I love all of the SpitfireAudio Labs samples I've used, but here are my top 4 and a half: 1: Music Box 2: Peel Guitar 3: Opia 4: Scary Strings half of 5: Tape could you guess I like trying to making Lo-Fi?
Frozen Strings, Cello Moods and London Atmosphere (in particular Hackney Angels). Thank you for putting Arctic Swells on your list. I need to check that one out a bit more.
I´ve used the Mandolin library several times and, like you, I love that "wistful cello" sound. I´ve blended the Choir with the other choir libraries to get a massive sound too
There are so many amazing sounds in LABS - off the top of my head along with some you have highlighted Mike - Tundra Atmos, Amplified Cello Quartet, London Atmos stand out
I would definitely recommend Foghorn. I downloaded it expecting to use maybe one sound in one song. I have ended up using it endlessly whenever I want a sort of sinister bass sound. It's much more versatile than you'd expect. Christmas also has lots of really useful sounds.
Moon Guitar, which I believe is a Xiao, an instrument from China.. that's my favourite.. Dulcimer is amazing too.. and the Mandolin.. I also got Expressive Strings free with my midi keyboard which isn't available for others but works on the same interface.. not a fan of the atmos stuff and choir stuff.. i think in general I'm not a fan of 'pad' sounds or swelley sounds, unless I am actively involved in making/doing the swells myself.. Like i love doing volume swells on my guitar with the volume knob.. but i don't enjoy it if it is a pre-made patch..
I have enjoyed some of the labs stuff, but about a month or so ago I got a Linnstrument. This has instantly become by far my favorite controller. I bought it primarily because I wanted to use orchestral techniques on synth sounds. The slides, vibrato and things you can do with the violin family I can now do to any, what was once a static synth tone. LFO vibrato is not the same. Too mechanical. But to my dismay, I can find no way to set the pitch bend range in the labs stuff. There doesn't even seem to be a pitch bend. In one of their forums they said it would not sound as good. What? Not having slides and vibrato on the violin family makes it sound better? Really? So, I have not been able to use labs much since then because I have become addicted to instant slide and vibrato at your fingertips for any sound that can be mapped to pitch bend. My favorite combo so far is the Linny and Uhe's Diva. Just wish Spitfire would get on board. I really like some of their sounds, but would like to breath some life into them.
My top 54 LABs libraries...get another HD 😋! Foghorn is what led me to Spitfire Audio and to get a midi keyboard with plenty of sliders, knobs and controllers. Gateway drug for sure. Now I'm into Mercury, Hammers, The Stack, and many more paid libraries. I always go back to LABS as well!!!
so far, i have used CHOIR, MICA'S CHOIR. PERCUSSION AND THE VINTAGE DRUMS. i love them all. the choir, even if it swells, one needs to use that swell properly in the right places.
I love what John "Skippy" Lehmkuhl by Pluginguru made out of LABS with his unify plugin. At the moment he is asking his customers to build new user patches for an upcoming update of the unified LABS library. It is really worth checking out.
Thanks Mike, great vid and perfect timing. I just spent the last 2-3 days getting all my Labs libraries squared away (all 56 G). I'm a big Scaler fan and their new Multi Voice Out feature can really make use of the wide range of sounds you get w/in Labs. As for favorites, it is hard to say. The Cello Moods are outstanding but the Vintage Drums are hard to beat. Also, since there can be such a variety of sounds and styles w/in the same library, I'm always finding new sounds and "performances" in unexpected places. While I like the ability to audition the sounds in the browser, you often get no real sense of the actual instrument and how it is being played, so for years I skipped past great sounds unknowingly. Your video reminded me to take the time to audition the complete libraries properly. If you have a second for a question: At the start of the video you mention key switches and articulations (or lack of them in Choir) and I was wondering if there are other Labs that have those features? I've used them in the BBC Discovery libraries but I've never seen them (or I don't know how to access them) in Labs. Am I missing something? Thanks for all your great content...especially your new Studio One Channel.
