Arcade by Output vs Orchestral Tools
Arcade by Output
output.com
Orchestral Tools
orchestraltools.comSide by side
| Figure | Arcade by Output | Orchestral Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $10/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 9 |
| Spec score · Music Sample Libraries | 8.2 (#10) | 8.7 (#2) |
| DAW compatibility | Arcade is supported by major DAWs on Mac and PC through 64-bit AAX, AU, VST, and VST3 plugin formats. | Collections can be used with sequencers supporting VST or AU, which the helpdesk says includes most sequencers. |
| Product | Arcade is a playable sampler and instrument plugin for exploring, playing, shaping, and tweaking samples and instruments. | Orchestral Tools creates virtual instruments, focusing on acoustic sound sources that it conceptualizes, records, and produces. |
| Support | Output says its support team operates five days a week and reports an average first response time of five hours. | Orchestral Tools provides a Helpdesk with FAQ, update, billing, SINE collection, Kontakt collection, and product guide categories. |
Plans
Arcade by Output
- Arcade monthly$12.99 a month
- Output One monthly$14.99 a month
- Output One yearly$119.99 a year
Orchestral Tools
- Berlin Free OrchestraFree
- SINEplayerFree
- Splinter intro offer€199, paid once
- Inspire Bundle€209, paid once
- Habitat€229, paid once
- Berlin Orchestra Created with Berklee€299, paid once
- Berlin Orchestra Full€799, paid once
- Berlin Orchestra Pro€1,399, paid once
- Berlin Orchestra Max€2,499, paid once
In their own words
Arcade by Output
Arcade by Output is a playable sampler and instrument plugin for exploring, shaping, and tweaking samples and instruments on macOS and Windows. An Arcade subscription includes over 60 product lines, 4,400 samplers, 1,300 chromatic instruments, and 80,000 samples. Output says the royalty-free library is updated daily with synths, vocals, textures, drums, and multisampled instruments. Users can add their own samples for automatic chopping, slicing, and effects, then create playable kits. Sounds can be locked to key and tempo and reshaped with sampler tools. Arcade works with major DAWs through 64-bit AAX, AU, VST, and VST3 formats, and MIDI is included. It can run as a standalone application for previewing, playing, and downloading, but recording is unavailable there. Internet access is needed for login and downloads; downloaded kits and loops work offline for 30 days. System requirements include macOS 12 or later or Windows 10 or later, 8 GB RAM, and a 64-bit system and DAW. Arcade monthly access is $12.99 per month.
Orchestral Tools
Orchestral Tools makes virtual instruments from acoustic sources that it conceptualizes, records, and produces. Its free SINE player runs on macOS and Windows, either as a standalone application or in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX formats. The included SINEfactory library has instruments such as piano, strings, and percussion. The free SINEplayer plan lists one orchestral collection, 46 instruments, 242 articulations, 43 total legatos, full dynamic layers, limited round robins, and one microphone position. Users can choose individual instruments and microphone positions rather than download a full collection. SINE offers customizable articulation lists, dynamics and round-robin controls, multiple legato options, and mixing that can combine microphone positions into a single channel. The minimum listed memory is 8 GB RAM, with 16 GB or more recommended on both Mac and Windows. The company was founded in 2005 and describes itself as an independent German company with offices in Berlin and Freiburg. Pricing is freemium: the plan is free, with paid options from €299.