BBC Symphony Orchestra Professional

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BBC Symphony Orchestra Professional

The new gold standard

Now with 36GB of extra content.

An industry standard, universal starting point for composers and music creators of every level, this all-in-one sample library features strings, brass, woodwind and percussion performed by the world-renowned BBC Symphony Orchestra — captured at London’s famous Maida Vale Studios — host to The Beatles, Hendrix and Bowie, and countless film scores.

This definitive collection of orchestral instruments captures a musical synergy from a collective of astoundingly accomplished players with a 90-year heritage – made playable by all via our award-winning plugin designed by UsTwo. Start scoring with a wide range of articulations for each instrument, captured at the highest quality with a stunning selection of professionally mixed signals.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra series has something for everyone, available in three editions (Discover, Core and Professional).

In this page:

Listen
Walkthrough
What's included
Tech specs

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

Students & educators save 30%

Download user manual

Our dedicated plugin

Compatible with NKS

Spitfire Audio App required

57 instruments

12 mics / 3 mixes

468 techniques

Dedicated plugin

Listen to BBC Symphony Orchestra Professional

Features Eric Whitacre Choir

Features Ólafur Arnalds Stratus

The Professional edition

A universal starting point for composers and music creators of every level, BBC Symphony Orchestra comes in three editions: Discover, Core and Professional.

Professional is the definitive, comprehensive collection for writing professional, world-class orchestral music

67 different instruments (including groups and soloists)
468 techniques
45 legatos including new Extended Legatos
20 signals

BBCSO Professional Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Mode Switching

The BBC Symphony Orchestra series presents a new standard in orchestral sampling — a whole orchestra of the highest quality, at your fingertips. A universal starting point designed for music creators of every level, from those just starting out, to professional composers, it comes in three editions

Each edition is fully interchangeable through Spitfire’s innovative mode switching technology, making it easier than ever to share and collaborate with fellow composers, regardless of which edition they own.

Brass valves up close with quote by Benjamin Wallfisch: "Insanely great – legatos that really sing, even in the quiet ranges, and that unmistakable sound of a world class orchestra. Bravo!”

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Compare Discover, Core and Professional

Educational resources

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

Learn more

What's included

Instruments

Strings

Violin 1 leader

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
Marcato

Violins1 (16)

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

Violin 2 leader

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
Marcato

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

Viola leader

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
Marcato

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

Cello leader

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
Marcato

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

Bass leader

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
Marcato

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
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

Bass flute

Long Flutter
Long
Marcato
Staccatissimo
Tenuto
Trill (Major 2nd)
Trill (Minor 2nd)

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

Bass clarinet

Legato (Extended — Slurred & Fast Runs)
Long
Trill Major 2nd
Trill Minor 2nd
Staccatissimo
Marcato
Long Flutter

Contrabass clarinet

Legato
Long
Trill Major 2nd
Trill Minor 2nd
Staccatissimo
Marcato
Long Flutter

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

Contrabassoon

Legato
Long
Trill Major 2nd
Trill Minor 2nd
Staccatissimo
Marcato
Long Flutter

Cor anglais

Legato (Extended — Slurred & Fast Runs)
Long
Trill Major 2nd
Trill Minor 2nd
Staccatissimo
Tenuto
Marcato

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)

Contrabass trombone

Legato
Long
Staccatissimo
Marcato
Long Cuivre
Long Sfz

Tuba

Legato
Long
Staccatissimo
Marcato
Long Cuivre
Long Sfz
Long Flutter
Multitongue

Contrabass tuba

Legato
Long
Staccatissimo
Marcato
Long Cuivre
Long Sfz

Cimbasso

Long
Staccatissimo
Marcato
Long Cuivre
Long Sfz

Percussion

Tuned

Celeste

Sustained
Damped
Damped Medium

Harp

Sustained
Damped
Damped Medium
Bisbigliando Trem
Gliss FX

Marimba

Hits
Rolls

Crotales

Hits
Hits Bowed

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

Tubular bells

Hits
Rolls
Hits Damped

Vibraphone

Hits

Xylophone

Hits
Rolls

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

Mics & mixes

Signals

Mono
Close
Tree
Out
Ambient
Balcony
Leader
Stereo
Mids
Sides
Close Wide Pan

Spill mics

Spill (Strings)
Spill (Woodwinds)
Spill (Brass)
Spill (Percussion)
Spill (Full)

Mixes

Mix 1 (Full)
Mix 2 (Jake Jackson)
Atmos (2 — front & rear)

Videos

Testimonials

Composers will relish its great sound, excellent performances and large, consistent articulations menu.

Insanely great – legatos that really sing, even in the quiet ranges, and that unmistakable sound of a world class orchestra. Bravo!

Benjamin Wallfisch Composer (Bladerunner 2049, IT)

Exquisite stuff. I've dreamt about being able to use technology like this.

Greg Wells Composer and producer (The Greatest Showman, Adele)

Incredible and revolutionary — this is an epiphany for every composer with access to a computer. The stuff of childhood dreams for musicians.

Nitin Sawhney Artist and composer (Mowgli)

FAQs

What is the difference between BBCSO Discover, Core and Professional?

Please visit our Comparison Tool for more information on this

Is this product available with an educational discount?

Yes, this library will be available with an educational discount. Request your educational discount here. The Educational Discount will apply to the full RRP of the library, not the introductory offer, so any codes received during the promotional period will only “top up” the discount to 30%.

Can I use this library on more than one computer?

Yes, this is a single user license, but our EULA allows for installation on up to two computers at a time.

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