Best of 2020 – Sample Libraries, Virtual Instruments and Plugins Year in Review
This page is sponsored by our friends at Realitone. Realitone, best known for vocal libraries for Kontakt such as Realivox Ladies and Realivox Blue while continuing to push boundaries with their new Sunset Strings instrument, the developer has crafted a string instrument like nothing we have ever seen. Sunset Strings is now available at a special promo price of $199 (reg $300).
This year the Sample Library Review contributors have teamed up with a number of respected composers and industry professionals to round-up our picks for the best virtual instruments and plugin releases for 2020
Our end of year list is a celebration of the music software that found a way into both our hearts and scores
Sample Library Review’s Best of 2020 – Sample Libraries, Virtual Instruments and music software plugins.
Best Ensemble Orchestral Sample Libraries & Virtual Instruments
Arkhis by Native Instrument
The Orchestra 2 Complete by Best Service
► Review The Orchestra 2 Complete
BBC Symphony Orchestra Core by Spitfire Audio
► Should You Upgrade to BBC Symphony Orchestra Core
Abbey Road One Orchestral Foundations by Spitfire Audio
► First Look: Abbey Road One Orchestral Foundations
Big Bang Orchestra Zodiac by Vienna Symphonic Library
► Big Bang Orchestra Zodiac
Best Bass / Guitar Sample Libraries & Virtual Instruments
Dystopian Guitars by Pulse-Setter Sounds
► Review: Dystopian Guitars
Virtual Bassist 2 Series by UJAM
► Reviews: Review: Virtual Bassist
EZBass by Toontrack
► Checking Out: EZBass
Honorable Mentions
Quartarone Guitar Reveries by Valiant Samples
Celestial Guitar by Waverunner Audio
Best Brass Sample Libraries & Virtual Instruments
CineBrass Sonore by Cinesamples
► Review: Cinesbrass Sonore
CineBrass Horns of the Deep by Cinesamples
► Checking Out Horns of the Deep
Studio Series Fire Trombone by 8Dio
Century Brass 2.0 by 8Dio
► Review Century Brass (V1)
Honorable Mention:
The Orchestra Horns Of Hell by Best Service
► Review The Orchestra 2 Complete
Mentioned Realitone Libraries
Hip Hop Creator by Realitone
Finger Pick 2 by Realitone
Realivox Blue by Realitone
Sunset Strings by Realitone
Best Loop/Phrase-Based Sample Libraries & Virtual Instruments
Oscillation Strings by Ben Osterhouse
Spitfire Symphonic Motions by Spitfire Audio
► Review Spitfire Symphonic Motions
Symphonic Elements STRIIIINGS by UJAM
► Quick Look Symphonic Elements STRIIIINGS
Honorable Mention:
Opacity 2 by Audio Modern
► Review Opacity 2
Best Woodwinds Sample Libraries & Virtual Instruments
Infinite Woodwinds 2.0 by Aaron Ventures
MALEVENTUM by SilenceAndOtherSounds
► Review MALEVENTUM
Vertigo Flute by Cinematique Instruments
Best Sound Design in Sample Libraries & Virtual Instruments
Musique Box 2.0 by Soundiron
Clockworks Vol. 2 by SampleTraxx
Bioscape by Luftrum
► Review Bioscape
Pharlight by Native Instruments
Best World / Ethnic Sample Libraries & Virtual Instruments
Off-World Volume 1 by Bunker Samples
► Quick Look Off World Vol1
Hopkin Instrumentarium Series by Soundiron
► Quick Look Hopkin Instrumentarium Series
Phoenix Orchestra by Orchestral Tools
Ventus Native American Flutes by Impact Soundworks
Traveler Series Gypsy Fiddle by Red Room Audio
► Review Gypsy Fiddle
NADA by Best Service
► Review NADA
Best VST Preset Collection or Expansion
LoFi Dreams by UVI
Latin Cuban Drums & Percussion EZX by Toontrack
► Checking Out Latin Cuban Drums & Percussion EZX
Trinity For Omnisphere 2 by Triple Spiral Audio
Best Solo Sample Libraries & Virtual Instruments
Stradivari Violin by Native instruments
Birth of the Trumpet by Straight Ahead Samples
Ashen Scoring Cello by Wavelet Audio
► Checking Out Ashen Scoring Cello
Honorable Mention
Emotional Viola by Best Service
Best Sampled Synth Sample Libraries & Virtual Instruments
Omnisphere 2.6 by Spectrasonics
Best Piano / Keyboard Sample Libraries & Virtual Instruments
The Famous E Electric Piano by Orange Tree Samples
► Checking Out The Famous E Electric Piano
Ólafur Arnalds Stratus by Spitfire Audio
► Review Ólafur Arnalds Stratus
Celeste by Soniccouture
Pianoteq 7 by Modartt
Best Percussion Sample Libraries & Virtual Instruments
Damage 2 by Heavyocity
► Review Damage 2
Best Vocal / Choir Sample Libraries & Virtual Instruments
Pharlight by Native Instruments
Oceania II by Performance Samples
► Review Oceania II
Ethera Gold 2.5 by Zero-G
► Review Ethera Gold 2.5
Best String Sample Libraries & Virtual Instruments
Con Moto Violins A & B by Performance Samples
► Reviews Con Moto Violins A & B
Synchron Strings Pro by Vienna Symphonic Library
► Reviews Synchron Strings Pro
Areia by Audio Imperia
► Reviews Areia
Best Mixing / Mastering Plugins
Reference 4.4.6 by Sonarworks
Ozone 9 by iZotope
Soothe2 by Oeksound
Best Effects Plugins
Effect Rack by Soundtoys
FabFilter Saturn 2 by FabFilter
ShaperBox 2 by CableGuy
Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Class A by Plug-in Alliance
Best FREE Virtual Instruments
Hammersmith Free by Soniccouture
LABS Series by Spitfire Audio
The Free Orchestra by Project Sam
► See all SLR Freebies list on the bottom of the Deal Compressor Page
Best of 2020 Sample Library Review Playlist
For this year’s “Best of” we expanded our search looking for the best strings, winds, brass, percussion and orchestral instruments as well as seeking out the best sound design sample libraries, mixing and mastering effects plugins and VSTs and Omnisphere expansions. The SLR contributors and select industry professionals voted and selected this years nominations.
Huge thanks to Sample Library Review Editor Brian Brylow and our contributors: Raborn Johnson, Sam Burt, Alexandria M. Mueller, T.M.K.Davis, Steve Blizin, Shaun Chasin, Michael Reinmuller, Raymond D Ricker, Andrea Federici, Kent Kercher, Benjamin Goldman, Brian Freeland, Dedric Terry, Nathan David Carlton and Pete Checkley.
Special thanks to our Guest Contributors and industry professionals for suggestions and votes for the best of list.
Music used in the Best of 2020 video was taken from official videos and promos for the individual sample libraries/ virtual instrument marketing material and used for example purposes.
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