2.1.1 Instrument Categories

Every instrument in the library, in the order the Browse page lists them: five categories, each split into its sub-categories. Articulations appear in that list as separate instruments, so Strings High Legato and Strings High Staccato, for instance, are two entries rather than one.

A Orchestral (57 Instruments)

The foundation of any score. A complete orchestral palette featuring multiple articulations per section, from sweeping legato strings to punchy brass marcatos, delicate woodwind sustains to thundering timpani rolls.

Strings

Orchestral strings

High Strings feature 9 articulations for expressive upper-register writing. Low Strings provide 7 articulations for foundational bass and tenor parts.

InstrumentDescription
Strings High HarmonicsHigh strings harmonic overtones
Strings High LegatoHigh strings smooth connected bowing
Strings High MarcatoHigh strings accented attack
Strings High PizzicatoHigh strings plucked
Strings High SpiccatoHigh strings short bounced bow
Strings High StaccatoHigh strings short detached notes
Strings High SulPontHigh strings bowed near the bridge
Strings High SustainHigh strings sustained bowing
Strings High TremoloHigh strings rapid bow tremolo
Strings Low LegatoLow strings smooth connected bowing
Strings Low MarcatoLow strings accented attack
Strings Low PizzicatoLow strings plucked
Strings Low SpiccatoLow strings short bounced bow
Strings Low StaccatoLow strings short detached notes
Strings Low SustainLow strings sustained bowing
Strings Low TremoloLow strings rapid bow tremolo

Brass

Orchestral brass

Big Horns deliver powerful ensemble horn sound with 4 articulations. High Brass covers 6 articulations for upper-register brass writing. Low Brass provides 4 articulations for deep, weighty foundation.

InstrumentDescription
Big Horns LegatoHorn ensemble smooth connected playing
Big Horns MarcatoHorn ensemble accented attack
Big Horns StaccatoHorn ensemble short detached notes
Big Horns SustainHorn ensemble sustained
High Brass FlutterHigh brass flutter tongue
High Brass LegatoHigh brass smooth connected playing
High Brass MarcatoHigh brass accented attack
High Brass MuteHigh brass with mute
High Brass StaccatoHigh brass short detached notes
High Brass SustainHigh brass sustained
Low Brass Flutter MarcatoLow brass flutter tongue with accent
Low Brass MarcatoLow brass accented attack
Low Brass StaccatoLow brass short detached notes
Low Brass SustainLow brass sustained

Woodwinds

Orchestral woodwinds

High and Low Woodwinds each provide 4 articulations for melodic and textural wind writing.

InstrumentDescription
Woodwinds High LegatoHigh woodwinds smooth connected playing
Woodwinds High MarcatoHigh woodwinds accented attack
Woodwinds High StaccatoHigh woodwinds short detached notes
Woodwinds High SustainHigh woodwinds sustained
Woodwinds Low LegatoLow woodwinds smooth connected playing
Woodwinds Low MarcatoLow woodwinds accented attack
Woodwinds Low StaccatoLow woodwinds short detached notes
Woodwinds Low SustainLow woodwinds sustained

Orchestral Percussion

Orchestral percussion

InstrumentDescription
40in Ludwig Bass DrumLarge concert bass drum
All CymbalsFull cymbal collection
All SnaresConcert snare drum collection
Concert TomsTuned tom-tom set
Orchestral ChimesTubular bells
ShakersShaker percussion
Small MetalsTriangle, finger cymbals, and small metal percussion
Timpani Flt LngTimpani with long felt mallets
Timpani Flt RollsTimpani rolls with felt mallets
Wood BlocksWood block percussion

Harp, Mallets & Keys

Orchestral harp, mallets and keys

InstrumentDescription
Harp Pluck LongConcert harp with sustain
GlockenspielBright metallic pitched percussion
MarimbaWarm wooden pitched percussion
Vibraphone Bowed SustainBowed vibraphone with sustain
Vibraphone LiteLight vibraphone mallet strikes
Xylophone SusXylophone with sustain
CelestaCelesta keyboard instrument
Steinway D SusSteinway Model D piano with sustain
Steinway D Sus LiteSteinway Model D piano lite version

B Synth (43 Instruments)

Modern, cinematic, and otherworldly. Purpose-built for hybrid scoring and electronic production.

Leads (8)

Synth leads

InstrumentDescription
Blurry ParticlesTextured, evolving lead
Gleaming SilverBright, cutting lead tone
Gushing IodineFlowing, organic lead
Hit RoboticMechanical, rhythmic lead
Iron PlanetHeavy, industrial lead
Leaking OxygenAiry, atmospheric lead
Solar StormIntense, energetic lead
The Blue PlanetExpansive, cinematic lead

Hits (10)

Synth hits

InstrumentDescription
Hit Amplified StringsAmplified string impact
Hit Bending The LightPitch-shifting impact
Hit Blurred DreamSoft, dreamy impact
Hit Celestial GuitarGuitar-based celestial hit
Hit Cosmic FlutterFluttering cosmic impact
Hit Drops Of LightBright, sparkling impact
Hit Felt PianoPiano-based soft impact
Hit Gravitation PluckPlucked gravitational hit
Hit Illuminating KeysKey-based bright impact
Hit Lunar GuitarGuitar-based lunar hit

Basses (10)

