Orchestral Tools vs Samples From Mars
Orchestral Tools
orchestraltools.comSamples From Mars
samplesfrommars.comSide by side
| Figure | Orchestral Tools | Samples From Mars |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 9 | 3 |
| Spec score · Music Sample Libraries | 8.7 (#2) | 8.4 (#7) |
| Audience | Its products are used by professional composers, producers, performers, and sound designers around the world. | The maker says it aims to bring vintage instrument sounds into usable modern contexts for music makers. |
| Company | Orchestral Tools describes itself as an independent German company with offices in Berlin and Freiburg. | Samples From Mars LLC identifies its registered office as 97 S. 6th Street, Suite 3, Brooklyn, New York 11249, USA. |
| Downloads | SINE is available for macOS and Windows, and the company says it only runs on computers. | The download guide says each order has two download attempts per file with no expiration, and support can reset attempts when they run out. |
| Founded | 2005 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | March, Germany | Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Installation | The Windows installer permits custom VST and application locations; the macOS package permits a custom application location. | The installation guide says users can access libraries in DAWs including Ableton, Kontakt and Maschine, or use WAV files in their own samplers or DAW. |
| Product | Orchestral Tools creates virtual instruments, focusing on acoustic sound sources that it conceptualizes, records, and produces. | Samples From Mars sells downloadable prerecorded sounds, sound effects, loops, and samples. |
| Support | Orchestral Tools provides a Helpdesk with FAQ, update, billing, SINE collection, Kontakt collection, and product guide categories. | The FAQ says customers who miss their download links can contact the maker to receive them, usually within 12 hours. |
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
Samples From Mars
- 101 Drums From MarsFree
- Cassette Drums From Mars$29, paid once
- 808 From Mars$39, 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.
Samples From Mars
Samples From Mars sells sample libraries and software instruments made from vintage electronic and vinyl instruments. Its team captures sounds using hardware, consoles, tape machines and vinyl, then provides libraries as ZIP files containing 24-bit, 44.1 kHz WAV files. Downloads are for offline use, not a cloud sample service, and products are sold per item. The free 101 Drums From Mars plan includes 60 drum hits and is 60 MB unzipped. Cassette Drums From Mars costs $29, paid once and includes 430 one-shots, 16 pre-made kits and 488.5 MB unzipped. 808 From Mars costs $39, paid once and lists 16 formats. Other listed content includes 18 multi-sampled instruments, 22 drum patterns and fills, vocal synths and trumpets. Formats include Ableton, Battery, FL Studio, Kontakt, Logic, Maschine, MPC, Reason, SFZ and WAV; installation instructions name Ableton, Kontakt and Maschine. Sounds are royalty free in commercially released musical compositions, but redistribution is prohibited and use in websites, applications or software requires a separate license. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Brooklyn, New York.