Review: Cinematic Studio Woodwinds by Cinematic Studio Series

Cinematic Studio Woodwinds is simply one of the best sounding and most comprehensive woodwind libraries available. It furthers the argument for sampling as an art form in the sheer expressiveness and emotion it is capable of. This is a real benchmark sample library that more than matches the excellence in the previous string, brass and piano collections.

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Review: Cinematic Studio Woodwinds by Cinematic Studio Series

The Cinematic Studio Series has proved to be one of the most highly regarded series of orchestral libraries on the market, with plaudits for both the sound, legato transitions, the simple interface, and generous loyalty pricing. The eagerly awaited next instalment is now here in the form of Cinematic Studio Woodwinds. If the length of a thread on a certain forum is anything to go by it’s arguably the most talked about woodwind library we’ve ever seen (and that was before it was released!). It features a range of ensemble and solo instruments playing every main articulation a modern composer would require, all accessible via the beautifully concise and usable Kontakt engine that founder Alex Wallbank is known for.

Solo Bassoon Staccato

Cinematic Studio Woodwinds sells for $399.00 from Cinematic Studio Series

Thoughts

2 Flutes Sustain

The saying that good things come to those who wait is entirely appropriate to Cinematic Studio Woodwinds. Whilst Alex Wallbank might not have dropped this as quickly as everyone wanted, he and his team more than made up for it in the quality and thoroughness of their products. The question always was, can it live up to the incredibly high standards already set by the strings and brass and can it compete with the already stellar options from other orchestral big hitters? And the answer is a definite yes and arguably it could be the new king of woodwinds, that all others will be judged against.

Custom Key Switching

Both in terms of the sound and the interface it sits perfectly with the other Cinematic Studio Series sections, yet it can also work well alongside other libraries too, as the mic options give a high degree of flexibility for blending with your existing orchestral template. The sonic beauty at its core is supported by supreme consistency across a wide range of articulations, from a comprehensive collection of both group and solo instruments. This is where the success of Cinematic Studio Woodwinds truly lies; incredible sound married with peerless usability, which for me, results in playing it with an ever-growing smile on my face! The ability to create such emotion merely using a simple midi keyboard and some files on a hard drive never fails to amaze me, and this library is a shining example of just that.

Preferences

Facts

105 GB of content across 4 ensemble pairs and 9 solo instruments

11 articulations with vibrato options for the long notes

3 legato transition speeds

4 mics: Close, Overhead, Main and Room

Works with the free Kontakt Player (5.8.1 and above)

Normally sells for $399

Cinematic Studio Woodwinds sells for $399.00 from Cinematic Studio Series

Demos of Cinematic Studio Woodwinds by Cinematic Studio Series

Videos of Cinematic Studio Woodwinds by Cinematic Studio Series

Contributor Sam Burt reviews Cinematic Studio Woodwinds by Cinematic Studio Series
“Cinematic Studio Woodwinds is simply one of the best sounding and most comprehensive woodwind libraries available. It furthers the argument for sampling as an art form in the sheer expressiveness and emotion it is capable of. This is a real benchmark sample library that more than matches the excellence in the previous string, brass and piano collections.