Get A Free Symphonic Orchestra Sample Library!

symphonic-orchestra-freeNeed a free orchestra?

Sounds Online is offering an awesome freebieSymphonic Orchestra Free, a free starter edition of their professional symphonic orchestra virtual instrument. It contains a selection of instruments from its full orchestral library.

It works with most sequencer/notation hosts including Ableton Live, Cubase/Nuendo, Digital Performer, Finale, FL Studio, Garageband, Logic, Pro Tools, Sibelius, Sonar, etc. You can also use it as a standalone application with a MIDI keyboard.

Contents:

  1. Violin Lyric
  2. Violin Sustenuto
  3. Trumpet Legato
  4. Trumpet Staccato
  5. French Horn Staccato Long
  6. Basson Sustenuto Vibratto
  7. Double Bass Quick Up Down
  8. Crotales
  9. English Horn Partato
  10. Marimba
  11. Orchestral Chimes
  12. French Horn Legato
  13. Concert Flute Legato
  14. Sleigh Bells
  15. Trombone Legato
  16. Trombone Legato Vibrato
  17. Tambourine
  18. Triangle
  19. Viola Pizzicato
  20. Cello Sustenuto Vibrato

To get Symphonic Orchestra Free, you have to fill out a short survey. Here are a few tips:

  • When you get to #13 (What is your source of information about virtual instruments) – the correct answer is Other – Synthtopia!
  • When you get to #17 (Which websites do you visit regularly) the correct answer is – you guessed it – Other – Synthtopia!

Note: this is a humongous download. It’s in three parts, and the first part is 600MB.

If you download Symphonic Orchestra Free, leave a comment and let me know what you think of it!

48 thoughts on “Get A Free Symphonic Orchestra Sample Library!

  1. Are you sure?

    Maybe its a one day only action (?) but I don't see it. When I check out their Symphonic Orchestra Play Edition I do see: "For the benefit of all, EWQLSO user Jonathan Loving has created Sound Sets for using Symphonic Orchestra within Sibelius 5 and Sibelius 6. Packages are available for all versions." which can be freely downloaded. Hardly 600Mb though; at most 35Mb,

    Can someone elaborate?

  2. Are you sure?

    Maybe its a one day only action (?) but I don't see it. When I check out their Symphonic Orchestra Play Edition I do see: "For the benefit of all, EWQLSO user Jonathan Loving has created Sound Sets for using Symphonic Orchestra within Sibelius 5 and Sibelius 6. Packages are available for all versions." which can be freely downloaded. Hardly 600Mb though; at most 35Mb,

    Can someone elaborate?

  3. Well, ok. Spoke too soon.. On their website (http://www.soundsonline.com) one fo the first ad boxes, which were initially hidden due to my AdBlock and NoScript plugins.

    I downloaded the threesome but haven't installed them. To be honest; I started getting some second doubts when I looked at the archive contents. Most of it consists of wav files containing orchestra samples.

    20 instrument files and thousands of samples?

    Now, I am but a newbie here but I can't help wonder if their instrument doesn't basically heavily rely on all those samples. Something which you can see when scoping their "Symphonic Orchestra play edition". Where you can see its basically a re-sampling engine combined with an effects engine and a sample playback (source: http://www.soundsonline.com/product.php?productid

    And if thats the case I fail to see how this would add anything to my Live experience; Live's Sampler and audio effects should be able to cope quite as well from where I'm standing. And anything which it can't do is something I should be able to setup with Max for Live.

    Now, granted, I'm not thinking out of the box which is what they do seem to provide; an easy way to install stuff and have a full sound in no time. My aim right here is that of a Live freak and if there is some interesting way to enhance that experience I'm all ears; I might even learn something from the experience.

    Anyway, I think I'm going to skip this one.

  4. Well, ok. Spoke too soon.. On their website (http://www.soundsonline.com) one fo the first ad boxes, which were initially hidden due to my AdBlock and NoScript plugins.

    I downloaded the threesome but haven't installed them. To be honest; I started getting some second doubts when I looked at the archive contents. Most of it consists of wav files containing orchestra samples.

    20 instrument files and thousands of samples?

    Now, I am but a newbie here but I can't help wonder if their instrument doesn't basically heavily rely on all those samples. Something which you can see when scoping their "Symphonic Orchestra play edition". Where you can see its basically a re-sampling engine combined with an effects engine and a sample playback (source: http://www.soundsonline.com/product.php?productid

    And if thats the case I fail to see how this would add anything to my Live experience; Live's Sampler and audio effects should be able to cope quite as well from where I'm standing. And anything which it can't do is something I should be able to setup with Max for Live.

    Now, granted, I'm not thinking out of the box which is what they do seem to provide; an easy way to install stuff and have a full sound in no time. My aim right here is that of a Live freak and if there is some interesting way to enhance that experience I'm all ears; I might even learn something from the experience.

    Anyway, I think I'm going to skip this one.

  5. I am confused with this for a few reasons. Why someone(s) would take the time to record these samples and leave in background noises is one reason. The noises aren't just white noise although there is much of that. There are sounds that simply don't belong like coughing and things being dropped at any given time. Another reason this as a whole is odd is the user is told to install software that isn't needed. All the sounds are just wav files. They aren't even named with a dummy file extension. I view this as confusing and pointless. Maybe an intern created all these with zero idea what was going on in which case I understand why it's free.

