Best Free Vst Symphony Strings

  • Best Strings VST Plugins. As far as paid orchestral & strings VST libraries go, there are definitely a lot to choose from. I will list the ones I think are the best here, but just know that most of the paid libraries available actually do sound extremely good. Cinematic Studio Strings ($399).
  • NI Symphony Series – String Ensemble v1.4.2 Kontakt Library 31.7 GB. A 60-piece string section recorded at Studio 22, Budapest. STRING ENSEMBLE has a tight, bold, and natural sound, with advanced performance controls for nuance and clarity.

Orchestral VSTs have never been more accessible to producers.

Beyond that, the string sections deliver rich sound coming from skillful input of outstanding players recorded in the best circumstances. With strings, texture and sound quality counts big time, and this VST string plugin guarantees that too.

Soaring strings, fluttering woodwinds, and deep brass will bring an epic and emotional quality to your tracks and enhance their dramatic energy.

Orchestral libraries can contain thousands of samples and several instrument specific articulations. It’s not surprising that many paid orchestral plugins can cost upwards of a thousand dollars.

You get what you pay for when it comes to plugins, but the quality of free has been on the rise.

That’s why I’m rounding up the 6 best free orchestral VSTs capable of emulating a real orchestra.

Let’s get started.

1. Spitfire LABS

Spitfire LABS is a top contender when it comes to free plugins.

LABS is an ongoing series of free software instruments made by musicians and sampling experts in London. It’s updated with new sounds constantly, and sports an easy to use user interface.

Their soft piano plugin is still a go-to piano sound for many professional composers. Some musicians have used it to write entire albums of solo piano music.

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LABS offers top quality string samples, warm brass samples, and several other unique additions of the orchestra.

LABS offers top quality string samples, warm brass samples, and several other unique additions of the orchestra.

2. Orchestral Tools Layers

Orchestral Tools is a high quality orchestral library creator. It’s no surprise that their free offering packs some of the best free orchestral sounds you can get.

Layers’ packs 17 GB of orchestral samples. It includes four different microphone positions and a variety of articulations.

It allows you to generate full chords with one touch of a button. It’s also capable of MIDI keyswitching, which gives you tons of control to blend instrument sections and shift dynamics.

Layers’ was recorded on the Teldex Scoring Stage in Berlin. This recording environment gives it a professional sound with top quality acoustics. It’s one of the most realistic sounding free orchestral libraries available.

3. The Total Composure Orchestra

The Total Composure Orchestra is a full orchestral sample library. It was created by using samples that are in the public domain.

The public domain consists of creative work that has no exclusive intellectual property rights. All the 1500 samples in the total composure orchestra are pre-cleared for use in your music.

The public domain consists of creative work that has no exclusive intellectual property rights.

The Total Composure Orchestra uses Native Instruments Kontakt as a sample loader. That means you’ll get access to the advanced Kontakt scripting features that make samples sound even more realistic.

Kontakt isn’t free, but it’s a worthwhile tool to invest in if you plan on using more orchestral libraries in the future.

4. Project Sam’s The Free Orchestra

The Free Orchestra by Project Sam is a collection of samples from many of their paid products. It’s the high quality sample platter of orchestral libraries.

The Free Orchestra’s samples range from epic string staccatos to dystopian sound design.

The Free Orchestra’s samples range from epic string staccatos to dystopian sound design.

The best thing about this orchestral VST is that it runs in the free version of Kontakt—the Kontakt Player. This is perfect if you want to get started with Kontakt libraries without the commitment of buying the full version.

The Free Orchestra features incredible options for sound design. Parameters such as envelope controls, effects, octaver, and reverse make it one of the most versatile plugins on this list.

The Free Orchestra is the perfect entry level orchestra for any genre.

5. BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover by Spitfire Audio

BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover is another incredible offering from Spitfire Audio. Discover was designed to make orchestral scoring accessible to all music creators.

In the past, you would have to make an investment of hundreds of dollars or more to begin composing with an orchestra.

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Discover includes 35 instruments and 47 techniques. All the instruments are premixed into one mix signal. This gives you a bit less control than a paid library, while still boasting a professional sound.

Discover includes “mode switching” which allows you to share your compositions with others. Composers that have different editions of the Spitfire Symphonic Orchestra can play and edit your music. This is also convenient if you plan on upgrading from Discover to one of Spitfire Audio’s paid offerings.

6. Versilian Chamber Orchestra Community

Versilian Chamber Orchestra Community is an open source version of Versilian Chamber Orchestra 2. It was created for musicians that want to create better sounding music using sample libraries without the cost.

The VSCO Community edition comes with 19 unique instruments, and 3000 individual samples. The library includes the basic articulations of the orchestra. It allows you to create realistic mockups right out of the box.

You’ll need a sample loader to run this library. Luckily, this library is compatible with the free sample loader Sforzando, which runs .sfz files.

This is a helpful non-proprietary format that stores instrument data for software synthesizers.

VSCO Community is also compatible with the full version of Kontakt.

Best Free Vst Symphony Strings Vst

Fork over the Orch

Free orchestral libraries used to ‘sound’ like they were free. Now, you can get a pro orchestral sound in your DAW with no financial commitment.

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These libraries are a dime a dozen. Try them out in your DAW and make an epic banger.

Best Free Vst Symphony Strings Plugin

They’ll be a good indicator of what will come next on your shopping list.