Virtual Strings: The Best Free Instruments and Libraries for Inspired Sound
Virtual strings are a fundamental resource for any music creator looking to add depth, emotion, and cinematic tension to their compositions. Whether you’re scoring a film, producing an ambient track, or simply experimenting with new sound textures, high-quality virtual strings can transform a simple idea into an evocative piece. Today, we explore the best free instruments and libraries that bring the expressiveness of real strings into your digital studio without breaking the bank.
VSCO 2 Community Edition
VSCO 2 Community Edition offers a lightweight, open-source string ensemble. It provides an intimate, natural sound that’s perfect for chamber music, sketches, and polished productions that don’t require hyper-realistic sampling.
https://vis.versilstudios.com/vsco-community.html
Virtual Playing Orchestra
Virtual Playing Orchestra combines various public domain recordings into a cohesive full orchestral library. Its string sections are versatile and practical for traditional arrangements, educational projects, or when you need a raw, straightforward orchestral sound.
http://virtualplaying.com/virtual-playing-orchestra/
BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover
BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover offers a full orchestral palette, including strings, recorded by the BBC and meticulously sampled by Spitfire Audio. Despite being lightweight compared to its bigger siblings, it delivers outstanding realism and balance, making it an essential free choice for composers seeking professional-grade orchestral sounds.
https://www.spitfireaudio.com/bbc-symphony-orchestra-discover#whats-included
Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra
Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra remains a classic free option for starting orchestral mock-ups. Although it doesn’t match modern paid libraries in depth, its string sounds can still enrich compositions, especially when layered creatively.
https://github.com/peastman/sonatina-symphonic-orchestra
Layers by Orchestral Tools
Layers offers simple but lush full-ensemble chords, including strings. It’s a fast and inspiring way to add cinematic harmonies to your compositions with minimal setup.
https://www.orchestraltools.com/store/collections/layers
Free Philharmonia Orchestra String Samples
The Philharmonia Orchestra provides individual string samples recorded for educational use, covering a wide range of articulations. Great for custom building your own ensembles.
https://philharmonia.co.uk/resources/sound-samples/
SCC Expressive Strings
SCC Expressive Strings is a free Kontakt library focused on solo strings, offering a beautiful, raw tone perfect for intimate passages and modern compositions.
https://sites.google.com/site/sccexpressivestrings/
DSK Strings
DSK Strings is a lightweight, simple VST/AU plugin that delivers basic ensemble string sounds, useful for quick mock-ups or layering with other libraries.
https://www.dskmusic.com/dsk-strings/
Iowa String Samples
The University of Iowa Electronic Music Studios offers free samples of string instruments recorded with care and precision, perfect for academic projects or unique layering textures.
https://theremin.music.uiowa.edu/MIS.html
Monster Strings
Monster Strings is a free string virtual instrument plugin, part of the Monster series, designed to deliver lush ensemble textures for cinematic and modern tracks.
https://agushardiman.tv/monster-strings-the-best-free-strings-vst-au-plugins/
The Free Orchestra 1 & 2 by ProjectSAM
The Free Orchestra series offers a rich collection of cinematic orchestral samples, with strong string sections ideal for trailers, video games, and ambient compositions.
https://projectsam.com/libraries/the-free-orchestra-series/
Finding the right virtual strings can elevate your music to new emotional heights. These free resources offer a wide spectrum of sounds, from intimate solo performances to sweeping orchestral textures, giving you the flexibility to shape your creative vision without limits.
If you’re building your virtual strings setup and want a faster, more organized way to explore and combine instruments, ONE Instrument® brings them all into a single creative space — with one unified interface. Many of the libraries mentioned above are already catalogued and searchable through our advanced tagging system, making it easier than ever to layer sounds, stay inspired, and move from sketch to composition without losing momentum.