Due to Kontakt content overload I am now spoiled for choice when I just need a simple rich bed for orchestration. Lately there have been huge improvements in solo instruments, but I seem to have forgotten where I used to go to find those ensemble sounds that sit perfectly in an orchestral mix.

 

Impact Soundworks Rhapsody: Orchestral Colors has full tweakable beds, but not near the quality of some of the other big separate ensemble libs. But real easy to sketch it out and get something going quickly. Much smaller in size as well. This lib doesnt have any percussion in it either. Their orchestral percussion lib is a separate product. I use it to build orchestral stabs in my EDM productions all the time.

 

Last edited: Feb 6, 2017

Spitfire Albion One.

 

What is "simple rich bed for orchestration"?
There is no sound that sits "perfectly in the mix" - these libraries are recorded in different halls, mic positions, ensemble sizes, orchestral combinations...
Check developers like Orchestral Tools, Spitfire Audio, Cinesamples, Project Sam. They all offer different pre-orchestrated ensembles.
Sonokinetic have loops and cliche phrase libraries for different cinematic styles.

 

Project Sam Symphobia 2 is a good one for what i understand you are looking for.
The Orchestra is another good one.

 

is that the sound used in Descent of the NOMACS?
Nox Happy Wheels VLC

 

Last edited: May 1, 2019

Just try Cinesymphony LITE, Berlin Orchestra Inspire 1 and 2, Symphobia series or Sonokinetic Da Capo v2. You'll gonna love them all! PS: Rhapsody Orchestral Colors is interesting too, although I find the woodwind and brass range a little limited.

 

Last edited: Apr 22, 2021

Are we talking pads just for sketching, mock-ups or actual production? Also, what ensemble? The whole orchestra? Just strings? Just violins? Just woodwinds? Just horns? There isn’t a one library fits all. Spitfire stuff does the super wet & quiet flautando all you hear is resin on the bow crap well. Cinematic Strings is a real workhorse. As for woodwind and brass beds - Woodwinds all suck, every library sucks pretty much lol. Berlin WW is meh okayish. SWAM stuff layered is okayish but needs a million CC automation... Brass, there are a lot of decent choices, but my go to would be AudioModeling SWAM in conjunction with divisimate. Layer that with another popular brass library like Berlin Brass ect ect. As for full orchestra pads. They sound fake but good I would go with Project Sam stuff.... BTW, I don’t mean to come off as a snob. Most orchestral mock-up people do...

 

i use labs because ima chepskate lol

 

It reaaaaly depends on what you're looking for. I spent most of the last year trying to find the perfect brass and strings sounds for a project i was working on and i tried lots, most of them did sit in their "own way" and very few didn fit at all, and i'm talking beyond mixing, mic positions or reverbs. It would be really helpful if you told us what are you looking for in your project (big sound, intimate sound, clarity, body, depht, the BWAAAM elemnet, the warm tube tape analog vintage whatever (jk) etc.).

That said, i feel like Cinesamples stuff tends to sit better in different material than others but again, it really depends.

Edit: nvm, i just saw the date of the post

 

Last edited: Apr 22, 2021

I'm not into orchestra stuff, but for sake of stirring up the discussion a little bit,
I'd suggest checking out Audio Modeling SWAM series - they aren't sample-based, so take almost no disk space, and you can actually layer what you need - provided you are not scared of hardcore automation,
also if you seek for drone pads, definitely check Gothic Instruments DRONAR series, they got Woodwinds, Strings, Flutes, Brass, Distorchestra and others