Symphonic orchestras were always linked with luxury and glamour. Their performance was considered as the biggest thing in the music world and everyone wanted to be a part of such an event and Orchestral VSTs maintained such a reputation. We can’t imagine a blockbuster movie that doesn’t include a couple of orchestral tracks.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Orchestral VST Plugins
- OUR TOP PICK: EastWest Hollywood Orchestra Diamond
- RUNNER-UP: IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik 2
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: EastWest Symphonic Orchestra Platinum Complete
Table of Contents
What Makes a Great Orchestral VST
Orchestral VSTs are very popular software. They come in many solutions, so let’s see what key features make a difference between them:
Sampling Varieties
Every sound you’re about to play is recorded in the same way you would record a real orchestral instrument. And that’s not all - every note has been recorded several times not just in different dynamics, but multiple outtakes, too. The reason for this approach is because when you play a real instrument, the same note sounds different every time. Applying a round-robin feature allows us to reach an advanced stage of realism as it significantly reduces the chance to play the same sample twice in a row.
Interface
Orchestral VST can be really complex in terms of editing and navigating. It’s not so easy to design an intuitive menu that will capture all the settings and make it comprehensive for both beginners and professional users. That’s why you should always favor orchestral software with a good user interface.
Presets
Let’s be completely honest - the vast majority of Orchestral VST users aren’t professional conductors. That’s why providing useful and numerous patches as a starting point is crucial for this software. Well-designed presets can save you a lot of time so you can focus on scoring instead.
Aspects to Consider Before Buying
Before you buy, here are some of the things you should consider first as it can help you a lot with buying the right VST for your needs:
Genre
What’s your purpose of buying such a VST? Some orchestral libraries are more oriented toward classical music scoring, while others excel for cinematic soundtracks thanks to carefully designed presets and dynamic ranges with well applied DSP effects.
Computer Requirements
You should be aware of your computer specifications because these VSTs ask a lot of resources in terms of storage space, processor power, and RAM memory. As these VSTs are actually huge sample-based libraries, solid-state drive installation is recommended for faster loading time.
However, just in case your computer isn’t so up-to-date some light (compact) versions or special CPU-friendly Orchestral VSTs designed for live performance might work just fine for your needs.
Budget
Purchasing a premium version of Orchestral VST can cost a lot. Unless you have a Hollywood movie waiting for your audio tracks, the truth is that you probably don’t need it and that you’re going to do just fine with standard packs. Also, most Orchestral VST developers left you with an option to upgrade so you may invest in it later.
Comparison of the Best Orchestral VST Plugins
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Review of the Best Orchestral VST Plugins
We will present you some of the best orchestral plugins out there, but in case you would like to get the best from each orchestral section, we will provide you with the individual section choices as well:
Best Overall:
EastWest Hollywood Orchestra Diamond
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
This software is made from different Hollywood series instruments - strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussions. It comes at an incredible size of 680 gigabytes recorded in a professional environment with 5 different microphone positions that can be further balanced to your taste.
This VST works under PLAY software that’s capable of creating a wide dynamic range and expressiveness of natural articulations. To make a step closer to reality, a convolution reverb is applied throughout the whole bundle so all the instruments will have the same type of effect.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is one of the most CPU-demanding VSTs on the market. It was designed for demanding and uncompromised scoring and that’s why all the features and edit options that you can think of are probably available here. They even went a step further and created an expansion pack with solo instruments only which may come handy if you need a harp, cello, or violin.
It’s also wonderful that EastWest decided to apply a cloud subscription model, so you can pay a low monthly fee and use this and many other software on ComposerCloud for just a fragment of what you would pay in total.
Runner-up:
IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik 2
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
This symphonic orchestra library comes in almost 60 gigabytes of high-definition samples with more than 2.700 stereo instruments recorded in many different articulations (legatos, pizzicatos among others) and all the dynamics from ppp to fff.
Mixing interface has some advanced routing so you can use up to sixteen different channels and up to four insert effects per channel. This section also includes four stereo effect return channels and a dedicated master channel with up to five insert effects and all instruments can be panned in the stereo image.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This VST is capable of sounding like a true symphonic orchestra recording thanks to the powerful effects section accompanied by the great T-Racks mastering tool and sampling engine taken from the IK Multimedia award-winning SampleTank 3.
While you will definitely use solo instruments at some point, there are also a couple of other instruments that usually go with symphonic orchestra such as grand piano, harpsichord, marimba, vibraphone or glockenspiel and on top of that, there are even some synth engines so that you can flavor your overall orchestral sound with additional background layers.