  6. I am confused with this for a few reasons. Why someone(s) would take the time to record these samples and leave in background noises is one reason. The noises aren't just white noise although there is much of that. There are sounds that simply don't belong like coughing and things being dropped at any given time. Another reason this as a whole is odd is the user is told to install software that isn't needed. All the sounds are just wav files. They aren't even named with a dummy file extension. I view this as confusing and pointless. Maybe an intern created all these with zero idea what was going on in which case I understand why it's free.

  7. I am confused with this for a few reasons. Why someone(s) would take the time to record these samples and leave in background noises is one reason. The noises aren't just white noise although there is much of that. There are sounds that simply don't belong like coughing and things being dropped at any given time. Another reason this as a whole is odd is the user is told to install software that isn't needed. All the sounds are just wav files. They aren't even named with a dummy file extension. I view this as confusing and pointless. Maybe an intern created all these with zero idea what was going on in which case I understand why it's free.

  8. As a taster for "symphonic orchestra" it's great and at least gives a far better idea of the quality of the sounds in the library and their playability than the demos on the soundsonline website. Ultimately the small size means there's not that much there, but hey! they're giving it away for free – and I for one am glad of additional orchestra sounds. As free versions go this is way ahead of the competition and makes the free factory selection that comes with Kontakt Player look pathetic!

  9. I just downloaded it and installed it as a VST. At first I could'nt find it in my VST list, but it's named "play_VST". It sounds very realistic! Amazing! Only a few sounds are usefull and a lot of christmas sounds like sleigh bells , but then again it's free. The string sounds are worth the download!

  10. I just downloaded it and installed it as a VST. At first I could'nt find it in my VST list, but it's named "play_VST". It sounds very realistic! Amazing! Only a few sounds are usefull and a lot of christmas sounds like sleigh bells , but then again it's free. The string sounds are worth the download!

  11. … sorry, but english is not my mother language…
    The sounds are not "dry" enough. Too much "tail" of a room. For a free Download it is quit okay.
    I prefer the sounds of YELLOW-TOOLS.

  12. One of the selling points of EW is that they don't record dry — you get the ambiance of the badass soundstage they own (can't remember who it used to be? CBS?).

    Some people like it, some don't.

  13. One of the selling points of EW is that they don't record dry — you get the ambiance of the badass soundstage they own (can't remember who it used to be? CBS?).

    Some people like it, some don't.

  14. One of the selling points of EW is that they don't record dry — you get the ambiance of the badass soundstage they own (can't remember who it used to be? CBS?).

    Some people like it, some don't.

  15. hmmm….I took the survey, filled in all of the info and never did get a download link for anything in my email or otherwise so I can't comment on how it sounds, darn it.

  16. Some have commented on the wav files and that this suite doesn't do anything much with those sources that one can't set up on another sample player. However, I am not at the stage of setting up my own cross-fades, key-switches, stacks and so on and so the fact that this is all done in a ready-to-play style suits me just fine. As a free download, it's an excellent addition to my plug-ins. The orchestral sounds aren't huge in variety but have a nice sonority, to the extent that I loaded up a couple and just played and was content. Quality some way upscale of my EXS orchestral patches and more towards Vienna Instruments. Excellent!!

  17. Some have commented on the wav files and that this suite doesn't do anything much with those sources that one can't set up on another sample player. However, I am not at the stage of setting up my own cross-fades, key-switches, stacks and so on and so the fact that this is all done in a ready-to-play style suits me just fine. As a free download, it's an excellent addition to my plug-ins. The orchestral sounds aren't huge in variety but have a nice sonority, to the extent that I loaded up a couple and just played and was content. Quality some way upscale of my EXS orchestral patches and more towards Vienna Instruments. Excellent!!

  18. This is a fantastic freebie.

    It took about a half hour to download – but it's worth it. The string patches are excellent. All the patches are very good, but the strings seem the most useful. Very realistic.

    Some have criticized the reverb. It sounds very realistic and lush to me, definitely "wet", though.

    Thanks for sharing this!

  19. This is a fantastic freebie.

    It took about a half hour to download – but it's worth it. The string patches are excellent. All the patches are very good, but the strings seem the most useful. Very realistic.

    Some have criticized the reverb. It sounds very realistic and lush to me, definitely "wet", though.

    Thanks for sharing this!

  20. hmmm….I took the survey, filled in all of the info and never did get a download link for anything in my email or otherwise so I can't comment on how it sounds, darn it.

  21. I have Symphonic Orchestra Gold Complete, Silver, and Choirs. These sound sets are probably some of the most amazing I've heard in my life, to say the least of my opinion! I wouldn't doubt if this stuff was considered "industry standard."

  22. I have Symphonic Orchestra Gold Complete, Silver, and Choirs. These sound sets are probably some of the most amazing I've heard in my life, to say the least of my opinion! I wouldn't doubt if this stuff was considered "industry standard."

  23. i've tried 2x's now no luck. 2nd time it says i already provided that email address, but it has never sent me an acknowledgement or link. bogus.

  24. i've tried 2x's now no luck. 2nd time it says i already provided that email address, but it has never sent me an acknowledgement or link. bogus.

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