Spitfire Chamber Strings

We handpicked 16 of the finest string players to perform an encyclopaedia of articulations and techniques, expertly recorded in the world famous Hall at AIR Studios, London. This smaller section gives you more detail and focus than our Symphony Orchestra, with Close, Tree and Ambient microphone positions, while still capturing the beautiful resonance of the hall.

This is our definitive chamber range – a hugely versatile classic that will enhance your film, TV and game scores and pop records.

Available in 3 editions — Spitfire Chamber Strings Essentials, Spitfire Chamber Strings and Spitfire Chamber Strings Professional.

Intimacy & detail

The word 'chamber' describes a band that is smaller than a symphony orchestra — anything from a quartet to 40 players. Our aim was to create the definitive chamber strings project, recorded at The Hall at AIR Studios, giving you that highly sought-after widescreen blockbuster sound, with detail and intimacy — hard to achieve with larger-sized string sample libraries.

World-class players

We give you 16 world-class players: four 1st violins, three 2nd violins, three violas, three cellos & three basses, expertly sampled. Choose from over 244 articulations — including 38 shorts, 53 longs, 19 FX, and 45 extraordinary legato patches, programmed by Andrew Blaney. Each sample has been recorded with multiple round robins and dynamic layers, presented with three essential and versatile microphone positions. In addition to each individual section, we also have a comprehensive selection of articulations and techniques presented in an 'ensemble' format, designed for sketching and composing, for instant satisfaction.

Key features

• 244 articulations: 38 shorts, 53 longs, 19 FX & 45 legatos
• 16 world-class London string players
• Recorded in situ using priceless valve and ribbon mics
• Neve Montserrat Pre-amps into a Neve 88R desk
• Recorded digitally at 96k via 2" Studer tape
• Multiple dynamic layers and round robins
• Diverse and detailed, with both essential and totally unique articulations
• Legatos designed by Andrew Blaney
• Individual sections and ensembles
• NKS-ready

Behind the samples

Spitfire was built on a chamber strings project. Many of our friends, including A-list composers, complained that sampled strings were unwieldy, ill-defined and too epic. That for much of their output, sensitive and achingly beautiful quiet passages and searing lyricism required less players, and attention to detail. Our first iteration of Chamber Strings was released as a private project and became hugely popular amongst our peers.

Some, however, noted how it still sounded 'kind of big'. So we returned to the chamber challenge with a question: How small can we go before it no longer sounds like a section? The answer was 4,3,3,3,3. A uniquely intimate group of extraordinary players in one of the best recording locations. Originally available in volumes, this project has been four years in the making. It is the Spitfire team's absolute favourite string range, admired for its beauty, versatility and totally unique sonic character.

The overview panel

This is the main interface for melodic instruments. Its default view displays all available playing techniques, has a simple microphone mixer and includes the main feature controllers.

General controls panel

This view allows further in-depth control of the instrument, showing all available signals and feature controllers, as well as the ability to purge techniques from memory to reduce system usage.

The Ostinatum

In this view you can add notes to a pattern sequencer, select which key it triggers on and then play for instant ostinato creation. It’s like an arpeggiator on a synthesiser.

FAQs

What is in Spitfire Chamber Strings?

This is the core Spitfire Chamber Strings library, which contains 16 of the finest string players, playing the finest instruments recorded in The Hall at AIR Studios, in London. This is an extensive collection of detailed articulations and techniques. 

What is in Spitfire Chamber Strings Professional?

Expanding on the core Spitfire Chamber Strings library, this is the FULL Spitfire Chamber Strings suite (core library + expansion pack). Spitfire Chamber Strings Professional covers all articulations, beautifully recorded on a wide range of microphones. Included in the Professional Edition are alternative microphones such as Close Ribbon (Cr), Close Stereo Pair (St) and Gallery (G), and Outriggers (O)  are added to CTA(O) to create the ‘classic’ Spitfire sound. On top of this are Stereo Mixes from award-winning sound engineer Jake Jackson, including Fine (F), Medium (M) and Broad (B) stereo mixes, which are low in CPU/RAM usage.

Why go pro?

The Professional version gives you a higher degree of control and nuance demanded by professional composers of modern film and TV scoring. Allowing you the ultimate control of width, space and detail when composing.

Read more FAQs for this product

Tech specs

Mac system requirements

Mac OS 11, 12 or 13 

Both Intel and Apple Silicon/ARM are supported

Minimum: 2.8GHz i5 minimum (quad-core), 8GB RAM

Recommended: 2.8GHz I7 (six-core), 16GB RAM

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

~72697 samples

80.9 GB download size

161.80 GB disk space required during install

Too large to download? Choose hard drive delivery at checkout

Kontakt player

Kontakt Player 5.6.8 or higher required