Kontakt is great. And while I argue that it’s an essential plugin every composer should have, not everyone is a fan of it. For some people, it’s a bit glitchy. Others don’t like supporting proprietary software like Kontakt.
Thankfully, there are other options out there for orchestral samples. Here are 5 string libraries that don’t require Kontakt.
Quick Look: The Best Non-Kontakt String Libraries
EastWest's Hollywood Orchestra is one of the gold standards for orchestral sample libraries. Get it as a standalone product, or with a Composer Cloud subscription.
This incredible plugin puts the majestic sound of the BBC Symphony Orchestra right into your computer.
A mid-sized orchestra sampled with exacting detail. With multiple modes and articulations, Berlin Strings is a powerful tool for your collection.
Metropolis Ark is huge, loud, and aggressive. Designed specifically for trailer music and epic-sounding tracks.
A robust orchestral library with plenty of sound design options.
1. Hollywood Orchestra Opus Edition
For years, EastWest’s Hollywood series has been a gold standard for orchestral libraries. And with the latest iteration, Hollywood Orchestra Opus Edition gives you new samples and enhancements that make writing music a joy to play.
Hollywood Strings has a lush, vibrant sound that perfectly captures the magic of film scores. The legato patches are also some of the best I’ve ever used.
The latest version runs on the new Opus engine, which replaces the old Play engine. You can buy the whole Hollywood Orchestra suite as a package, or get it as part of a subscription to Composer Cloud.
EastWest's Hollywood Orchestra is one of the gold standards for orchestral sample libraries. Get it as a standalone product, or with a Composer Cloud subscription.
2. BBC Symphony Orchestra
The name says it all. The classic sound of the BBC Symphony Orchestra availabe as a standalone plugin.
The library itself covers the full orchestra, including strings, brass, winds, and percussion. Each patch covers individual instruments and articulations. The interface is also easy to navigate.
BBC Symphony Orchestra has three versions — Discover is the free version with fewer instruments and features. Then there are the Core and Professional versions which add instruments and features.
This incredible plugin puts the majestic sound of the BBC Symphony Orchestra right into your computer.
3. Berlin Strings
Historically, Berlin Strings was on Kontakt. But recently, Orchestral Tools has been porting all their libraries to their proprietary SINE player. While most of them are still available for Kontakt, they’re no longer supported with updates and bug fixes.
Berlin Strings is a collection of samples from a mid-sized string ensemble. About 28 total players were sampled vs the typical 70 or so in a symphony setting. This gives you a sound that’s smaller and tighter than most Hollywood-style libraries.
It’s a wonderful library if you’re scoring more intimate pieces. That said, Berlin Strings won’t fully replace your symphonic library. For that, you can check out its counterpart, Berlin Symphonic Strings.
A mid-sized orchestra sampled with exacting detail. With multiple modes and articulations, Berlin Strings is a powerful tool for your collection.
4. Metropolis ARK 1
Three words that describe Metropolis ARK: Huge, Loud, and Aggressive.
Metropolis Ark 1 is designed specifically for modern cinematic and trailer music. As for the strings themselves, there aren’t any patches for individual sections. Instead, they’re grouped into high strings and low strings.
The string samples sound huge and play at the loudest dynamics possible. Plus, the library includes other crazy-loud patches like bass trombones, cimbassos, contrabassoons, choirs, electric guitars, and more.
Like the Berlin Strings mentioned above, the Metropolis Ark series has historically been available for Kontakt. But recently, Orchestral Tools ported most of their libraries to their own SINE player.
Metropolis Ark is huge, loud, and aggressive. Designed specifically for trailer music and epic-sounding tracks.
5. Miroslav Philharmonik 2
While these sounds are kind of old, that doesn’t make this library any less exceptional. Miroslav Philharmonik 2 offers some of the most beautiful-sounding string samples in an attractive standalone plugin.
Here, you’ll find patches for both ensemble and solo strings with all the standard articulations you’ll need. On top of that, Philharmonik 2 also includes samples for the entire orchestra, giving you an all-in-one solution for orchestral writing.
Plus, the interface offers plenty of options for sound design. You can change and modify reverb, EQ, delay, ADSR, and a whole mess of other parameters for a more custom sound.
A robust orchestral library with plenty of sound design options.
Other String Libraries for Your Digital Collection
Any of the above libraries will give you a robust set of tools for creating orchestral mockups and more. But if you want to expand your sonic palette more, then check out these other libraries:
- Kontakt Strings: What Are the Best String Libraries? — These are our top picks for the best string libraries that run in Kontakt.
- The 5 Best Free Orchestral VSTs — You don’t have to pay anything to get good orchestral sound. Check out these free orchestral string libraries.
