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BBC Symphony Orchestra Core

BBC Symphony Orchestra Core is the gold standard in orchestral sampling, featuring essential instruments, one mix signal and the full range of articulations.

  • Overview
  • Listen
  • Walkthrough
  • What's included
  • Tech specs
  • The broadcast standard

    In partnership with BBC Studios and the world-famous BBC Symphony Orchestra, Spitfire Audio has captured what no other sample library has before: the musical synergy of a family of astoundingly accomplished players with a 90-year heritage of performances and recordings, expertly recorded at London’s famous Maida Vale Studios — home of the BBCSO, and host to The Beatles, Hendrix and Bowie. Our most expansive and ambitious project to date, this landmark library is the stuff of composing dreams: strings, brass, woodwind and percussion, presented in our award-winning dedicated plugin.

    Core has been curated to offer a streamlined package, featuring essential instruments and the full range of articulations, with one mix signal — fully interchangeable with our Discover and Professional editions.

    • Hard drive delivery available at checkout
    • You can buy now and download any time

    Our dedicated plugin

    Compatible with NKS

    44 instruments

    344 techniques

    Dedicated plugin

    Listen to BBC Symphony Orchestra Core

    Four french horn players

    The new standard in orchestra sampling

    Orchestral samples have become an essential component of modern scoring, and the range of libraries available is vast. But what if a single product could become the universal starting point for a generation of composers? We’ve taken over a decade of sampling experience to give you this comprehensive orchestral library of epic proportions — comprising over 200 hours of recordings, sounding exactly as they would if you had the orchestra in the room. Core features 44 different instrument presets captured on world-class Millennia preamps, and 344 techniques including legatos for each melodic instrument.

    With a beautiful, modern design by ustwo (Monument Valley, DICE), BBC Symphony Orchestra is housed in our award-winning standalone plugin (VST2, VST3, AU, AAX & NKS ready) developed primarily for composers, by composers — easy to use, intuitive and inspiring.

    BBCSO Core  Graphical User Interface (GUI)
    Microphone recording out of focus cellist
    Mode Switching

    Mode Switching

    It’s now easier than ever to share and collaborate with fellow composers, collaborators and directors — whatever edition of BBCSO you own. Our groundbreaking mode switching technology makes each edition of BBC Symphony Orchestra interchangeable, so you can mock up your scores quickly and with ease.

    For example, start writing a piece of music using Discover, and finish it in the Core or Professional edition, with a fuller range of instruments, capabilities and versatility. It also works the other way around: write a piece in the Professional edition and a collaborator can open it in Discover, play what you’ve written (with the sounds intelligently substituted), and add to it. When you reopen their edited version, you will hear their additions alongside your original composition – with your full selection of instruments, articulations and signals.

    Modeswitching graphic, moving seamlessly between a desktop computer to a less powerful laptop.
    Violin up close with quote by Greg Wells (composer and producer): "Exquisite stuff. I've dreamt about being able to use technology like this.”

    Educational resources

    Access our knowledge base of how-to videos, key features and more for BBC Symphony Orchestra.

