These days, most television shows and mid- and low-budget films don’t rely on live musicians for their orchestral underscores. Rather, they are created in a computer-based studio that’s probably not a whole lot different from yours. Want to get in on the action? All you need is skill, a powerful computer, and a high-quality orchestral sound library. But, with all the orchestral virtual instruments out there, which one should you choose? Breathe easy — Sweetwater is here to help. In this article, we’ll dive into 11 of our top-recommended orchestra VSTs for home studios.
Garritan Personal Orchestra 5
If you’re searching for an all-encompassing orchestra VI (virtual instrument), then Garritan Personal Orchestra 5 is a great choice. This software instrument comes with 500-plus sounds, including woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion, choir, keyboards, and harps, that you can use to craft solos, duos, trios, quartets, chamber groups, ensembles, sections, and full-blown symphony orchestras. Personal Orchestra is easy to use, which makes it ideal for throwing together quick demos and mock-ups; that said, it’s still robust enough for full productions. GPO operates via the included ARIA Player, which enables you to get up and running fast — no separate software sampler required.
IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik 2 CE
For an expressive — yet eminently streamlined — virtual instrument that covers every section of the orchestra, look to IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik 2 CE. This emotion-packed orchestra VSTi includes a 10GB library with 733 instruments, tons of variety, and multi-articulation switching that gives you on-the-fly access to staccato, legato, pizzicato, sustains, and more. Vaunting near-cinematic realism, Miroslav Philharmonik 2 CE is a stunning value.
Audio Modeling SWAM All In Bundle
Rather than employing samples like most orchestra VSTs, the Audio Modeling SWAM All In Bundle employs physically modeled strings, brass, and woodwinds with a response that rivals their real-world counterparts. You get real-time control over dynamics, expression, portamento, and various articulations, providing you with shockingly realistic performances that are guaranteed to breathe life into your compositions. If you want to perform your orchestral parts with a keyboard, then the Audio Modeling SWAM All In Bundle should be at the top of your must-have VSTi list.
UVI Orchestral Suite
Great sound and incredible ease of use — that’s UVI Orchestral Suite in a nutshell. This orchestra VSTi is loaded with more than 60 instruments, including strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion. You also get a full choir and a cathedral organ, harpsichord, celesta, classical guitar, and harp. UVI Orchestral Suite includes both ensemble and solo instruments, permits you to select different playing styles, and includes per-instrument controls for expressive, realistic performances. This CPU-efficient software instrument also includes a state-of-the-art convolution reverb.
Sonuscore The Orchestra Complete 2
While Sonuscore The Orchestra Complete 2 boasts a surprisingly small footprint, it fortifies your symphonic arsenal with a full 80-piece orchestra. At the center of TOC2 is its Ensemble Engine — a cutting-edge tool with powerful arpeggiators and dynamic motion envelopes. With this orchestra VSTi, you can create complex arrangements with simple chords for quick, efficient realization of your musical ideas. This virtual instrument includes 475 playable orchestrations and patterns, MIDI export, and an intuitive preset browser. The Orchestra Complete 2 combines the full force of its predecessor with additional articulations and powerful new features. It also includes the coveted Strings of Winter library and the infamous Horns of Hell.
Best Service Ethno World 6 Complete
If you want to give your cinematic music beds an exotic flair or add ear-grabbing textures to your music, then Best Service Ethno World 6 Complete is the right orchestra VSTi for the job. Packed with 33.4GB of content, this virtual instrument includes over 18,000 samples of world instruments and vocal sounds, loops, and phrases. Ethno World 6 Complete also contains an extensive range of articulations for realistic instrument expression. This is one of the most diverse libraries out there with instruments and voices from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. It’s exactly what you need to add some worldly flavor to your compositions.
Heavyocity Mosaic Voices
Heavyocity Mosaic Voices offers a sound unlike any other orchestra VSTi. This modern cinematic virtual instrument features a tailored hybrid vocal design that combines synthetic and organic voices into dramatic sonic textures. Tailor-made for modern film, television, and video game soundtracks, Mosaic Voices includes 8.4GB of synthesized vocal pads, organic male and female vocal recordings, and a bevy of effects that can be layered across the Mosaic Engine’s three channels. You also get 130 presets carefully curated by the Heavyocity team. Even if you already have an orchestral library, Mosaic Voices is a must-have VSTi for sound designers and composers.
Native Instruments Symphony Series Collection
Woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion — with Native Instruments Symphony Series Collection, you’ll have them all at your fingertips. You’ll also have a group of high-level soloists at your beck and call. This high-performance VSTi contains six libraries from NI’s flagship Symphony Series along with all the advanced articulations you need to craft authentic-sounding orchestral arrangements. An easy-to-use interface and top-notch effects round out this software instrument. For any orchestral composition as well as pop and electronic production, the Native Instruments Symphony Series Collection goes like clockwork.
Vienna Symphonic Library Vienna Smart Orchestra
Vienna Symphonic Library Vienna Smart Orchestra enables you to play every instrument of a 140-piece orchestra — simultaneously — with your keyboard controller. Don’t let its simplicity fool you — from string, woodwind, brass, and mallet ensembles to violin, flute, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, and French horn soloists, Vienna Smart Orchestra has it all. It even comes with great-sounding effects! This VI is ideal for quick-and-dirty symphonic sketches, and it makes delivering a final score fast and easy when deadlines are looming. It’s also great for live use.
EastWest Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra – Platinum Complete Edition
Described by Sound on Sound magazine as a “sonically superior collection of top-quality orchestral sounds,” EastWest Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Platinum Complete Edition is your own personal Hollywood-level orchestra. This is some of the most true-to-life orchestra VSTi software out there, leveraging EastWest’s advanced Play sample-player software to deliver phenomenal details and realistic articulation. EastWest Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Platinum Complete Edition includes a 117GB sample library with strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, pianos, and more — all controlled by an easy-to-use interface. If you want to achieve big screen–quality orchestral arrangements for your film, television, or video game projects, then this virtual instrument delivers the goods.
EastWest Hollywood Choirs
How’d you like to have a superbly recorded, pro-level choir at your disposal? With EastWest Hollywood Choirs, you can, and they’ll sing exactly what you tell them to! Type any words into this orchestral VSTi’s WordBuilder plug-in, and the virtual choir will sing them back to you with unshackled dynamics and stunning realism. Hollywood Choirs includes a full choir along with individual male and female sections. There’s a reason why Hollywood Choirs won the NAMM TEC Award for best musical instrument software. If you create choral compositions, then this software will elevate your craft — significantly.
Honorable Mention: EastWest ComposerCloud Plus
If you want a cost-effective way to get your hands on top-of-the-line orchestra VSTs, then check out EastWest ComposerCloud Plus. This annual subscription gives you access to $17k worth of premium virtual instruments. And we do mean premium — this is Hans Zimmer–level stuff. EastWest ComposerCloud Plus grants you admission to the entire EastWest library with multiple mic positions and the ever-growing ComposerCloud Diamond and Platinum collections with over 42,000 software instruments. You’ll also get your hands on all future ComposerCloud Diamond/Platinum products, including exclusive content. With a high-performance computer and ComposerCloud Plus, you’ll be well equipped for big budget–level scoring and composing.
Whether you want to build a subtle string section for your latest pop opus or you’re ready to tackle a full-blown orchestral score for television, film, or video game design, Sweetwater has an orchestra software instrument that’s perfect for your application. Have questions? No problem. Give your Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700. We’ve tried out every virtual instrument on the planet, and we’ll be happy to help point you in the right direction. Happy composing!
