Orchestral Tools vs ProjectSAM
Orchestral Tools
orchestraltools.comProjectSAM
projectsam.comSide by side
| Figure | Orchestral Tools | ProjectSAM |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 9 | 15 |
| Spec score · Music Sample Libraries | 8.7 (#2) | 8.6 (#4) |
| Audience | Its products are used by professional composers, producers, performers, and sound designers around the world. | The company describes its libraries as tools for professional musicians, composers, and production studios, with a focus on film, television, and game scoring. |
| Documentation | The Helpdesk exposes articles for SINE quick start, GUI, library, performance, mixer, options, store, accounts, Kontakt, Capsule and collection notes. | The maker provides installation instructions, product FAQs, scoring tutorials, educational-discount information and email/help-button support. |
| Downloads | SINE is available for macOS and Windows, and the company says it only runs on computers. | Libraries can be installed and activated through Native Access; the site also describes direct browser downloads and archive downloads. |
| Founded | 2005 | 2001 |
| Headquarters | March, Germany | Utrecht, Netherlands |
| Installation | The Windows installer permits custom VST and application locations; the macOS package permits a custom application location. | Installation uses Native Access: users install Kontakt Player, enter a ProjectSAM serial number, then download and activate the library. |
| Operating systems | The current SINE download supports macOS 10.15 or later and 64-bit Windows 10, with Apple ARM chipsets supported. | The getting-started instructions offer Native Access downloads for macOS and Windows. |
| Security and privacy | The privacy policy identifies OT Distribution GmbH & Co KG as GDPR controller, uses AWS servers in Germany and Amazon CloudFront, and names a data-protection officer. | The privacy policy says the site uses Google Analytics and cookies and may share some personal data with Amazon AWS, Mollie, and PayPal to process orders and downloads. |
| Support | Orchestral Tools provides a Helpdesk with FAQ, update, billing, SINE collection, Kontakt collection, and product guide categories. | ProjectSAM says it provides support by email and aims to respond within 24 hours on business days; it does not offer phone support. |
| What it does | Orchestral Tools creates expressive virtual instruments and sampled libraries spanning traditional orchestras and experimental sound for composers, producers, performers and sound designers. | ProjectSAM develops cinematic orchestral sample libraries for professional musicians, composers and production studios, aimed at film, television and game scoring. |
Plans
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
ProjectSAM
- The Free OrchestraFree
- Colours: Animator$119, paid once
- Colours: Orchestrator$119, paid once
- Colours: Adaptive Runs$179, paid once
- Pandora Core$199, paid once
- Symphobia$299, paid once
- Symphobia 2$299, paid once
- Lineage Percussion$349, paid once
- Lineage Percussion$349, paid once
- Lineage Strings$349, paid once
In their own words
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.
ProjectSAM
ProjectSAM makes cinematic orchestral sample libraries for musicians, composers, and production studios scoring film, television, and games. Its Symphobia series combines pre-orchestrated ensembles, articulations, and orchestral effects. The collection covers full orchestra, strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, keyboards and harp, choir, sound design, and multis; vocal content is included. ProjectSAM describes recording instruments in a concert hall with an ambient multi-microphone setup. Libraries use 44.1 kHz, 24-bit samples and Kontakt Player instruments. Most titles work in the free Kontakt Player, and Adaptive Sync matches sampled crescendos, rolls, and risers to project tempo. The Free Orchestra includes 14 instruments and 1.8 GB at free. Listed paid libraries include Lineage Strings and Lineage Percussion at $349, paid once, Swing More! at $449, paid once, and Symphobia 4: Pandora at $499, paid once. The pricing note says paid options start at €199. Libraries run on macOS and Windows.