As far as I can see there is no key switches in LABS, u have to switch the whole patch manually which is kinda inconvenient. But its free and they sound great so I can't ask for more 😅
I find the Dulcimer and Mandolin really useful, but I agree there are a lot of inspirational, high-quality sounds in LABS. The problem is I'm constantly torn between downloading everything and just selecting the sounds I'm realistically going to use to avoid getting overwhelmed. Aaaggh...can't decide!!
Just by seeing everyone's choices (including Mike's) I'm surprised but also its to be expected, that everyone's choices are so different.. No one either in the comments nor Mike, picked my favourites.. And some people even picked some that I thought were horrible and unusable.. Just shows the differences in tastes of us humans
I guess LABS is as dead as Monty Phython´s parrot by now, after Christian Henson was thrown under a lorry by his own company just for stating his opinion on a very debatable issue. luckily for all of us, her founded Crowhill, where free gems are being released every month...
Love this collection but it is sadly tarnished by the way they shat on Christian Henson for supporting autistic children.. Reminds me of the beating up of academics in Mao's China. Deeply sinister.
Thanks .. At my age 78 learning new stuff🎓 is hard work and getting to use Logic and FinalCutProX is enough. So these are really useful. 🎶❤️
Yes, I use Spitfires BBC Symphony Discovery. It sounds like a real orchestra and really pretty. And it's free! I love it.
I love all of the SpitfireAudio Labs samples I've used, but here are my top 4 and a half:
1: Music Box
2: Peel Guitar
3: Opia
4: Scary Strings
half of 5: Tape
could you guess I like trying to making Lo-Fi?
i honestly cant get enough of that cello moods ,iv been using it in almost everything i do ,really labs is such a great collection
That is a great one!
Frozen Strings, Cello Moods and London Atmosphere (in particular Hackney Angels). Thank you for putting Arctic Swells on your list. I need to check that one out a bit more.
My personal favorite is the Soft Piano by far! Uses it on pretty much everything i made! Also i like the Frozen Strings a lot
I´ve used the Mandolin library several times and, like you, I love that "wistful cello" sound. I´ve blended the Choir with the other choir libraries to get a massive sound too
I’ve been using labs for few years , such a fantastic tool. Soft piano has been a mainstay for me
There are so many amazing sounds in LABS - off the top of my head along with some you have highlighted Mike - Tundra Atmos, Amplified Cello Quartet, London Atmos stand out
Can't believe these are free, I was looking for these type plug ins and sounds
I personally like the Electric guitars, there are some great rock sounds, and with the Drums you showed here can give a great feel..
I would definitely recommend Foghorn. I downloaded it expecting to use maybe one sound in one song. I have ended up using it endlessly whenever I want a sort of sinister bass sound. It's much more versatile than you'd expect. Christmas also has lots of really useful sounds.
Moon Guitar, which I believe is a Xiao, an instrument from China.. that's my favourite.. Dulcimer is amazing too.. and the Mandolin.. I also got Expressive Strings free with my midi keyboard which isn't available for others but works on the same interface.. not a fan of the atmos stuff and choir stuff.. i think in general I'm not a fan of 'pad' sounds or swelley sounds, unless I am actively involved in making/doing the swells myself.. Like i love doing volume swells on my guitar with the volume knob.. but i don't enjoy it if it is a pre-made patch..
I have enjoyed some of the labs stuff, but about a month or so ago I got a Linnstrument. This has instantly become by far my favorite controller. I bought it primarily because I wanted to use orchestral techniques on synth sounds. The slides, vibrato and things you can do with the violin family I can now do to any, what was once a static synth tone. LFO vibrato is not the same. Too mechanical. But to my dismay, I can find no way to set the pitch bend range in the labs stuff. There doesn't even seem to be a pitch bend. In one of their forums they said it would not sound as good. What? Not having slides and vibrato on the violin family makes it sound better? Really? So, I have not been able to use labs much since then because I have become addicted to instant slide and vibrato at your fingertips for any sound that can be mapped to pitch bend. My favorite combo so far is the Linny and Uhe's Diva. Just wish Spitfire would get on board. I really like some of their sounds, but would like to breath some life into them.
