This is a rompler library in Kontakt Player® format, specializing in orchestral sounds for scoring soundtracks. In its roughly 18GB we find multisampled instruments with real recordings of a symphony orchestra, including an extensive collection of cinematic effects. All the sounds were recorded at 44.1kHz/24-bit quality in a concert hall. The recording was made in two simultaneous configurations, between which you can choose when loading a patch: Concert Stage and Close mic. The Kontakt Player 2 instance, from which the instruments are loaded, offers script and mapping customization, although it is limited in audio scripting. This is not the classic library of isolated instruments, since each instrument offers the complete set of an orchestral section, recorded with the widest range of articulations.

Introduction
The pace of evolution of virtual instruments based on audio samples is dizzying. So much so that today we're telling you about Symphobia, and the Symphobia 1.1 and 1.2 updates and Symphobia 2 are already available.

The quality of their sounds and, above all, the articulations, editing and manipulation of the samples get more versatile and practical every day. With that, we achieve three fundamental goals: a high-quality final result, doing the work in a more personalized way and spending less time on it.

What Is Symphobia?
As we anticipated in the intro, it is a multisample collection of more than 20 GB. You can get an idea of its magnitude. It is designed to run under Kontakt Player®. In our case, we tested it as a virtual instrument hosted in Pro Tools, on a Mac.

As for installation, we have to say it is, as you'd expect, tedious. Installing the 20GB takes quite a while. But I don't think this will surprise anyone familiar with sample libraries. The software fit our system perfectly and, after copying all the DVDs, it worked immediately and flawlessly.

The most striking thing about this package is, first, the high quality of the samples. Second, the combinations of sound banks across strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion and even effects. Those of you familiar with this kind of “combi” tool can form a perfect idea of how a library like this loads: dividing the keyboard into several sections to have a complete tool in a single load. We find powerful sections covering the lows, the mids, the highest details and dozens of details (in effects) that lend resounding realism to the sound. From phrases to loops, plus percussion, effects, hits, stabs, etc.

What Kind of Productions Is It Aimed At?
Clearly, music for picture, film scores and video ambience in general is its main destination. As with other tools of this type, many of the samples suggest ideas, contexts, situations. Let's say many of the banks we load, in combi format (that is, combining several simple sounds), already show a predisposition: moods of tension, fear, impact, action, comedy, calm, etc. Even so, I don't think that's the only possible purpose. Although it is certainly perfect for this kind of work, fast and with tremendous quality, Symphobia opens a huge door to composing orchestral foundations. What you can do with them is limited only by your imagination. From laying a heavy guitar over the top, to... how far do you think you could go?

How Is It Used?
As we've already mentioned, we need to install Native Instruments' Kontakt Player®. We insert that virtual instrument in our DAW software and, from there, trigger the library in question.

The Combis
Loading is by patches (we detail them in the table). When you load a multi format, a channel mixer appears that includes individual volume for each single track, solo, mute, pitch change, etc. This means that, to begin with, we have a series of brilliant preconfigured ideas, very evocative and effective. Now, we can manipulate each combi however we like, removing individual tracks, varying tunings of one part or another, etc.

Conclusions
We have posted a series of demos of version two (audio) at www.ispmusica.com. You'll get a fuller picture by listening to what it's all about, no pun intended.

In our opinion, this is a professional library for creating all kinds of orchestral atmospheres for film scores and acoustic scoring of video. It is extremely flexible and lets you work at great speed. I can confess, and do confess, that it had been a long time since I tried a virtual instrument that convinced me so much. Within its genre, it is, without a doubt, insultingly good. Highly recommended if your wallet allows it.

PATCH TABLE

STRINGS SECTION
10 full-string ensemble articulations
4 violin section articulations
4 low string articulations in octaves
12 cluster articulations
Upward & downward glissando
Wild arco, pizz & gliss textures
Low string and open string effects
Chords major, minor, open 4th, open 5th

BRASS SECTION
4 full-brass ensemble articulations
2 full-brass muted ensemble articulations
3 orchestrated brass articulation combos
3 low brass articulations in octaves
5 cluster articulations
Horn section and tutti rips
Note bending phrases
Wild repetitions
Chords major, minor

WOODWIND SECTION
6 full-woodwind ensemble articulations
2 low range articulations
4 cluster articulations
Octave runs major, minor
Grace notes major, minor
Flute & piccolo rips
Effect phrases
Wild textures & multi-phonics

STRINGS / BRASS
String and brass sections playing together
4 ensemble articulations
2 orchestrated combo articulations
4 low range articulations in octaves
11 cluster articulations
Glissando rips

SOLO STRING ENSEMBLE
5 solo string articulations

FULL ORCHESTRA

DYSTOPIA II

ADDITIONAL CONTENT
Duduk phrases
Shakuhachi phrases
Native American Flute phrases
Bonus Orchestral Bassdrum

LIBRARY UPDATE 1.1 AVAILABLE.
The following newly recorded content is part of the SYMPHOBIA 1.1 update:
New articulation: fast attack ensemble strings mf/ff (MW control)
New articulation: brass chords without tuba/bass note (MW control)
New effect: string ensemble very slow glissandi
New effect: string brass ensemble dark textures
New effect: string brass ensemble trill crescendo
New effect: string brass ensemble trill marcato
20 New Multis added, now 40 Multis in total

LIBRARY UPDATE 1.2 AVAILABLE.
New sample content: string ensemble tremolo 3-layer DYN (p / mf / ff)
New sample content: brass ensemble fast attack sustain 2-layer DYN (mp / f)
New sample content: uilleann pipe phrases
New sample content: low whistle phrases
New multis: 15 new multis added, now 55 multis in total, categorized