Orchestral Tools Salu samples collection perfect fit for introspective drama, psychological thriller, and more

Orchestral Tools has released its latest sample collection, Salu. The Salu collection is a set created by performers at the Arvo Pärt Centre in Estonia. Pärt’s music is always delicate, close to religious, with a high degree of sacrality. The Salu samples collection draws on those qualities with a unique assembly of close, intimate, experimental instruments and textures. It has been designed for sensitive, inspired musical expression.… Read More Orchestral Tools Salu samples collection perfect fit for introspective drama, psychological thriller, and more

Playing a full symphonic orchestra with a MIDI keyboard: Orchestral Tools Metropolis Ark Ø

Since early December, film music makers have a new sample set to add to their collection: Metropolis Ark Ø, a collection of three by Orchestral Tools. Metropolis Ark Ø concentrates on large orchestral movements that go hand in glove with majestic scenes, but it can be surprisingly subtle as well.… Read More Playing a full symphonic orchestra with a MIDI keyboard: Orchestral Tools Metropolis Ark Ø

Orchestral Tools Drones review

Sample library developers Orchestral Tools have released their latest sample collection — Drones by Alexander Hacke. Designed by Sascha Knorr and Timo Loosli, Drones explores the titular musical effect through a series of instruments chosen specifically for their atmospheric and evocative qualities, providing lengthy (some over a minute) sonic textures ideal for sound design, avant-garde composition, and film and game scoring.… Read More Orchestral Tools Drones review

Of software synthesizers, Logic Pro X and massive reverb

I’ve been trying to create sound that you could call music as of late. With Logic Pro X on my Mac and whole bunch of free and paid plug-in synths and effects, I decided to start experimenting a year or so ago. My first experiments resulted in what we call “ambient music” these days. To my demanding self, music equals what composers like Bach, Beethoven, Mahler, and more recently people like Pärt, are capable of, not some long-stretched sound that gets interwoven by dark bass lines and oscillating high-pitched screams. And yet, although I don’t consider myself to be a musician, last week I actually managed to create something that even I want to listen to more than once.… Read More Of software synthesizers, Logic Pro X and massive reverb

iZotope Ozone 10 review

Ozone, iZotope’s mastering plug-in, is available in its tenth reincarnation. Its Master Assistant takes a lot of work out of your hands. And yet, it doesn’t force you to accept its results, leaving all the room you need for a creative result. Oh, and the Assistant can match your music to a musical reference, including your own reference tracks. In short, iZotope has released a master plug-in that towers above everything else.… Read More iZotope Ozone 10 review

Subscription based software licences can make sense, but…

How long has it been now? Could it be about eight years that we see more and more subscription based software pop up? Is it worth the money, paying those yearly fees? Or has it been a rip-off as many people thought when the first developers (I remember Adobe, which do you?) switched to them with a nice marketing peptalk to go with them?… Read More Subscription based software licences can make sense, but…

The Berlin Orchestra in all of its glory: Orchestral Tools Berlin Series Bundle

After having tried 23 sample collections including the free ones from Orchestral Tools, I am impressed and can wholeheartedly advise the company’s SINE Player plug-in and collections. The quality of sound, the articulations (or techniques), styles, modes, and customisability are all unsurpassed.
Orchestral Tools’s flagship collection bundle is The Berlin Series Main Collection, which I got a chance to review a few weeks ago.… Read More The Berlin Orchestra in all of its glory: Orchestral Tools Berlin Series Bundle