Spitfire Audio

Spitfire Audio are a technology company based in London who create sample libraries of virtual instruments used for musical synthesis. Founded by professional composers Christian Henson and Paul Thomson in 2007 they initially made their sample libraries available only to colleagues but finding there was a larger market for them started Spitfire.

Taking the form of digital audio plugins recorded by professional artists in recognised facilities, their VST packages make available recordings of each note performed in multiple ways using multiple microphone positions. These can then be used by composers and others via MIDI in a digital audio workstation to create new music, particularly for film and television. The purchase price includes the right to use the music produced commercially without further payment, the original performers receiving both an initial fee and subsequent royalties.

Products[]

Recordings^[1] are made in commercial studios such as AIR Lyndhurst in Hampstead and Abbey Road Studios in St John's Wood. Their recordings of the BBC Symphony Orchestra were made at the orchestra's base in the BBC's Maida Vale Studios.

In addition to direct recordings of individual and groups of instruments they have collaborated with noted film composer Hans Zimmer, as well as Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ólafur Arnalds, Roger Taylor of Queen, Eric Whitacre, guitarist Leo Abrahams, and posthumously with the explorer and musician David Fanshawe, in creating mixed audio productions for television and film use. Alongside their paid-for products they also release occasional free products under their 'LABS' brand.^[2] For some products they supply their own interface to select performance specifics, for others the Kontakt system must be used.

Pianobook[]

On Piano day in 2018, Christian launched a website^[3] and YouTube channel called Pianobook,^[4] dedicated to creating and sharing sampled instruments for free. It is run by a small group of volunteers, but anyone could share and use sounds, for free. Over 500 'instruments' had been released by April 2021.

SA Recordings[]

The company run their own record label SARecordings^[5] to offer recordings using their products by selected composers, such as Alev Lenz's third studio album '3'^[6] which was the label’s first release. Spitfire Audio intend there to be a whole series of unique sample libraries to be released in conjunction with their artists’ album releases. They operate a small studio at their premises in .

See also[]

• Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra
• The Mrs Mills Piano
• Timelapse of the Future
• Jeremiah Fraites

References[]

External links[]

• Official website