I need epic string library.Which one has the best sound? These are my picks (I can't decide):
Jaeger
Metropolis ark 1
Trailer strings
Novo
Epic string library for 2025
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- KVRAF
- 1791 posts since 17 Sep, 2002
most string libraries with mid-to-large section sizes can be made to sound "epic," (heck, even small sizes; see metropolis ark 4 for proof) so if you really can't tell which one you like based on the sound, maybe look more at the workflow, ecosystem, requirements, etc.
jaeger and ark are way more than just strings, so perhaps overkill if you don't also need brass, percussion, winds, guitars, choirs, etc. They're more of a "all-in-one epic trailer music toolkit" approach
with Orchestral Tools, you can buy the strings patches from (e.g.) Metropolis Ark a la carte. i think their holiday voucher might still be running ("happyholidays24") for $25 off. the Arks, if you like the sounds of the demos, that's basically what you get straight out of the box... pre-orchestrated stuff well-suited for sounding just like the demos.
Novo is more of a hybrid library, more about sound design than organic strings, which may or may not be what you need. if you are into writing for strings specifically, it's not the best, by intent. but if you just need "string sounds" it's more like that.
jaeger/(areia) and trailer strings always sounded flat to me (flat as in 2d, not pitch)
majestica has absurdly large section sizes, particularly in the low strings, pretty washy and wet sound for better or worse. also the least expensive of the bunch by a pretty wide margin (at least currently). but has typical 8dio idiosyncrasies, inconsistencies, etc.
if you played video games in the last 10 years, you've probably heard LA scoring strings a bunch. see also: eastwest hollywood strings, spitfire albion, projectsam symphobia, strezov afflatus, and a few dozen other libraries. i mostly just use VSL synchron strings.
jaeger and ark are way more than just strings, so perhaps overkill if you don't also need brass, percussion, winds, guitars, choirs, etc. They're more of a "all-in-one epic trailer music toolkit" approach
with Orchestral Tools, you can buy the strings patches from (e.g.) Metropolis Ark a la carte. i think their holiday voucher might still be running ("happyholidays24") for $25 off. the Arks, if you like the sounds of the demos, that's basically what you get straight out of the box... pre-orchestrated stuff well-suited for sounding just like the demos.
Novo is more of a hybrid library, more about sound design than organic strings, which may or may not be what you need. if you are into writing for strings specifically, it's not the best, by intent. but if you just need "string sounds" it's more like that.
jaeger/(areia) and trailer strings always sounded flat to me (flat as in 2d, not pitch)
majestica has absurdly large section sizes, particularly in the low strings, pretty washy and wet sound for better or worse. also the least expensive of the bunch by a pretty wide margin (at least currently). but has typical 8dio idiosyncrasies, inconsistencies, etc.
if you played video games in the last 10 years, you've probably heard LA scoring strings a bunch. see also: eastwest hollywood strings, spitfire albion, projectsam symphobia, strezov afflatus, and a few dozen other libraries. i mostly just use VSL synchron strings.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 7 posts since 28 Dec, 2024
There is something I don't understand. Why are 8dio libraries so cheap? Is it because they are old?mixyguy2 wrote: Tue Dec 31, 2024 2:46 am Majestica IMO should be on the list. It's nothing if not epic.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 7 posts since 28 Dec, 2024
Thank you very much for your detailed answer.funky lime wrote: Tue Dec 31, 2024 3:07 am most string libraries with mid-to-large section sizes can be made to sound "epic," (heck, even small sizes; see metropolis ark 4 for proof) so if you really can't tell which one you like based on the sound, maybe look more at the workflow, ecosystem, requirements, etc.
jaeger and ark are way more than just strings, so perhaps overkill if you don't also need brass, percussion, winds, guitars, choirs, etc. They're more of a "all-in-one epic trailer music toolkit" approach
with Orchestral Tools, you can buy the strings patches from (e.g.) Metropolis Ark a la carte. i think their holiday voucher might still be running ("happyholidays24") for $25 off. the Arks, if you like the sounds of the demos, that's basically what you get straight out of the box... pre-orchestrated stuff well-suited for sounding just like the demos.