Synth basses

InstrumentDescription
Atomic BassPowerful, deep bass
Blast FMFM synthesis bass
Brass TubesBrass-inspired synth bass
Dead Fractal FilterFiltered, evolving bass
Deep FundamentSub-frequency foundation bass
Dying CylindersDecaying, textural bass
Electric BrassElectronic brass-flavored bass
Tape Organ 1973Vintage organ-style bass
Triode OverloadTube-driven distorted bass
Unstable SatelliteModulating, unstable bass

Pads (11)

Synth pads

InstrumentDescription
Atmospheric WindsBreathy, wind-like pad
Bending SteelMetallic, bending pad
Cosmic SunsetWarm, expansive pad
Distant PulsarRhythmic, pulsing pad
Lone SatelliteIsolated, floating pad
Lunar BellsBell-like, luminous pad
Lunar EclipseDark, mysterious pad
Origin Of LightBright, origin-style pad
Particle FieldGranular, textured pad
Planetary MotionSlow, evolving pad
Space DustSparkling, ambient pad

Ambience FX (4)

Synth ambience FX

InstrumentDescription
Amb Argon CycloneSwirling ambient texture
Amb Cold PlanetIcy, distant atmosphere
Amb Metallic EdgeMetallic, edgy atmosphere
Amb Unknown TerritoryMysterious, unknown texture

C Band (20 Instruments)

A full contemporary band setup with real character, recorded with the grit and authenticity that modern productions demand.

Bass (4)

Band bass

InstrumentDescription
E-Bass 1Electric bass, clean tone
E-Bass 2Electric bass, alternate tone
E-Bass DistortedElectric bass with distortion
E-Bass MutedElectric bass, muted technique

Guitar (5)

Band guitar

InstrumentDescription
12-String GuitarAcoustic 12-string guitar
Gibson Lead Non Vib RRGibson-style lead guitar, no vibrato, round robin
Muted Clean E-GuitarClean electric guitar, muted
Nylon GuitarClassical nylon-string guitar
Telecaster Sus Non Vib RRTelecaster-style guitar, sustained, no vibrato

Drums (8)

Band drums

InstrumentDescription
Cajon Black CustomCustom cajon percussion
Drum SetStandard acoustic drum kit
Drums HiHatHi-hat patterns and variations
Electronic DrumkitElectronic/synthesized drum kit
Epic Cinematic DrumkitLarge cinematic drum kit
Future DrumkitFuturistic electronic kit
Hybrid DrumkitAcoustic/electronic hybrid kit
Trailer Rock DrumkitHeavy rock-style trailer kit

Keys (3)

Band keys

InstrumentDescription
E-PianoElectric piano
Felt PianoPiano with felt-dampened hammers
PianoStandard acoustic piano

D World (34 Instruments)

Instruments from across the globe, bringing authentic cultural textures to your scores.

Plucked Instruments (16)

World plucked instruments

InstrumentDescription
BalalaikaRussian triangular stringed instrument
Bass Tar PluckedBass tar plucked technique
BouzoukiGreek long-necked stringed instrument
CavaquinhoBrazilian small stringed instrument
Celtic HarpCeltic lever harp
Fado GuitarPortuguese fado guitar
Mandolin Sus RRMandolin sustained with round robin
Medieval LuteEuropean medieval lute
Oud Non Vib RRMiddle Eastern oud, no vibrato
PanduriGeorgian three-stringed instrument
PsalteryMedieval plucked zither
Qanun Sus RRMiddle Eastern plucked zither, sustained
RonrocoSouth American Andean stringed instrument
SetarPersian long-necked lute
TanburCentral Asian long-necked lute
Ukelele PK RRUkulele with round robin

Bowed Instruments (5)

World bowed instruments

InstrumentDescription
Alto Kamancha MarcatoAlto kamancha with accented bowing
Bass Gheychak StaccatoBass gheychak short bowing
Gheychak MarcatoGheychak with accented bowing
Kamancha StaccatoKamancha short bowing
Nyckelharpa StaccatoSwedish keyed fiddle, short bowing

Metallophones (3)

World metallophones

InstrumentDescription
Kalimba LowAfrican thumb piano, low register
MusicboxMechanical music box
SteeltongueSteel tongue drum

Wind Instruments (3)

World wind instruments

InstrumentDescription
Dizi LegatoChinese bamboo flute, legato
Dizi Lrg Sus VibLarge dizi with sustain and vibrato
Dizi Sml Sus VibSmall dizi with sustain and vibrato

Percussion (7)

World percussion

InstrumentDescription
Dhol Ensemble 1South Asian drum ensemble, pattern 1
Dhol Ensemble 2South Asian drum ensemble, pattern 2
Epic Drum EnsembleLarge-scale drum ensemble
Taiko EnsembleJapanese taiko drum ensemble
Taiko HitsTaiko single hits and accents
World Drum Ensemble 1Mixed world drum ensemble, pattern 1
World Drum Ensemble 2Mixed world drum ensemble, pattern 2

E Misc (10 Instruments)

Choirs, cinematic percussion, trailer impacts, and body percussion, the finishing touches that complete your score.

Choir (2)

Misc choir

InstrumentDescription
Angels Choir AahsEthereal choir sustain
Mixed StaccatosShort choral hits and staccatos

Percussion (8)

Misc percussion

InstrumentDescription
Body PercussionClaps, snaps, and body hits
Deep HitsDeep sub-frequency impacts
Low BoomsMassive low-end booms
Percussion Kit 1Mixed percussion kit, set 1
Percussion Kit 2Mixed percussion kit, set 2
Trailer Hits 1Cinematic trailer impacts, set 1
Trailer Hits 2Cinematic trailer impacts, set 2
Trailer Hits 3Cinematic trailer impacts, set 3