Spitfire Audio: sample libraries and virtual instruments

Spitfire Audio: Sample Libraries for Music Creation

Spitfire Audio has established itself as one of the most respected sample library creators in the world. Founded in London by passionate composers, the brand has become an essential reference for producers, film and TV composers, and musicians in search of orchestral and cinematic sounds of striking realism. From the legendary BBC Symphony Orchestra to collaborations with Hans Zimmer, Spitfire Audio is redefining what you can expect from a virtual instrument.

At Green Musicians, we offer a selection of Spitfire Audio sample libraries at the best prices — virtual instruments prized by professionals the world over. This guide introduces the brand's history and its iconic ranges, and helps you choose the library that suits your musical style.

Quick summary

• Origin: United Kingdom, founded in 2007 by Christian Henson and Paul Thomson
• Speciality: orchestral, cinematic and experimental sample libraries
• Flagship products: BBC Symphony Orchestra, Albion, LABS (accessible starter series), Eric Whitacre, Hans Zimmer Drums
• Iconic studio: Air Lyndhurst, legendary London recording studio
• Philosophy: capturing the soul of instruments in exceptional acoustics
• At Green Musicians: available at the best prices, with more than thirty products on offer

The story of Spitfire Audio

The Spitfire Audio adventure began in 2007 in the United Kingdom, when composers Christian Henson and Paul Thomson decided to share their passion for orchestral sound with the music creation community. Both were already working in film and TV composition, and they felt a growing frustration with existing sample libraries, which were often too rigid and lacked the expressiveness that makes a real orchestra beautiful.

Their idea is simple but revolutionary: record top-tier musicians in legendary studios, capturing not only the notes but also the unique acoustics of each venue. The choice of the name "Spitfire" is no accident: it evokes the spirit of British boldness and innovation, a nod to the iconic fighter plane of the Second World War.

From its very first productions, Spitfire Audio partnered with the Air Lyndhurst studios, a former religious building converted into a recording studio by George Martin (the Beatles' producer). This monumental acoustic, with its exceptional natural reverb, became the sonic signature of many of the brand's libraries. It was in this space that the orchestral sounds that would win over composers around the world were recorded.

Over the years, Spitfire Audio expanded its catalogue by collaborating with renowned artists: Hans Zimmer, Eric Whitacre, Samuel Sim, and Olafur Arnalds, among others. Each collaboration gives birth to a unique library reflecting the invited composer's artistic sensibility. The brand also launched LABS, a series of virtual instruments that democratise access to professional-quality sounds for young creators.

Today, Spitfire Audio is used by composers working on Hollywood blockbusters, award-winning TV series, successful video games and independent music productions. The brand keeps innovating by exploring new sonic territories, from modular synthesisers to experimental percussion, while maintaining its exacting recording standards.

Spitfire Audio product ranges

BBC Symphony Orchestra

The BBC Symphony Orchestra series is arguably Spitfire Audio's most ambitious work. Developed in partnership with the BBC Orchestra, this library offers a complete recording of a professional symphony orchestra, section by section, with multiple articulations per instrument. Strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion are captured with surgical precision, giving composers a tool capable of rivalling a real orchestra.

This series is aimed above all at film and TV composers, arrangers and anyone who wants to produce convincing orchestral mock-ups. The level of detail makes it possible to create full orchestrations, from the most delicate pianissimo to the most powerful fortissimo, with natural transitions between dynamics.

Albion

The Albion range is designed as an all-in-one solution for composers looking to produce cinematic atmospheres quickly. It combines orchestral sections, epic percussion, ambient sounds and drones in a single library. Albion is ideal for those starting out in orchestral composition or for producers pressed for time who want a professional result without multiplying libraries.

LABS: Spitfire quality for everyone

Launched to democratise access to professional sample libraries, the LABS series offers virtual instruments available to everyone. Every month, Spitfire Audio releases a new instrument captured with the same care as its paid libraries. LABS has allowed a whole generation of young creators to discover the brand's sonic universe, and is often the gateway to the full catalogue.

Eric Whitacre Singers

The collaboration with composer and choir conductor Eric Whitacre gave birth to a vocal library of striking beauty. The recorded choirs offer an extended palette of articulations, from ethereal murmurs to powerful tuttis. This library is an indispensable tool for composers wanting to integrate human voices into their arrangements, with an unmatched level of expression and realism.

Hans Zimmer Drums

Hans Zimmer, one of the most influential film music composers of our time, collaborated with Spitfire Audio to create a series of percussion libraries that have become legendary. Recorded in the composer's own studios, these cinematic percussion sounds deliver spectacular impact and power, and have been used in countless blockbuster soundtracks. It's the secret weapon of any composer looking to give their productions an epic dimension.

Abbey Road One

The Abbey Road One series marks the collaboration between Spitfire Audio and the legendary Abbey Road studio. These libraries capture the sound of orchestral instruments recorded in the incomparable acoustics of Studio Two. Each module focuses on a specific section or instrument, allowing composers to build their ideal orchestra. Discover Abbey Road One Thematic Trumpets for luminous solo brass, Abbey Road One Soaring High Strings for expressive high strings, Abbey Road One Grand Brass for majestic brass, or Abbey Road One Wondrous Flutes for delicate, poetic flutes.

Originals

The Originals range offers more compact, affordable libraries, ideal for aspiring composers or anyone looking for a specific sound without investing in a complete collection. Each Originals module focuses on a particular instrument or atmosphere, captured with Spitfire Audio's characteristic recording quality. Explore Originals Cinematic Soft Piano for a soft, atmospheric piano, Originals Cinematic Frozen Strings for icy, contemplative strings, or Originals Wurli for the warm sound of a vintage electric piano. For post-production needs, Originals Media Toolkit offers a collection of ready-to-use sound elements.