Best for the Money:
EastWest Symphonic Orchestra Platinum
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
The symphonic orchestra was recorded at 3 microphone positions - close, stage, and hall, and output can be balanced with different levels of these sources. You could also swap left and right channels completely and apply conversion from stereo to mono.
Speaking of sound, Eastwest applied an intelligent release trail engine so that all the notes stop at the same time. Articulations are placed on key switches and can be turned on by simply pressing the key. They can be organized in a way that seems most appealing to you.
Why it Stands Out to Us
For a long period, this was the EastWest finest symphonic orchestra. It was used in soundtracks of many movies and series and while Hollywood Strings went a step ahead there is nothing wrong we can say about this VST. It sounds great, it’s just that EastWest went a step ahead to bring even more realism to the software instruments.
This version is a little bit cheaper and while it can be used in cinematic scoring, it has a slightly more mellow character compared to the new Eastwest software which may be just ideal for your projects or classical composing.
Best Compact Orchestral VST:
Garritan Instant Orchestra
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
Garritan Instant Orchestra comes with an approach so that anyone could use orchestra sounds. Presets are well-organized and you can even pick the preset based on the mood you would like to achieve.
Unlike other Orchestral VSTs, its system requirements are very user-friendly - 3GB of HDD space and 4GB of RAM memory.
This VST comes with additional sounds such as piano, pipe organ, or choirs and there are special patches that excel in the atonal and dissonant atmosphere which may be ideal for some dramatic cinematic scoring.
Why it Stands Out to Us
While there are more advanced VSTs out there, this one excels in simplicity without compromising the sound quality too much.
The truth is that there are some genres such as hard rock or heavy metal where you would prefer to do something fast as the sound focus won’t be that much oriented towards orchestral sounds and all those small details won’t be so audible.
This library is also very affordable and it won’t take up all your RAM and HDD memory so that your computer upgrade might wait a little bit more. It might be a perfect solution for your live performance, too.
Best Brass VST:
Best Service Chris Hein Chris Hein Brass EXtended
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
Each section of Trumpets, Trombones, French Horn is recorded individually in three different acoustic rooms. Approximately every instrument used around 8.000 samples and dozen of articulations recorded in eight different dynamic layers.
And while the regular sound is sampled, the muted sound is modeled. This saves a lot of storage space because it uses existing samples while sounding virtually the same as the real mute sound.
Repetitions are recorded individually in 16th and 8th note resolution and there are six short articulations along with hundreds of one-shot samples.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is a very expressive sound library that sounds Hollywood-ready if not even better than brasses available in all-in-one solutions.
You should be also aware that in case you don’t need the sound of French Tuba, Sousaphone, and Euphonium, you can find on the market a non-extended version that will offer you the same sound quality without those instruments and save you some money. But, based on our opinion, these low brass instruments are worthy companions as they were recorded with more articulations and samples than original instruments and can be considered as a highlight of the complete software.
Best Percussion VST:
SONiVOX Big Bang Cinematic Percussion
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
This virtual instrument library comes with many orchestral percussion sounds in a very adaptive software layout. It allows you to route sound to eight different outputs and applies different delay, EQ, and filter amount. All samples come with round-robin and multi-velocity variations all categorized in a very intelligent preset browser.
Thanks to different parameter settings, Intelligent Rhythm Control adds a professional feel to your track and helps you with the MIDI quantization while you record along with Note Repeat that you can utilize for creating some basic percussion patterns.
Why it Stands Out to Us
These ready-to-go samples can make an instant epic vibe to your track. We love how the presets are organized not just by the movie genre and instrument class, but also on the type of scene you’re about to score.
MIDI learn feature works instantly so you can match it instantly with any part of your MIDI controller you want - pad, keyboard, mixer. Also, the IRC Gate feature is a nice addition to make your playing sound more organic, and, for that purpose, we find it essential that both filter and amp page provides you with the five-stage envelope editing.
Editor’s Pick:
Vienna Symphonic Library Woodwinds II Standard
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
Another VSL woodwind library pack provides you with more wind instruments that are part of every symphonic orchestra such as piccolo and alto flute and another timbre of the regular flute.
Clarinet collection is also completed thanks to soprano and bass clarinet provided and to complete the offer you are getting Viennese oboe and horn, contrabassoon, all captured in numerous articulations and velocities.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Combining this product with VSL Woodwinds I will satisfy all your woodwind needs for many years to come. It’s amazing how realistic it may sound, especially regarding the low range of bass clarinet and contrabassoon, while both flutes from this pack may find a place in your cinematic scoring due to its specific sound traits.
