Overwhelmed by Choice? Try Our String Library Buying Guide

There are so many string libraries to choose from, in this video OPW breaks down which string libraries are most suitable for your compositional needs.
00:00 Intro
00:13 Professional and orchestral writing
08:14 Symphonic orchestral writing tools
15:00 Collaborators string libraries
24:30 Albion
35:56 Character and esoteric libraries
Products mentioned:
ARO 1st violins: www.spitfireaudio.com/abbey-r...
Appassionata: www.spitfireaudio.com/spitfir...
Spitfire Symphonic Strings: www.spitfireaudio.com/spitfir...
Spitfire Chamber Strings: www.spitfireaudio.com/spitfir...
Hans Zimmer strings: www.spitfireaudio.com/hans-zi...
Bernard Hermann Composer Toolkit: www.spitfireaudio.com/bernard...
BBC SO: www.spitfireaudio.com/bbc-sym...
Abbey Road One: www.spitfireaudio.com/abbey-r...
Abbey Road Two: www.spitfireaudio.com/abbey-r...
Spitfire Symphonic Motions: www.spitfireaudio.com/spitfir...
Angular String Evos: www.spitfireaudio.com/angular...
Fragile Strings Evos: www.spitfireaudio.com/fragile...
Olafur Arnalds Chamber Evos: www.spitfireaudio.com/olafur-...
Olafur Arnalds Evos: www.spitfireaudio.com/olafur-...
Fractured Strings: www.spitfireaudio.com/fractur...
LCO Strings: www.spitfireaudio.com/london-...
Orchestral Swarm: www.spitfireaudio.com/orchest...
Kepler Orchestra: www.spitfireaudio.com/orchest...
Heirloom: www.spitfireaudio.com/heirloom
Albions: www.spitfireaudio.com/albion
Looking for new sounds for your scores?
Explore our Percussion - www.spitfireaudio.com/instrum...
Explore our Strings - www.spitfireaudio.com/instrum...
Explore our Brass - www.spitfireaudio.com/instrum...
Explore our Woodwind - www.spitfireaudio.com/instrum...
Explore our most recent releases - www.spitfireaudio.com/instrum...
Free samples - www.spitfireaudio.com/discove...

[@MR.Ghellico]

It would be nice if you guys can make all libraries accessible for blind users who use screen readers particularly NVDA. It would definitely be a game changer for us blind Music composers

[@bernie8811]

13:06 high strings legato for Abbey Road One are coming soon.

[@musar03580]

I am pleased to hear that Spitfire Audio will be eventually adding high strings Selections to Abbey Road One. 12:27

[@alontrigger]

I bought the LCO and love that edgy sound!

[@lowrater]

Spitfire got good products.. don't get me wrong.. however, if there is one thing i wish spitfire could do for consumers, then it's having demo (trial) options or a return policy if not satisfied with the software as expected / trade in for other products. Other than that, it's really good. I really messed up getting too much and even within a day i couldn't refund, and found out my selections at heart is the abbey road lineup and BBCSSO combined.

[@Wolfbabypuppylove]

Quote me if I'm wrong but refunds aren't available on recorded media and video games etc.

[@nateg876]

@@Wolfbabypuppylove No, they are.

[@Harrysound]

Sounds like an argument for a subscription model

[@lowrater]

@@Wolfbabypuppylove if you dont install the product, then Its possible according to their support. But then you wont have the option to try it out.

[@cliffwhite2812]

Excellent walkthrough Oliver! Your guidance is detailed and valuable, enabling me to narrow down my options to a much more manageable range of choices. Keep up the good work!

[@rolandwehlend]

Great video Oliver and much appreciated too. While Paul was covering the details of individual libraries, I long wondered which string library works best for what and what makes them special in comparison. Well done, thank you! Cheers, Roland

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Thanks Roland

[@jeffhijlkema]

All mentioned SA string libs can really make ones legato phrasing sound goosebumping convincing, but Ollie what happened to your high string runs in the demo? To me they sound so midi-ish and harsch still. Imho SA nailed string legato's and longs, now let's go for nailing string shorts this way also.

