Provided in this article is a general overview of each product and its typical usage, as well as a comparison chart and a section chart that outline the key differences between each product.
If you are still undecided after reading, you can enter a support ticket using the help button in the bottom right, where a support agent will be able to answer any further questions you have.
Studio Orchestra Professional
Typically, a Studio Orchestra Pro user will be someone who wants to add orchestral elements to Pop records, or create more of a dry, early-Hollywood sound for a film or television score. With a smaller ensemble, Studio Orchestra Pro provides a slightly more intimate sound compared to the entire Symphony Orchestra and offers more control - with the ability to use Divisi across the sections of the orchestra. The dry sound can also be used to blend in with our larger libraries and provide extra soloists, ensembles, or just adding clarity to the sound.
Spitfire Symphony Orchestra
A typical SSO user will be someone who wishes to emulate the modern cinematic sound often produced at the Lyndhurst Hall. In context this would be used for orchestral mockups for modern scoring, with many articulations included across the library, as well as larger brass sections, with a6: Horns, Trombones, and Trumpets.
Recently updated as an all-in-one package containing Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Piano and Harp, this library contains all of the orchestral essentials. It also includes 4 mic positions (CTAO) for added flexibility, and a brand new User Interface alongside an overhauled legato functionality in the "Performance" patches which allow you to avoid keyswitches and play all lines fluidly and with ease.
BBC Symphony Orchestra Professional
A typical BBC SO Pro user will want to create large, orchestral scores, with greater depth and room ambience. This could be used for an orchestral score mockup as well as for modern cinematic orchestral elements.
Unlike our other Orchestral packs, BBC SO is contained within the Spitfire Plugin which gives you the ability to customise the user interface through our Technique Editor and switch to other versions the BBC SO library through Mode Switching. Additionally, BBC SO has more microphone options compared to our other libraries, as well as the unique offering of solo strings in the form of the String Leader patches.
General Comparison Chart
Category | Studio Orchestra Pro | Spitfire Symphony Orchestra | BBC Symphony Orchestra Pro |
Library Size | ~425GB | ~345GB | ~632GB |
Plugin | Kontakt Player (Free download via Native Access) | Kontakt Player (Free download via Native Access) | Spitfire Plugin |
RAM | Minimum 8GB | Minimum 8GB | Minimum 16GB |
Microphone Signals |
|
|
|
Recording Location | Air Studios: Studio One | Air Lyndhurst Hall | Maida Vale Studios |
Room Tone | Short and Tight | Large and Reverberant | Large and Tight |
Extras |
|
|
|
Technique (Articulation) Customisation | No (Individual and Economic Patches Provided) | Yes | Yes |
Optional Hard Drive | HDD (for transfer to your SSD) | HDD (for transfer to your SSD) | SSD |
Uses | Pop Music, Early-Hollywood Dry Scoring Stage for film/ television. Smaller Ensemble for tighter and intimate sound. | Orchestral mock-ups, orchestral scores, and modern film scores with a more cinematic sound. | Orchestral mock-ups, orchestral scores, and modern film scores with a more classical sound. |
Instrument Comparison Chart
Unique differences highlighted in bold.
A * indicates that the instrument does not include a Legato technique.
Section | Studio Orchestra Pro | Spitfire Symphony Orchestra | BBC Symphony Orchestra |
Strings | 1st Violins:
2nd Violins:
Violas:
Celli:
Basses:
| 1st Violins:
2nd Violins:
Violas:
Celli:
Basses:
| 1st Violins:
2nd Violins:
Violas:
Celli:
Basses:
|
Woodwinds |
|
|
|
Brass |
|
|
|
Muted Brass |
|
|
|
Tuned Percussion | None |
|
|
Untuned Percussion | None | Drums:
Untuned:
Toys:
| Drums:
Untuned:
Toys:
|
Piano | None | Yes | Separately in |
Ensemble Patches | None | Yes | None |