It’s also worth mentioning that you may purchase every instrument from this pack individually and that there is also a special pack of additional woodwinds not usually found in other Orchestral libraries such as Bass Flute, Contrabass Clarinet and Basset Horn among others.
Best Harp VST:
Soundiron Elysium Harp
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
This 47-string grand concert pedal harp virtual instrument library was sampled in more than ten thousand files and it took more than 30 gigabytes to capture all the details using state-of-art microphones. It was captured from three microphone positions (front, rear, and overhead) and you can mix it further to your needs, including different effects routing as well.
Most playing techniques were recorded such as various plucks (xylophonic, finger pad, fingernail, soft or hard harmonic) and almost two hundred natural glisses in nineteen different scales by a professional harp player.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Soundiron provided even 8 round-robin variations for every dynamic layer to make it sound as natural as possible. The interface is so simple to use thanks to the many assist features provided.
We especially approve the included arpeggiator as it’s somewhat essential to get most from this type of instrument. It is specially designed for this software, so, if you want something different from hundreds of pre-recorded glisses, this arpeggiator seems to be very inspiring and you can get great results easily. And since it uses the same convolution reverb IR samples so you can match the sound with other Soundiron products instantly.
Best Strings VST:
Best Service Chris Hein Ensemble Strings
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
This string ensemble library was created from a pool of more than 120.000 samples and then carefully mixed and panned to create an ensemble sound.
Every instrument has at least 32 different articulations and even includes loose and tight pizzicato techniques and the Effects panel is capable of some amazing sound design thanks to dozens of IR samples of convolution reverb.
However, if you would need the same expression of these instruments in solo variation, you should check out Chris Hein Solo Strings Complete product.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It’s not that often that we see an option to pick a different ensemble size for a string orchestral. It’s useful because both sizes have their fortes. Full size will achieve that instant epic dramatic sound from the first bow stroke, while small size will create more melodic lines, suitable for intimate atmosphere necessary for scores that require passion and delicacy.
In case you would want to create an even fuller sound, the Ensemble Maker feature allows you to maintain the original sound character by simply doubling the number of players and spreading them across the stereo image.
Best Woodwinds VST:
Vienna Symphonic Library Woodwinds I Standard
PROS
CONS
Features and Specifications
This orchestral library captured the finest samples of four main woodwind instruments - flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon recorded in both individual and three-player ensemble takes.
13 different articulations were recorded with all the dynamic transitions and velocities. Fast repetitions were recorded in different tempos from the scratch including triplet variations, while scale runs were recorded at two speeds and in both chromatic and all major and minor keys from C to B.
8GB of RAM and SSD drive are highly recommended and it requires some USB eLicenser protection.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It’s one of those softwares where the quality justifies the price range. VSL invested a lot of time and resources to capture the expressiveness of the woodwind instruments and hired some of the world’s best players for this purpose. This is especially audible in either slower legato repetitions or faster and expressive arpeggios run.
And, in case you like what you’re getting, check out Woodwinds II for more woodwind instruments such as piccolo, bass clarinet or alto flute. Woodwind I can cover basic woodwind arrangements but some additional instruments might be necessary for advanced orchestral scoring.
Pros and Cons of Orchestral VST Plugins
Here’s a recap of the biggest traits and flaws for this software:
Pros
The following are some pros of this kind of orchestral VST plugins:
Advanced Realism
These days, sampling engines use a lot of horsepower so it became quite impossible to tell a difference between the same track recorded by a real symphonic orchestra and professional composer using an Orchestral VST.
Epic and Cinematic
If used properly, this type of VST can make any song sound like an epic soundtrack. If that’s what you want - (ab)use it! This is one of the first tools you will use in creating any type of cinematic soundscape.
Cons
However, it comes with some drawbacks, including:
Complex
Prepare yourself for a very steep learning curve. While it can be quite easy to write down notes that sound great it can be a hell of a job to express it in a way that’s world-class starting from legato to choosing exact length or type of sustain or vibrato.
Gigantic
Unfortunately, in order to sound so huge and rich, the best Orchestral VSTs ask for almost a terabyte of storage space and at least 16GB RAM memory, so you'd better equip your computer with the best parts before accepting some demanding and detailed orchestral work.
Conclusion
Having a sound of the real symphonic orchestra at your home studio anytime is a huge achievement we’re probably not completely even aware of. And the most fun part is that these days you can’t go really wrong with the software choice - it’s only up to your ideas, capabilities, and demands.
