Abbey Road Orchestra: 1st Violins Core
Advanced legatos for ultimate expression
Advanced legatos for ultimate expression
Our core tier offers a comprehensive collection of articulations, 2 technologically advanced and detailed legato techniques, a high level of sampling depth and one signal option curated by GRAMMY® -Award-winner Simon Rhodes.
Working with the Abbey Road team in a globally renowned studio and with the best string players in London gives us the unrivalled ability to deliver the highest quality possible. Designed to help you work efficiently without sacrificing performance and nuance, we've researched and developed the functionality and playability of our library.
Put simply this library is future-proof.
In this page:
- Hard drive delivery available at checkout
- You can buy now and download any time
Spitfire Audio App required
16 1st Violins
1 Simon Rhodes mic signal
11,000 raw samples
Our dedicated plug-in
Listen to Abbey Road Orchestra: 1st Violins Core
Core edition
Core edition, features Spitfire Harp, Original Intimate Grand Piano and Abbey Road One: Sparkling Woodwinds
Core edition, features Abbey Road ONE and Spitfire Percussion
Core edition, features Abbey Road ONE
I believe this is the closest we have ever got to the ‘perfect’ string sound in my head. Full of vibrancy, passion and musicality, it is a joy to play!
Where performance meets precision
Professional
8 legato articulations — including extended patches — 196,000 samples, alternative attacks and 16 signal options for the ultimate nuanced expression.
What's included
Legato Techniques
Performance Legato
A hugely detailed and highly playable legato patch which reacts in realtime to playing speed
Lyrical Legato
A relaxed legato patch for slower moving melody lines.
Long Techniques
Long
A polyphonic sustained longs patch for pads and chordal writing.
Flautando
A sustained note performed with a fast bow speed playing close to the fingerboard (sul tasto) creating a delicate and airy flute-like sound
Tremolo
A technique performed with rapid continuous bowing, creating delicate flurrying textures at lower dynamics with increasing intensity at louder volumes
Harmonics
Sustained notes produced from the overtones of the string (artificial harmonics) sounding higher than the fundamental to create glassy, suspenseful textures
Trills (Major & Minor 2nds & 3rds)
Rapid alternating between two notes.
Tremolo (Measured - 150 & 180 BPM)
Tremolo performed with a specified number of repeated notes which may be sync’d to the host DAW's tempo.
Short Techniques
Spiccatissimo
An extremely short note length performed by quickly bouncing the bow on the string - an agile technique for very fast, articulate material
Spiccato
A very short and crisp note length performed by bouncing the bow on the string creating a sprightly 'all-purpose' short articulation
Staccato
A short note length performed with the bow starting on the string, sounding clearly detached with a slight accent
Marcato
A technique performed with a strong accented front to the note - presented as a longer note length than 'staccato' with the option of Timed Release triggers
Pizzicato
A short note produced by plucking the strings with the fingers. ‘Bartok pizzicato is recorded at the very highest dynamic.
Col Legno
A technique performed by tapping the string with the back of the bow or a pencil, producing a light and woody sound
Signals
Mix 1
A full-sounding room mix by Simon Rhodes, formed from Tree 1, Overheads, Outriggers 1, and a curated blend of spots.
Testimonials
Blown away doesn't even begin to cover it. I hope you realise just how special these violins are. These are EXACTLY what I dreamed you guys would do when I played with the Percussion libraries. The depth of sampling is extraordinary, but I can imagine that trying to get people to realise that they need yet ANOTHER Violin library is not the easiest. But they DO! It's the fluidity of dynamic crossfading, then the fluidity of vibrato implementation, and the playability of the legatos. There are plenty of libraries that can do ONE of these things well but there's nothing out there that can all three.
Ty Unwin Composer (Awake, Pastewka, On My Way)
The best sounding strings I’ve ever heard.
Simon Franglen Composer (Avatar: The Way Of Water, The Magnificent Seven, Titanic)
The ARO 1st Violins have become my main violins. They are so playable it's insane. To me more needs to be said for just how easy they are to program.
Andy Gray Composer
FAQs
What is the difference between 1st Violins Core and Professional?
Core and Pro share many of the same techniques and the sampling depth across many of the common techniques is the same.
Core has a single signal option (Simon Rhodes’ ‘Mix 1) whereas Pro includes additional signal options (16 in total),
Professional also contains ‘Extended’ techniques and additional legato content.
The 'Extended' techniques in the Pro version are the most advanced string patches we have ever created. With additional portamento and Detaché legato styles plus accented Marcato and 'soft swell' attacks for single long notes.
Are there further discounts and cross grades?
Owners of Abbey Road Orchestra will receive a 10% cross-grade saving on Abbey Road 1st Violins outside of any sales or promotions.
Owners of 1st Violin Core will be able to upgrade to 1st Violins Professional at any time, only ever paying the difference between the two products at time of purchase.
Read more FAQs for this productTech specs
Mac system requirements
Mac OS X 10.15 to OS 14
Minimum: 2.8GHz i5 minimum (quad-core), 8GB RAM
Recommended: 2.8GHz I7 (six-core), 16GB RAM
Both Intel and Apple Silicon/ARM are supported
32-bit systems are not supported.
PC system requirements
Windows 10 or Windows 11 - (Latest Service Pack, 64-bit)
Minimum: Intel 2.8 GHz i5 (quad-core) or AMD Ryzen 5, 8GB RAM
Recommended: Intel Core i7 6th gen and later or AMD Ryzen 7, 16GB RAM
32-bit systems are not supported.
File size
3.9 GB
Changelogs
V1.1.0 (December 2023)
Update Summary:
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- This update brings significant improvements to the "timing" of short and legato techniques.
Changes and Fixes:
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- Complete overhaul of timing on Spiccato, Spiccatissimo, Marcato, Staccato, Col Legno & Pizzicato techniques.
- All legato techniques have been completely re-timed, resulting in more consistent playability.