Composers Christian Henson and Paul Thomson founded the British software company Spitfire Audio. Frustrated by the lack of high-quality string libraries at the time, they began recording their own at the renowned AIR Studios in London. The initial idea was simple: to invite a few fellow composers to share the cost of professional orchestral recordings.
Word of the project quickly spread among film composers worldwide, enabling Christian and Paul to organize additional sampling sessions with orchestral musicians.
They also recorded soloists but realized not every original backer needed access to the complete material. To recoup their investment, they released the Solo Strings Library, marking the official launch of Spitfire Audio. Since then, the company has grown rapidly, developing an ever-expanding catalog of sample libraries and collaborating with many of the industry’s most influential names, including Hans Zimmer, Eric Whitacre, Ólafur Arnalds, and members of Radiohead and U2.
By 2018, Spitfire Audio had released over 50 libraries, primarily focused on orchestral and cinematic music. While most are designed for Native Instruments’ Kontakt sampler, Spitfire also offers its own proprietary plug-in engine. Sample management, licensing, downloads, and updates are handled through the dedicated Spitfire Audio app.
Spitfire Audio LABS – Freeware
Each month, Spitfire Audio releases a free instrument under the name LABS. These are typically curated excerpts or smaller versions of their commercial libraries and can be downloaded directly from the Spitfire Audio website. All that’s required is a free user account. The Spitfire Audio website is also well worth a visit for its wealth of practical tips and tutorials on recording, film scoring, and sound design.