[@petersvan7880]

Great video. Please don't let us wait for the AROOF legato high strings much longer!

[@rl2905]

Been using VSTi's for years, and I cannot figure out how it took me until yesterday to discover Spitfire Audio....I just bought the Cinematic Pads library. What wonderful stuff!!

[@AmanBansil]

You need a visual matrix which has features on left most column and products as the rest of the columns. For each row, each product, either check off a feature or write some words about how/why it's different.

[@dafingaz]

Nice

[@music_creator_capable]

Good!

[@claykenzo8202]

What's the MIDI Controller you are using? :)

[@pierrenuancescontroller6817]

it is a Nuances controller !

[@Wolfbabypuppylove]

Great hair Ollie ....Great vid too .let us know what conditioner you use 😀

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

aahaha.. amazing comment, thank you :) I have three small kids, so it's whatever I can find in the shower, currently, I believe it's Johnson's baby shampoo - not followed by any conditioner.

[@ComposerMichaelDow]

I think a "try" price with very low amount of samples would be good. Others do it A very stripped down version. Like triumph audio does with ghost cello

[@eebangpromotions]

Im requiring a soecific legato but I dont want to spend hubdereds and get my purchase wrong. PLEASE devise a demo mode, a way of trying before you buy. I KNOW thats hard because its essentially thousands of samples in a complex intuitive player but... yeah...

[@anasuzuki31]

Does anyone know which MIDI controller is he using?

[@br4975]

What's the hardware he's using with his left hand at 00:45?

[@avinashkhandre0321]

some kind of faders for controlling Mod wheel and stuff

[@br4975]

Yeah wondered what make, model@@avinashkhandre0321

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

It's a Nuances Controller! Thanks for watching

[@alexwmusic]

Best Solo Cello?

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Depending on your needs! I love the alternative solo strings cello, it’s a little rough around the edges. For orchestral and diverse in terms of articulations and technicalities I’d say the Spitfire Solo Cello is great!

[@LetThereBeLight._]

Still waiting patiently for Abbey Road One High Strings Legato patches... 🙏

[@lofomuses]

I am also. But not as patiently. Come on Spitfire, finish what you started! Heavenly High Strings, with high strings legato... a la Legendary Low Strings.

[@diemcarpeproduction]

@@lofomuses could be earlier before spending all money on everything else but they are still welcome

[@alexanjos6138]

He rly just played the lick 8:40

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Haha amazing realisation and so true! That was not my intention… thanks for watching 🙏

[@alexanjos6138]

​@@OliverPatriceWeder thank you for the guide, it was very informative. Unfortunately, I don't have the budget at the moment. I would definitely get the Abbey Road strings if I could. That run legato articulation seems very helpful.

[@transmutationdotse]

I think as mentioned around 3 min in that the library is suitable for everyone. Not good players and good programmers. That is very condesending to young musicmakers with a lot of soul. I dont mean to rant or seem angry in any way I just know that if I would hear something like that beginning to express myself I would maybe just dont because of it. It would i contrast make me seem bad.

[@OliverPatriceWeder]

Oh blimey, that was not my intention at all - music and its tools are totally for everyone! I was trying to make the decision easier depending on what you need. 10 years ago when I started out writing with samples, I would’ve wanted something more on budget and perhaps straight forward to use - it would’ve been a huge investment buying a ‘high end pro’ library when I didn’t know about expression/mod wheel and velocity. It’s a similar thing with instruments, I wouldn’t (even if I could) buy my 5 year old kid a Steinway piano to start out. But of course, we’re totally free to buy, use and create whatever we want with whatever tool, that’s the beauty of music and art.

[@transmutationdotse]

The point was about choice of words making music into something of an achievement rather then art.

[@drew6524]

Please less Oliver. He just isn’t likeable he has a air of superiority that makes it IMPOSSIBLE for me to watch any video of him no matter how much I’m interested in the product. Outcome I don’t buy it. Btw as a researcher in marketing for a decade- im saying this means many feel this. Just please Homay is wonderful and doesn’t shoehorn an extraordinarily long self worship “let’s listen to way too much of my music since I’m WONDERFUL” scene and honestly she’s one of your top 3 composers.