    What's included

    Instruments

    Strings

    Violins 1 (16)
    • Legato (Portamento & Slurred)
    • Long
    • Long CS
    • Long Flautando
    • Short Spiccato
    • Short Staccato
    • Short Pizzicato
    • Short Col Legno
    • Tremolo
    • Trill (Major 2nd)
    • Trill (Minor 2nd)
    • Long Sul Tasto
    • Long Harmonics
    • Short Harmonics
    • Short Pizzicato Bartok
    • Long Marcato Attack
    • Tremolo Sul Pont
    • Tremolo CS
    • Long Sul Pont
    • Short Spiccato CS
    Violins 2 (14)
    • Legato (Portamento & Slurred)
    • Long
    • Long CS
    • Long Flautando
    • Spiccato
    • Staccato
    • Pizzicato
    • Col Legno
    • Tremolo
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Long Sul Tasto
    • Long Harmonics
    • Short Harmonics
    • Bartok Pizzicato
    • Long Marcato Attack
    • Tremolo Sul Pont
    • Tremolo CS
    • Long Sul Pont
    • Spiccato CS
    Violas (12)
    • Legato (Portamento & Slurred)
    • Long
    • Long CS
    • Long Flautando
    • Spiccato
    • Staccato
    • Pizzicato
    • Col Legno
    • Tremolo
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Long Sul Tasto
    • Long Harmonics
    • Short Harmonics
    • Bartok Pizzicato
    • Long Marcato Attack
    • Tremolo Sul Pont
    • Tremolo CS
    • Long Sul Pont
    • Spiccato CS
    Celli (10)
    • Legato (Portamento & Slurred)
    • Long
    • Long CS
    • Long Flautando
    • Spiccato
    • Staccato
    • Pizzicato
    • Col Legno
    • Tremolo
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Long Sul Tasto
    • Long Harmonics
    • Short Harmonics
    • Bartok Pizzicato
    • Long Marcato Attack
    • Tremolo Sul Pont
    • Tremolo CS
    • Long Sul Pont
    • Spiccato CS
    Basses (8)
    • Legato (Portamento & Slurred)
    • Long
    • Long CS
    • Long Flautando
    • Spiccato
    • Staccato
    • Pizzicato
    • Col Legno
    • Tremolo
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Long Sul Tasto
    • Long Harmonics
    • Short Harmonics
    • Bartok Pizzicato
    • Long Marcato Attack
    • Tremolo Sul Pont
    • Tremolo CS
    • Long Sul Pont
    • Short Spiccato CS


    Woodwinds

    Flute
    • Legato (Extended — Slurred & Fast Runs)
    • Long
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Staccatissimo
    • Tenuto
    • Marcato
    • Long Flutter
    • Multitongue
    Flutes A3 (3)
    • Legato (Extended — Slurred & Fast Runs)
    • Long
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Staccatissimo
    • Tenuto
    • Marcato
    • Long Flutter
    • Multitongue
    Piccolo
    • Legato (Extended — Slurred & Fast Runs)
    • Long
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Staccatissimo
    • Tenuto
    • Marcato
    • Long Flutter
    • Multitongue
    • Rips
    • Falls
    Oboe
    • Legato (Extended — Slurred & Fast Runs)
    • Long
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Staccatissimo
    • Tenuto
    • Marcato
    • Multitongue
    Oboes A3 (3)
    • Legato
    • Long
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Staccatissimo
    • Tenuto
    • Marcato
    • Multitongue
    Clarinet
    • Legato (Extended — Slurred & Fast Runs)
    • Long
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Staccatissimo
    • Tenuto
    • Marcato
    • Long Flutter
    • Multitongue
    Clarinets A3 (3)
    • Legato
    • Long
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Staccatissimo
    • Tenuto
    • Marcato
    • Long Flutter
    • Multitongue
    Bassoon
    • Legato (Extended — Slurred & Fast Runs)
    • Long
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Staccatissimo
    • Tenuto
    • Marcato
    • Long Flutter
    Bassoons A3 (3)
    • Legato
    • Long
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Staccatissimo
    • Tenuto
    • Marcato
    • Long Flutter


