Access Phoenix Orchestra, the contemporary Chinese orchestra used in Mulan

Phoenix Orchestra, the latest Sine instrument library from Orchestral Tools takes a deep dive into traditional Chinese instruments – giving music-makers access to a contemporary Chinese orchestra for their productions.

The library was conceived in a collaboration with celebrated media composers Richard Harvey and Harry Gregson-Williams, who used the library for his work on Disney’s upcoming live-action Mulan.

Phoenix Orchestra gives you 21 individual instruments, 7 instrument ensembles, and 4 orchestral sections – which span a full range of traditional Chinese instruments. These include the gaohu, erhu, zhonghu, guzheng, yangqin, and pipa.

To realise each instrument in an authentic manner, Orchestral Tools furnished each with their appropriate timbral and performance characteristics – from realistic swells and ornament playing, to organic sounding legato. All this was captured on site, with members of the Ding Yi Music Company – an internationally acclaimed Chinese chamber ensemble based in Singapore – sat in a traditional configuration.

Samples were recorded in four microphone positions, which are blendable directly through Sine itself. While the entire library features roughly 95 GB of samples in 24-bit / 48kHz patches, you can download just the ones you need to save on disc space.

You’ll need the latest version of Sine to use Phoenix Orchestra, which is supported on macOS 10.13 and up, as well as Windows 10 (Windows 7 not officially supported). Formats include VST and AU.

Orchestral Tools’ Metropolis Ark 4 and Junkie XL Brass libraries left quite the impression on us in our previous reviews – so we’re looking forward to hearing what Phoenix Orchestra has to offer.

Phoenix Orchestra becomes available on 21 September and is going for an early-bird price of 299€ (usually 499€).

Learn, and hear more of Phoenix Orchestra at orchestraltools.com

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