Novo is more of a hybrid library, more about sound design than organic strings, which may or may not be what you need. if you are into writing for strings specifically, it's not the best, by intent. but if you just need "string sounds" it's more like that.
jaeger/(areia) and trailer strings always sounded flat to me (flat as in 2d, not pitch)
majestica has absurdly large section sizes, particularly in the low strings, pretty washy and wet sound for better or worse. also the least expensive of the bunch by a pretty wide margin (at least currently). but has typical 8dio idiosyncrasies, inconsistencies, etc.
if you played video games in the last 10 years, you've probably heard LA scoring strings a bunch. see also: eastwest hollywood strings, spitfire albion, projectsam symphobia, strezov afflatus, and a few dozen other libraries. i mostly just use VSL synchron strings.
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- KVRAF
- 2211 posts since 20 Sep, 2013 from Poland
I have Ark 1 and think it's held up very well over the years. It does big well, and is great if you want to keep things simple and not get into the weeds of lots of articulations and automations. The low brass and choirs are real strengths, too, if you're thinking of buying the whole thing and not just the strings.
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- KVRian
- 1368 posts since 2 Mar, 2018
Nah...8Dio is kind of like the Haynes Furniture of plugins.
They offer sales often to pull in buyers and it seems to work, generally and understandably so. Value of course varies but on the whole they tend to offer great bang for the buck. Is Majestica the best orchestral library out there? I think you'd have to have them all and do comparisons to know for sure, but I doubt it. Is it right for everything? Nah, if you want a less "epic" sound, others likely win out. But is it a very good orchestral library? IMO yes. Is it worth what it's currently going for ($39 for the top-end version)? Are you kidding me? No brainer. Don't be fooled by the "you get what you pay for" idiocy. There are amazing deals out there in the music world and IMO this is one of em.
Last edited by mixyguy2 on Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRian
- 927 posts since 10 Jan, 2010
Are you just looking for an epic string ensemble patch you can play behind synths? Or individual sections/solos with many articulations and legatos?
Orchestral tools has a very nice epic string ensemble in sine player that is free (helix I think), or spitfire’s epic strings ($17 until end of today) are great choices for simple huge ensemble patches.
For full sets…. LASS and MSS (audiobro) are still 75% off for a few days.
Orchestral tools has a very nice epic string ensemble in sine player that is free (helix I think), or spitfire’s epic strings ($17 until end of today) are great choices for simple huge ensemble patches.
For full sets…. LASS and MSS (audiobro) are still 75% off for a few days.
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- KVRer
- 9 posts since 18 Jan, 2025
BBC orchestra
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- KVRAF
- 2315 posts since 11 Mar, 2003
Good library, but it always struck me as more 'classical' than 'epic'.
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- KVRist
- 43 posts since 12 Mar, 2021
You've listed four very fine libraries. But, I think you need to define what "best" is a bit more. What are you looking for in a strings library? Do you want just an ensemble shorts, or do you want separate sections (bass, celli, violas, violins1 &2)
Do you need legato? Do you want lots of different shorts? Lots of different longs like tremolo, flautando, harmonics? Do you want a relatively dry library, or do you want a very wet library with lots of room sound? Do you want the player to have ability to shape adsr?
Pretty much any library can be used for "epic", especially with some processing. But each library has a different vibe. Some are more classical, others cinematic, and some are just filthy with players really digging deep going for fff dynamics. All can work in epic depending on context.
Some others to have a listen to... Cinematic Studio Strings, Tokyo strings, Hollywood opus orchestra(these are literally used by two steps from hell, can't get better endorsement), spitfire chamber strings.
Do you need legato? Do you want lots of different shorts? Lots of different longs like tremolo, flautando, harmonics? Do you want a relatively dry library, or do you want a very wet library with lots of room sound? Do you want the player to have ability to shape adsr?
Pretty much any library can be used for "epic", especially with some processing. But each library has a different vibe. Some are more classical, others cinematic, and some are just filthy with players really digging deep going for fff dynamics. All can work in epic depending on context.
Some others to have a listen to... Cinematic Studio Strings, Tokyo strings, Hollywood opus orchestra(these are literally used by two steps from hell, can't get better endorsement), spitfire chamber strings.
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- KVRer
- 9 posts since 12 Jan, 2022 from Zurich