    Brass

    Horn
    • Legato (Extended — Slurred & Fast Runs)
    • Long
    • Staccatissimo
    • Marcato
    • Long Cuivre
    • Long Sfz
    • Long Flutter
    • Multitongue
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Long (Muted)
    • Staccatissimo (Muted)
    • Marcato (Muted)
    Horns A4 (4)
    • Legato
    • Long
    • Staccatissimo
    • Marcato
    • Long Cuivre
    • Long Sfz
    • Long Flutter
    • Multitongue
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Long (Muted)
    • Staccatissimo (Muted)
    • Marcato (Muted)
    Trumpet
    • Legato (Extended — Slurred & Fast Runs)
    • Long
    • Staccatissimo
    • Marcato
    • Long Cuivre
    • Long Sfz
    • Long Flutter
    • Multitongue
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Long (Muted)
    • Staccatissimo (Muted)
    • Marcato (Muted)
    Trumpets A3 (3)
    • Legato
    • Long
    • Staccatissimo
    • Marcato
    • Long Cuivre
    • Long Sfz
    • Long Flutter
    • Multitongue
    • Trill Major 2nd
    • Trill Minor 2nd
    • Long (Muted)
    • Staccatissimo (Muted)
    • Marcato (Muted)
    Tenor trombone
    • Legato (Extended — Slurred & Fast Runs)
    • Long
    • Staccatissimo
    • Marcato
    • Long Cuivre
    • Long Sfz
    • Long Flutter
    • Multitongue
    • Long (Muted)
    • Staccatissimo (Muted)
    • Marcato (Muted)
    Tenor trombones A3 (3)
    • Legato
    • Long
    • Staccatissimo
    • Marcato
    • Long Cuivre
    • Long Sfz
    • Long Flutter
    • Multitongue
    • Long (Muted)
    • Staccatissimo (Muted)
    • Marcato (Muted)
    Bass trombones A2 (2)
    • Legato
    • Long
    • Staccatissimo
    • Marcato
    • Long Cuivre
    • Long Sfz
    • Long Flutter
    • Multitongue
    • Long (Muted)
    • Staccatissimo (Muted)
    • Marcato (Muted)
    Tuba
    • Legato
    • Long
    • Staccatissimo
    • Marcato
    • Long Cuivre
    • Long Sfz
    • Long Flutter
    • Multitongue


    Percussion

    Tuned
    Celeste
    • Sustained
    • Damped
    • Damped Medium
    Harp
    • Sustained
    • Damped
    • Damped Medium
    • Bisbigliando Trem
    • Gliss FX
    Glockenspiel
    • Hits
    • Rolls
    Timpani
    • Hits
    • Rolls
    • Hits Soft
    • Rolls Soft
    • Hits Hotrods
    • Long Rolls Hotrods
    • Hits Damped
    • Hits Super Damped
    • Hotrods Hits Damped
    • Hits Damped Soft
    Xylophone
    • Hits
    • Rolls
    Marimba
    • Short Hits
    • Long Rolls
    Tubular bells
    • Hits
    • Rolls
    • Hits Damped
    Marimba
    • Hits


    Untuned
    Anvil
    • Hit
    • Hit Choked
    Bass drum 1
    • Hit
    • Hard Sticks
    • Hit Damped
    • Hand Muted Hit
    • Roll Hard
    • Roll Soft
    Bass drum 2
    • Hit
    • Hit Damped
    • Roll
    • Super Ball
    Cymbal
    • Crash
    • Crash Muted
    • Crash Hard Stick
    • Crash Hard Stick Muted
    • Roll
    • Bowed
    • Crescendo
    Military drum
    • Hit
    • Rimshot
    • Short Ruff
    • Side Stick Hit
    • Roll
    Piatti
    • Choked Hit
    • Clash Hit
    • Short Roll
    Snare 1
    • Hit
    • Rimshot
    • Short Ruff
    • Side Stick Hit
    • Roll
    Snare 2
    • Hit
    • Rimshot
    • Short Ruff
    • Side Stick Hit
    • Roll
    Tam tam
    • Hit Damped
    • Hit
    • Roll
    • Bowed
    • Crescendo
    Tambourine
    • Hit
    • Shake
    • Roll
    Tenor drum
    • Hit
    • Rimshot
    • Short Ruff
    • Side Stick Hit
    • Roll
    Toys
    • Castanets
    • Woodblock
    • Vibraslap
    • Cowbell
    • Sleigh Bells
    • Short Guiro
    • Long Guiro
    Triangle
    • Open Hit
    • Hit Muted
    • Roll

    FAQs

    How does your dedicated plugin work?

    Our dedicated plugin libraries open directly in your DAW, meaning that no serial number is provided and the authorisation process happens during your download. We provide an AU, VST2, VST3 and an AAX, so as long as your chosen DAW supports one of those plugin formats, you’re good to go.


    If I own Core, will I receive Discover for free?

    Yes, it will automatically appear in your Spitfire App.

    Read more FAQs for this product

    Tech specs

    Mac system requirements

    Mac OS X 10.15 to OS 13

    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

    28.2 GB download size

    28.00 GB disk space required during install

    Too large to download? Choose hard drive delivery at checkout

    BBC Symphony Orchestra Core sounds great with…