. Spitfire Labs also offers other free instruments that are well-worth downloading.

The best mixers in the world use the least number of plugins. Yet, there are thousands of products on the market to choose from, most of which sell you the idea that you need large bundles of plugins to achieve a great mix. Instead, I encourage you to invest in a small number of high-quality mixing plugins and learn to use each well.  Every composer needs a quality equalizer (EQ), compressor, reverb, delay, limiter, ultramaximizer, and mastering suite. You will find all these with FabFilter Creative Bundle, Waves Diamond Bundle, 2CAudio Aether Reverb, and iZotope Ozone 9 Advanced. Once you’ve acquired these basic mixing essentials, consider adding more experimental plugins to your palette like Sound Toys 5, iZotope RX, or iZotope Iris 2.

Don’t write another note until you’ve read this short guide ($17 value)!