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Behind award-winning composers…are world-class musicians

 

  • An all-encompassing orchestral toolkit with the addition of Percussion, Harp and Piano, at a new price
  • Reimagined legato programming, performed by Andrew Blaney
  • Inspiring curated ensemble patches
  • Performed by London’s first-call orchestral players in Lyndhurst Hall, AIR Studios – home to Blockbuster productions including Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Wonka, Saltburn, and The Dark Knight
  • An intuitive and inspiring interface in Kontakt 7 Player

London, February 22nd, 2024 Spitfire Audio, the world’s leading creator of sounds and high-quality sample libraries for music makers, announces the relaunch of Spitfire Symphony Orchestra (“SSO“).

Originally captured a decade ago in the state-of-the-art space of Lyndhurst Hall (also known as “The Hall”) in AIR Studios – founded by legendary producer of The Beatles and Oscar-nominated composer, Sir George Martin and known for its exceptional acoustics – and crafted by Spitfire Audio’s team of expert in-house creatives over a period of five years, SSO is recognised as the fundamental choice for the professional-tier composer and heralded by a multitude of AAA music makers worldwide.

Performed by London’s first-call orchestral players, the newly enhanced SSO sample library features a revolutionary legato programming transformation that has been created by Andrew Blaney, introducing a new level of expressiveness and realism. Composers can now attain seamless and emotive transitions between notes, skillfully capturing the subtleties of a live orchestral performance with exceptional precision.

In addition, SSO will now incorporate Percussion, Woods, Winds, Strings, Harp, and Piano. This new consolidation ensures an even richer orchestral experience, allowing composers to easily harness the power of a full symphony orchestra.

Spitfire Audio has also diligently addressed reported issues over the past few years, implementing comprehensive bug fixes to ensure optimal performance and stability. The commitment to refining the user experience underscores Spitfire Audio’s dedication to providing music makers with a reliable and inspiring toolset.

Recognising the importance of a visually intuitive and artistically inspiring interface, the “Enhanced Edition” showcases a new and consistent Kontakt 7 UI. It offers a sleek, modern design to enhance user experience, reflecting Spitfire Audio’s commitment to pushing creative boundaries, whilst also prioritising functionality.

Paul Thomson, Spitfire Audio’s Co-Founder, expresses his excitement about the SSO relaunch, stating, “Our aim is to not just meet but exceed the expectations of composers. With this comprehensive relaunch, we are confident that SSO will continue to be a top choice amongst the world’s most successful composers, offering a rich and immersive orchestral experience.”

One of the special aspects of Spitfire Audio’s approach is its use of unique studio spaces and unconventional locations – choosing spaces with historical significance and distinctive character (such as AIR Studios) that contribute to the authenticity and variety of the sampled instruments.

Spitfire Audio embraces the imperfections and quirks of each recording space and its sound, capturing the nuances and idiosyncrasies of the environment in which the recordings take place, and if there is any single product that encompasses the very core ethos of Spitfire Audio, it is SSO.

Thomson adds, “There’s something truly unique about the sound in AIR Studios. The players recorded on the sessions performed at the peak of their abilities and as a result, the samples are absolutely stunning. It’s a timeless experience that we are continually nurturing – we’ve reimagined the legato programming, introduced a new, better user interface, and removed bugs, all while maintaining exceptional quality, ease of use and affordability. The result is a cohesive orchestral toolkit that is even more exciting now than it was when it was created a decade ago.”

Spitfire Symphony Orchestra GUI - Woodwinds

SSO KEY FEATURES

  • A complete Orchestra
    • 118 Piece Orchestra across Strings, Brass Woodwind and Percussion
      • 60 String players recorded in situ (16, 14, 12, 10, 8)
      • 11 Solo woodwind Instruments
      • 4 a2 woodwind sections
      • 8 Solo brass Instruments
      • 5 a2 brass sections
      • 3 a6 brass sections
    • Essential Percussion Collection of 63 instruments including tuned, untuned, wood and metals.
    • Piano
    • Harp
  • A comprehensive selection of over 800 articulations across the whole orchestra including alternative techniques and legatos, with up to 8 round robins per articulation and multiple dynamic layers
  • All delivered with a wide range of mic signal options including Close, Tree, Ambients, Outriggers and Leader.
  • Tech Features
    • New Look User Interface
    • All-new performance legato created by Andrew Blaney
    • Ostinatum mode for strings, brass and woodwind
    • Percussion mapping to allow for two-handed playing
    • Blended orchestrated orchestral sections, straight-out-of-the-box tools, perfect for instant scoring
  • Download size: 345GB

 

About AIR Studios

Founded in 1970 by the legendary producer of The Beatles Sir George Martin, AIR Studios has delivered the Oscar, Golden Globe, Grammy and BAFTA-winning and nominated scores for Atonement, Phantom Thread, Interstellar, Grand Budapest Hotel, All Quiet On The Western Front, and countless recent film and TV productions, including Wonka, Saltburn, Maestro, The Crown, The Whale, and Stranger Things.  And as well as being a recording mecca for composers around the world, the studios have hosted recording and mixing sessions for an array of bands and artists including Adele, Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Little Simz, Muse, Paul McCartney, and Radiohead.

Alongside the studios, AIR broadens its services through their mastering facilities, and representation of composers, producers, engineers and mixers.

 

About Spitfire Audio

Spitfire Audio is the leading creator of sounds and sample libraries for music makers, uniting pioneering artists with pioneering sounds and music technology.

Partnering with outstanding affiliates including the world’s most exceptional composers and musicians, celebrated recording studios, Abbey Road and AIR Studios, and the renowned BBC Symphony Orchestra, has cemented Spitfire Audio’s global reputation as the premier music sound library company.

Spitfire Audio records and curates the best sounding virtual instruments, utilising in-house developed music technology and advanced software devices.

Collaborations with a diverse and eclectic set of award-winning composers and artists range from global icon Hans Zimmer, Iceland’s innovative artist composer Ólafur Arnalds, GRAMMY® Award winning choral composer Eric Whitacre, German/Turkish ethereal pop composer Alev Lenz, influential British producer Trevor Horn and Scotland’s ground-breaking percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie through to GRAMMY® Award winning artists including Queen’s Roger Taylor, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, to Nine Inch Nails keyboardist and film composer Charlie Clouser.

Music makers around the globe use Spitfire Audio products in their compositions and through their phenomenal work, research suggests that a major percentage of composers use Spitfire Audio products in their journey to scoring films and projects, including those who have been nominated for and have won  Oscar, Emmy, BAFTA, GRAMMY® or César Awards.

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