Spitfire Audio’s brand new sample library, Ólafur Arnalds Cells, lets users harness the power of a string orchestra, and replicate the feeling of players responding as if you were in the same room.

The new launch is inspired by Arnalds’ own music, who is a BAFTA-winning Icelandic multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, and triple Grammy nominee. He has composed music for the likes of ITV’s Broadchurch series (for which he won his BAFTA), and Apple TV’s Defending Jacob.

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Overall, there are 115 articulations and 10 signal paths available within the new launch, making it ideal for the creation of film scores, TV soundtracks, or electronic and ambient music. At the core of Ólafur Arnalds Cells is an innovative Scale Mode, providing harmonic movement that follows the user’s tonality and ensuring everything they play remains within their chosen key.

To further explain Scale Mode, Spitfire Audio says that when playing a key, the feedback received is not a direct replica of the note played, but instead it always fits within the chosen harmonic structure. For instance, if a C note is played, the software will not only play it back but will also introduce another note from within the C major scale that the user did not explicitly ask for.

The brand stresses that this release is more than just a sample library, but rather “a collaborative experience with players”. Compositions are also complemented by an associated toolkit of vintage analogue synthesisers with a variety of signal paths created and performed by Arnalds himself.

“After brainstorming this idea in a London pub back in 2018, we created a prototype, which not only got used on most of my recordings since then but also inspired my sound,” says Arnalds. “The music I make today wouldn’t be the same without that little prototype, and I’m so happy to finally see it in its final form – …Cells constantly surprises me with little melodies that get created with the random intervals, often inspiring new melodies that I then take over to other instruments.”

He continues, “With …CELLS, I wanted to push the boundaries of how sound can inspire music; by adding random intervals that stay within the musical context of what I am playing, I constantly get surprised and inspired by the beautiful string orchestra while still having the control I need.”

You can check it out in the video below:

Ólafur Arnalds Cells is available for a time-limited introductory price of £159.00/$199.00/€199.00 until 3 December 2024. It will then rise to its full price of £199.00/$249.00/€249.00 from then. Find out more via Spitfire Audio.

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