KVR Audio

mixyguy2 · Post by **mixyguy2** » Sun Jun 08, 2025 3:15 am

Here's my take so far:

The Alpine Project: This is the easy winner IMO. Somewhat limited, but sounds great, has solo instruments, and easy to use UI
Palette Primary Colors: Sounds nice, but the UI is so bad I took a pass
VSCO CE: Quality was just not there
Spitfire BBCSO Discover: Sounds great, but extremely limited in functionality

enroe · Post by **enroe** » Sun Jun 08, 2025 5:42 am

I still think Paul Battersby's "Virtual Playing Orchestra" is pretty good.

Click here.

Info:

A free orchestral sample library that offers an extensive selection of section and solo instruments for woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion.

Author: Paul Battersby
Current version: 3.2.4.
Format: wav-files - 603 mb
Sampler-format: sfz - 536 kb

Stirner · Post by **Stirner** » Sun Jun 08, 2025 6:54 am

Berlin Free Orchestra sounds good and is very functional. All the important instruments are there, but also ensembles, there are even a solo violin and a cello, a harp and percussion section and they all have at least a long and a short patch.

ThoughtExperiment · Post by **ThoughtExperiment** » Sun Jun 08, 2025 11:04 am

Another vote from me for Berlin Free Orchestra, it sounds better than some of the paid-for stuff I have - the solo cello legatos are particularly good. There are tons of examples of how good it sounds on YouTube (search #berlincomposersjourney) at the moment, thanks to Orchestral Tools' "Composer's Journey" competition where you're only allowed to use the Berlin Free.

Ah_Dziz · Post by **Ah_Dziz** » Sun Jun 08, 2025 7:13 pm

Project Sam has a free orchestra library. It's set up on their silly way, but all sounds great. There is tons of stuff out there. If you're willing to get your hands dirty getting it all set up in a sample player and spend some time setting up the playability then you could probably do great work with just free stuff.

mixyguy2 · Post by **mixyguy2** » Mon Jun 09, 2025 12:44 am

Thanks for the replies and suggestions, I'll check them out. I did try ProjectSAM, but that's not really an orchestral library, i.e., you don't have the standard individual sections/etc of brass, strings, and so on...it's just a series of very unique ensembles of various instruments in a unique way (for example, there's one that sounds like a trombone/timpani combo which gives a dramatic “bass hit”). That said, there are some good ones in there IMO and it's well worth a look. Just FYI to anyone looking for a standard library.

marce · Post by **marce** » Fri Jun 27, 2025 4:08 am

mixyguy2 wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 3:15 am Here's my take so far:

The Alpine Project: This is the easy winner IMO. Somewhat limited, but sounds great, has solo instruments, and easy to use UI
Palette Primary Colors: Sounds nice, but the UI is so bad I took a pass
VSCO CE: Quality was just not there
Spitfire BBCSO Discover: Sounds great, but extremely limited in functionality

Is this project alive still? No emails from them to download it.

Michael L · Post by **Michael L** » Fri Jun 27, 2025 6:14 am

marce wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 4:08 amIs this project alive still? No emails from them to download it.

Alpine Project immediately sent me a download email, cuz I am more handsome.

marce · Post by **marce** » Fri Jun 27, 2025 1:09 pm

Michael L wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 6:14 am
marce wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 4:08 amIs this project alive still? No emails from them to download it.
Alpine Project immediately sent me a download email, cuz I am more handsome.

Who say that, your mom?

Not working for me

Michael L · Post by **Michael L** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 1:27 pm

marce wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 1:09 pm
Michael L wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 6:14 am
marce wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 4:08 amIs this project alive still? No emails from them to download it.
Alpine Project immediately sent me a download email, cuz I am more handsome.
Who say that, your mom?
Not working for me

It’s your mom’s fault.

Bombadil · Post by **Bombadil** » Sat Jun 28, 2025 4:23 pm

Another vote for the Berlin Free Orchestra.
VSL has some nice free stuff, as well.

Stokely · Post by **Stokely** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 11:38 pm

Fracture Sounds Blueprints sound very nice...I have a couple of their paid libraries and really enjoy those as well. These tend to be a bit more niche that a "standard" orchestral library.

Not sure if Spitfire's Labs are still free and available. They used to have a free version of the BBO orchestra.

vivaswancomposer · Post by **vivaswancomposer** » Thu Jul 03, 2025 4:57 am

I would say the Alpine Project is beyond just “good” free Orchestral libraries. I was kinda surprised by the legato playability in the library. It is a “scripted” legato & yet it doesn’t sound like. I don’t get it but seriously a “keeper” this library is. Now, the best of all, to me, even though there are a valid amount of flaws in the series, is the BFO (Berlin Free Orchestra). Seriously, I was amazed by the quality of some of the instruments. On the other hand, if you’re geared towards the “Trailer” & EPIC stuff, you SHOULD get the ProjectSam’s TFO1 & 2.

VSH

mixyguy2 · Post by **mixyguy2** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 2:28 am

Stokely wrote: Mon Jun 30, 2025 11:38 pm Fracture Sounds Blueprints sound very nice...I have a couple of their paid libraries and really enjoy those as well. These tend to be a bit more niche that a "standard" orchestral library.

Not sure if Spitfire's Labs are still free and available. They used to have a free version of the BBO orchestra.

Neither Blueprints or LABS are orchestral libraries...

Re. Spitfire's BBCSO, I already mentioned that one (it's still available).

marce · Post by **marce** » Mon Jul 28, 2025 7:01 pm

marce wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 4:08 am
mixyguy2 wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 3:15 am Here's my take so far:

The Alpine Project: This is the easy winner IMO. Somewhat limited, but sounds great, has solo instruments, and easy to use UI
Palette Primary Colors: Sounds nice, but the UI is so bad I took a pass
VSCO CE: Quality was just not there
Spitfire BBCSO Discover: Sounds great, but extremely limited in functionality
Is this project alive still? No emails from them to download it.

I got the mails...

Free orchestral libraries...