BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover Kontakt Library: Review
Hey music creators! Let's dive into the BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover library for Kontakt. This review will cover everything you need to know about this fantastic tool. If you are new to music production or a seasoned composer, the BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover library offers an accessible entry point to orchestral sounds.
What is BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover?
So, what exactly is the BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover library? Simply put, it's a virtual instrument library designed for Native Instruments' Kontakt platform. It provides a comprehensive set of orchestral sounds, captured from the renowned BBC Symphony Orchestra. What sets it apart is its accessibility – both in terms of ease of use and price point. Unlike more extensive (and expensive) orchestral libraries, Discover offers a streamlined selection of instruments and articulations, making it perfect for beginners and those working on projects with limited resources.
The library includes a wide range of instruments, including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Each instrument section features essential articulations, such as sustains, staccatos, and legatos, allowing you to create realistic and expressive orchestral arrangements. The intuitive interface makes it easy to navigate the library and find the sounds you need. Whether you're scoring a film, creating a video game soundtrack, or just experimenting with orchestral textures, the BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover library provides a solid foundation.
One of the standout features of this library is its sound quality. The samples were recorded in a professional studio environment, capturing the natural ambience and character of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. This attention to detail ensures that your compositions will sound polished and professional, even if you're working with a limited budget. Additionally, the library is designed to be CPU-friendly, meaning you can run multiple instances without bogging down your system. This is particularly important for composers who rely on complex orchestral arrangements.
Key Features and Benefits
Let's explore some of the key features and benefits that make the BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover library a valuable asset for any composer.
Accessibility and Price
First off, the accessibility and price are major selling points. It's available for free after completing a questionnaire, making it an incredible value for anyone looking to dip their toes into orchestral composition. The low barrier to entry makes it perfect for students, hobbyists, and anyone on a tight budget. Despite being free, the library doesn't compromise on sound quality or functionality.
Wide Range of Instruments
It has a wide range of instruments which covers all the essential sections of a symphony orchestra, including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Each section includes a selection of commonly used instruments, such as violins, cellos, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, trombones, and timpani. This comprehensive range allows you to create full and detailed orchestral arrangements without needing to rely on multiple libraries.
Simple Articulations
The simple articulations such as sustains, staccatos, and legatos are included for each instrument, providing the essentials for creating realistic and expressive performances. While it doesn't offer the extensive range of articulations found in more advanced libraries, the included articulations are carefully selected to cover the most common playing techniques. This streamlined approach makes it easy to create convincing orchestral parts without getting bogged down in complex programming.
User-Friendly Interface
The user-friendly interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, even for beginners. The instruments are clearly organized, and the controls are straightforward, allowing you to quickly find the sounds you need and start composing. The interface also includes helpful information about each instrument and articulation, making it a great learning tool for those new to orchestral composition.
Excellent Sound Quality
The excellent sound quality is captured from the BBC Symphony Orchestra, ensuring professional-grade results. The samples were recorded in a world-class studio environment, capturing the natural ambience and character of the orchestra. This attention to detail results in a library that sounds polished and realistic, even when used in complex arrangements.
CPU Efficiency
Finally, it has CPU efficiency, which is designed to be lightweight and efficient, allowing you to run multiple instances without bogging down your system. This is particularly important for composers who rely on complex orchestral arrangements or who are working on older computers. The library's optimized design ensures that you can focus on your creativity without worrying about technical limitations.
How to Get Started
Curious how to get started with the BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover library? Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Download and Install Kontakt Player: First, make sure you have Native Instruments' Kontakt Player installed on your computer. The Kontakt Player is a free application that allows you to load and play virtual instrument libraries, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover library. You can download the Kontakt Player from the Native Instruments website.
- Register for BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover: Go to the Spitfire Audio website and register for the BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover library. You'll need to create an account and complete a short questionnaire about your musical background and intended use of the library. Once you've completed the questionnaire, you'll receive a download link for the library.
- Download and Install the Library: Download the library files from the link provided by Spitfire Audio. The download may take some time, depending on your internet connection speed. Once the download is complete, extract the files to a location on your computer where you can easily access them.
- Activate the Library in Kontakt: Open Kontakt Player and navigate to the