I've got all the LABS, and a whole bunch of the (paid) instruments. Love them all.
BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover!!! It's 100% free, and sounds amazing!!!
My top 54 LABs libraries...get another HD 😋!
Foghorn is what led me to Spitfire Audio and to get a midi keyboard with plenty of sliders, knobs and controllers. Gateway drug for sure. Now I'm into Mercury, Hammers, The Stack, and many more paid libraries. I always go back to LABS as well!!!
so far, i have used CHOIR, MICA'S CHOIR. PERCUSSION AND THE VINTAGE DRUMS. i love them all. the choir, even if it swells, one needs to use that swell properly in the right places.
Have used both the Gaelic and Micah's choir on certain things to great effect a couple of times.
Soft Piano is outstanding as well.
I love what John "Skippy" Lehmkuhl by Pluginguru made out of LABS with his unify plugin. At the moment he is asking his customers to build new user patches for an upcoming update of the unified LABS library. It is really worth checking out.
I currently have the BBC orchestra but now need to get some more.
everything that is needed to carry out a complete production is in labs!!
Glass Piano forever!!!
The free pads and orgins is awesome!
Thanks Mike, great vid and perfect timing. I just spent the last 2-3 days getting all my Labs libraries squared away (all 56 G). I'm a big Scaler fan and their new Multi Voice Out feature can really make use of the wide range of sounds you get w/in Labs. As for favorites, it is hard to say. The Cello Moods are outstanding but the Vintage Drums are hard to beat. Also, since there can be such a variety of sounds and styles w/in the same library, I'm always finding new sounds and "performances" in unexpected places. While I like the ability to audition the sounds in the browser, you often get no real sense of the actual instrument and how it is being played, so for years I skipped past great sounds unknowingly. Your video reminded me to take the time to audition the complete libraries properly.
If you have a second for a question: At the start of the video you mention key switches and articulations (or lack of them in Choir) and I was wondering if there are other Labs that have those features? I've used them in the BBC Discovery libraries but I've never seen them (or I don't know how to access them) in Labs. Am I missing something? Thanks for all your great content...especially your new Studio One Channel.
As far as I can see there is no key switches in LABS, u have to switch the whole patch manually which is kinda inconvenient. But its free and they sound great so I can't ask for more 😅
love the bass too! thank u for the tips
I find the Dulcimer and Mandolin really useful, but I agree there are a lot of inspirational, high-quality sounds in LABS. The problem is I'm constantly torn between downloading everything and just selecting the sounds I'm realistically going to use to avoid getting overwhelmed. Aaaggh...can't decide!!
There is a plugin similar to choir called Gaelic Voices. Multiple voices with enunciations in it.
The latest free labs sample is cassette synth, it is really good.
That chord progression for the Choir demo sped up is the verse to Happy Birthday by Stevie wonder. Cool coincidence?
Hi guys,
did you recognize sonokinetic vivace legacy is available for free until December 9th ? Sounds awesome!
Great video, thank you Sir!
I just knew Micah’s choir was gonna be on the list…I was wrong 😂
Just by seeing everyone's choices (including Mike's) I'm surprised but also its to be expected, that everyone's choices are so different.. No one either in the comments nor Mike, picked my favourites.. And some people even picked some that I thought were horrible and unusable.. Just shows the differences in tastes of us humans
@Mike, the picture at the beginning says lAbraries, not lIbraries.
LOL I'm 100% sure it was an intentional pun.... wink
Thank you Mike! )
Thanks for this. Do labs do a B3 emulation or is multiple tonewheels and Lesliea a bit out of their remit?
Been a huge fan of Labs for a couple years. I got rid of several VST's because they didn't sound as good.
Yeah!
I guess LABS is as dead as Monty Phython´s parrot by now, after Christian Henson was thrown under a lorry by his own company just for stating his opinion on a very debatable issue. luckily for all of us, her founded Crowhill, where free gems are being released every month...
Love this collection but it is sadly tarnished by the way they shat on Christian Henson for supporting autistic children..
Reminds me of the beating up of academics in Mao's China. Deeply sinister.