Artist collaborations

Spitfire Audio has distinguished itself through collaborations with renowned artists and composers, creating libraries that reflect each creator's unique sonic universe. Fink Signatures captures the aesthetic of singer and producer Fink, while Hainbach Landfill Totems offers an experimental exploration of analogue sounds. Samuel Sim Chrysalis delivers evolving orchestral textures, and Chateau Piano offers a piano captured in a warm, intimate setting.

Spaces and reverbs

Spitfire Audio also offers spatial processing tools, capturing the acoustics of exceptional venues. Air Studios Reverb recreates the natural reverb of the legendary Air Lyndhurst studios, while Tape Rooms offers tape-based reverbs with a unique analogue character.

Buying guide by musical style

Cinematic composition and film scoring

For composers working on soundtracks, the Abbey Road One series is an obvious choice. The solo orchestral sections allow you to build expressive, nuanced arrangements. Combined with Hans Zimmer Drums for action moments and Originals Cinematic Frozen Strings for more contemplative atmospheres, this combination offers everything needed to produce a complete film score.

Classical orchestral music

Composers oriented towards the classical or neoclassical repertoire will find the ultimate tool in BBC Symphony Orchestra. This library covers the entire orchestra with enough detail to produce complete symphonies. For vocal arrangements, Eric Whitacre Singers brings a choral dimension of remarkable quality.

Pop production and songwriting

Pop music producers will particularly benefit from the Originals libraries, which offer signature sounds without weighing down the workflow. Originals Cinematic Soft Piano adds an atmospheric touch to ballads, while Originals Wurli wakes up arrangements with its warm sound. Artist collaborations like Fink Signatures provide loops and textures ready to sample to enrich a production.

Experimental and electronic creation

Artists exploring hybrid sonic territories between acoustic and electronic will find what they're looking for in Spitfire Audio's artist collaborations. Hainbach Landfill Totems offers transformed analogue sounds, Samuel Sim Chrysalis delivers evolving textures, and the LABS series regularly releases instruments with unexpected sonorities. For creative reverbs, Tape Rooms adds a distinctive analogue colour to any sound source.

Why buy Spitfire Audio at the best prices on Green Musicians

Buying Spitfire Audio at the best prices on Green Musicians offers many advantages for musicians and producers. You get authentic, guaranteed sample libraries at the best prices on Green Musicians. Buying through Green Musicians guarantees you the best prices on authentic, guaranteed products.

In addition, Green Musicians also offers refurbished and second-hand products, giving you the opportunity to acquire Spitfire Audio libraries at even more accessible prices. Every product is checked and tested to guarantee an optimal experience. Our team is also available to advise you on choosing your music production tools.

If you already use libraries from other publishers, also check out our complete guide to EastWest Sounds orchestral libraries, our complete Native Instruments guide or our complete guide to Spectrasonics' legendary virtual instruments to compare the offers and build your ideal sonic arsenal.

FAQ — Spitfire Audio

What is Spitfire Audio and what does the brand offer?

Spitfire Audio is a British publisher founded in 2007, specialising in orchestral, cinematic and experimental sample libraries. The brand records professional musicians in legendary studios such as Air Lyndhurst and Abbey Road to deliver virtual instruments of exceptional realism.

Which Spitfire Audio library should beginners choose?

To get started, the LABS series is an excellent entry point. Then the Originals range offers compact, affordable libraries, ideal for exploring the brand's sonic universe before investing in more complete collections such as BBC Symphony Orchestra or Albion.

Does Spitfire Audio work with my DAW?

Spitfire Audio libraries work with the Spitfire Audio App player, compatible with all major DAWs (Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Cubase, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Reaper, etc.) via the VST, AU and AAX formats. No additional physical hardware is required.

What is the difference between BBC Symphony Orchestra and Albion?

BBC Symphony Orchestra is a detailed, section-by-section orchestral library designed for complex orchestral compositions. Albion is a more all-in-one solution geared towards fast cinematic production, combining orchestral sections, epic percussion and atmospheres in a single interface.

Do Spitfire Audio libraries require a powerful computer?

As Spitfire Audio libraries are high-quality audio samples, they require a computer with sufficient RAM (16 GB minimum recommended for orchestral libraries) and substantial disk storage. An SSD is strongly recommended for optimal performance.

Can Spitfire Audio be used for commercial productions?

Yes, Spitfire Audio libraries can be used without restriction in commercial music productions, whether for film music, video games, albums or adverts. The licence granted with each library allows professional use with no restriction on generated revenue.

Where can I buy Spitfire Audio libraries at reduced prices?

Green Musicians offers Spitfire Audio libraries at the best prices, as well as refurbished and second-hand products. Browse our Spitfire Audio catalogue to discover the available products and benefit from advantageous prices.

Expert tips for getting the most out of Spitfire Audio

To make the most of your Spitfire Audio libraries, take the time to explore the available articulations. Each instrument offers multiple ways to play a note (sustain, staccato, pizzicato, tremolo, etc.), and choosing the right articulation makes all the difference between a convincing mock-up and an artificial result. Use keyswitches to switch articulation in real time while recording MIDI.

Also pay attention to velocity management: Spitfire Audio libraries are very sensitive to dynamics, and a real orchestra never plays at a constant volume. Vary the velocities to create natural dynamics, and don't hesitate to use automation for volume and expression variations. For strings, CC11 (expression) is your best ally for expressive nuances.

Finally, think about the sonic space: since your libraries are already recorded in a studio acoustic, avoid adding too much extra reverb. Let the natural acoustic breathe, and use an equaliser instead to place each instrument in the mix. For more elaborate atmospheres, Air Studios Reverb can complement subtly without altering the original sound.