Orchestral Tools Releases Cetra - A Collection of Historical Fretted Strings for the free SINE Player

Orchestral Tools has announced the release of Cetra, a new sample library that explores the history of fretted string instruments. Created in collaboration with composer and renowned multi-instrumentalist Richard Harvey, Cetra brings together a unique selection of instruments from the folk and classical traditions of Western Europe for the free SINE Player.

Many of these instruments aren't the kind of thing you stumble upon every day. They come directly from Richard Harvey's private collection, which houses some truly rare and antique instruments. The goal of the library is to capture the distinct spirit and nuance of these historical pieces for modern composition, whether you're scoring a film or adding a unique texture to a production.

The collection was recorded at SML Studios in Surrey, UK, focusing on capturing the dynamic and expressive character of each instrument, especially in their softer ranges.

As Richard Harvey puts it:

Every musical instrument forms a part of an evolutionary process... all these instruments are part of that process. Some have reached their evolutionary peak, others are a part of history.

The Instrument Lineup

Cetra includes 11 detailed instruments, providing a wide palette of fretted tones:

• Mandolin: A 100-year-old Gibson A-series.

• Baroque Mandolin: Features gut/nylon strings for a warmer, rounded tone.

• Alto Mandola: An early 20th-century Gibson, essentially the viola of the mandolin family.

• Irish Bouzouki: Also known as an octave mandolin, with the bottom two courses tuned in octaves.

• Mandocello: A century-old Gibson that serves as the cello of the mandolin world.

• Lute: A classic instrument with a ribbed back and 6, 7, or 8 courses of gut strings.

• Theorbo: A massive instrument, nearly 2 meters long, designed for baritone and low bass ranges.

• Cittern: A uniquely English instrument with 5 courses of brass strings, played with a plectrum.

• Vintage Acoustic Guitar: A parlor-sized sunburst Gibson from 1953.

• Tenor Guitar in C: A 1930s Gibson parlor guitar typically tuned in 5ths.

• Tenor Guitar in G: A Dobro resonator from the 1930s with a tuning popular in folk music.

Key features include multiple articulations like chords, tremolos, and mordents, options for spread and flicked chords, and automatic release sample selection for better playability. The library was captured with four different microphone positions.

Price and Availability

Cetra is available now for the SINE Player. It is being offered at an introductory price of €119.00 until October 22, 2025. The regular retail price will be €149.00.

YouTube/hwnINGfj_II