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| Spitfire Audio | |
|---|---|
| Name | Spitfire Audio |
| Type | Private |
| Industry | Music software |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founders | Paul Thomson, Christian Henson |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Products | Virtual instruments, sample libraries |
Spitfire Audio is a London-based company that develops orchestral sample libraries and virtual instruments for composers, producers, and sound designers. Founded by film composers and producers, the company has become prominent within the film, television, and game audio communities for high‑quality sampled instruments and bespoke microphone techniques. Its products are used across scoring for Film score, Television score, Video game music, and contemporary Pop music production.
Spitfire Audio was founded in 2007 by Paul Thomson and Christian Henson, who had experience composing for Film score, Television score, and advertising. Early work coincided with the rise of software samplers such as the Kontakt platform and the resurgence of sampled orchestral libraries created by firms like EastWest and Vienna Symphonic Library. The company grew amid trends exemplified by the adoption of digital audio workstations such as Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and Cubase by composers working on projects like The King's Speech, Skyfall, and independent Film festival entries. Strategic hires and collaborations linked Spitfire to established practitioners from institutions including the Royal Academy of Music, London Symphony Orchestra, and studios on Abbey Road Studios's famous stages. Over the 2010s Spitfire expanded its catalog during periods when streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video increased demand for original scoring.
Spitfire Audio's offerings include orchestral libraries, solo instruments, choirs, and experimental collections, typically delivered as Kontakt‑format libraries and proprietary plug‑ins compatible with hosts like Ableton Live and REAPER. Major lines include orchestral ranges recorded with ensembles similar to those used in projects by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and chamber libraries oriented toward composers of Contemporary classical music and Documentary film. The company has released specialized products such as cinematic percussion, brass sections, string ensembles, and ethnic instrument sets that parallel offerings by companies like Native Instruments and UVI. Libraries often reference recording venues associated with classical and media production traditions such as Air Studios, Lyndhurst Hall, and Angel Recording Studios.
Recording sessions emphasize microphone arrays, close, spot, and ambient techniques employed in major scoring stages like AIR Studios and Abbey Road Studios. Sessions frequently involve engineers and conductors who have worked on projects for Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore, and John Williams to capture articulation, legato, and dynamic layers. Production workflows integrate multi‑channel dry and wet captures enabling convolution with impulse responses from halls connected to ensembles such as the London Symphony Orchestra and chamber groups linked to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Techniques draw on practices developed in orchestral recording for films like The Lord of the Rings and Gladiator to preserve realism for users working in Dolby Atmos or stereo contexts.
Spitfire has partnered with hardware and software entities including the makers of Kontakt, developers behind Spectrasonics, and boutique instrument builders. Collaborative releases have involved artists and institutions such as members of the BBC Philharmonic, soloists from the Royal Opera House, and composers associated with Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars projects. Educational partnerships with conservatories like the Royal College of Music and outreach through workshops at events such as NAMM and Sound On Sound expos have broadened its user base. Philanthropic and archival collaborations have involved ensembles and foundations dedicated to preserving performance practice related to composers like Ralph Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten.
The company sells downloadable libraries via its online store and distributes through digital platforms integrating authorization via challenge‑response and serial licensing, compatible with host samplers and DAWs such as Logic Pro, Cubase, and Pro Tools. Pricing includes full retail, upgrade paths, and promotional bundles akin to marketing strategies used by entities such as Waves Audio and Native Instruments. Limited edition releases and curated bundles target professionals working on Feature film scoring, television, and game audio, while educational discounts and subscription‑style offerings echo models from music software providers like Splice.
Spitfire Audio's products have been widely reviewed in trade publications including Sound On Sound, Computer Music (magazine), and MusicTech (magazine). Critics and reviewers have compared the company favorably to legacy sample houses such as EastWest and Vienna Symphonic Library for realism and playability. Its libraries have been used on award‑winning projects recognized by institutions like the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, and BAFTA in which scoring teams employed sampled orchestral tools alongside live recordings. User communities on forums like Gearslutz and platforms such as Reddit provide frequent testimonials about workflow integration and sonic quality.
Users include film and television composers, pop producers, and game composers. Notable professionals associated with projects in which Spitfire libraries have been used or cited include Hans Zimmer, Alexandre Desplat, Ramin Djawadi, Ludwig Göransson, Atticus Ross, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Bear McCreary, Howard Shore, Danny Elfman, John Powell, James Newton Howard, Rachel Portman, Thomas Newman, Clint Mansell, Joe Hisaishi, Ennio Morricone (estate practitioners), Nicholas Britell, Mica Levi, Trent Reznor, Jonny Greenwood, Max Richter, Ólafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm, Alan Silvestri, Dario Marianelli, Michael Giacchino, Mark Mothersbaugh, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Yoko Kanno, Trevor Jones, Marco Beltrami, Harry Gregson‑Williams, Philip Glass, Vangelis, John Williams, Gustavo Santaolalla, Carter Burwell, Peter Gabriel, Imogen Heap, Florence Welch, Arca, Grimes, Skrillex, Diplo, Mark Ronson, Quincy Jones, Brian Eno, Björk, Radiohead members, Coldplay collaborators, Adele producers, and others across media sectors.
Category:Music software companies