For composers and producers, opening up a blank DAW and waiting for that first spark of inspiration can feel paradoxically daunting - even when the possibilities are endless. Spitfire Audio’s latest release, Ólafur Arnalds Cells, offers composers a new and exciting way of taking that first step into the unknown.
Developed in collaboration with Grammy and Emmy-nominated, BAFTA-winning composer Ólafur Arnalds, this unique sample library doesn’t only offer stunning and realistic orchestral sounds; it simulates the sensation of having a string orchestra respond to your music in real time, as if they were performing alongside you. This innovation makes Cells an essential choice for those seeking to explore unexpected musical possibilities, bringing textural depth and emotional weight to any production.
At the heart of Ólafur Arnalds Cells is the Scale Mode, which transforms how musicians interact with a sample library. This mode provides complementary harmonic elements that feel alive and responsive, producing melodies that feel like they’re evolving naturally within your composition. It’s as if you’re performing in a session with musicians who are attuned to your ideas, ready to respond with layers and textures that conjure a sense of spontaneity and collaboration. What’s more, Cells’ Played Mode will detect the key you’re playing in real time, generating pseudo-random feedback that aligns harmonically with your own composition.
According to Ólafur Arnalds, the journey to Cells began as far back as 2018 with a prototype that he found so engaging, he incorporated it into his own recordings. “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 says. It’s this kind of spontaneity that makes Cells ideal for musicians that want to balance creative control with an element of freedom and unpredictability in their work.
Designed to encourage exploration and spark discovery, the Scale Mode in Cells is much more than just a harmonic guide. Play a note, and the software will introduce harmonies that fit tonally within your chosen key, while integrating subtle variations and quirks that make each performance feel new and exciting. Whether you’re working on film scores, ambient pieces, or even more experimental projects, Cells’ organic flow will make you feel as if the music itself is composing alongside you.
Ólafur Arnalds Cells isn’t just about strings, however. The library also includes a rich collection of vintage analogue synthesizer sounds that Arnalds himself has recorded, allowing you to create a captivating blend of electronic and orchestral tones. The result is a versatile toolkit that’s suitable for everything from sweeping cinematic scores to emotionally potent electronica, empowering you to create deep and immersive soundscapes that resonate long after the first listen.
What’s more, Cells is equipped with 115 articulations, offering a wide range of playing techniques, from legato and spiccato to staccato and pizzicato, each one recorded in Iceland’s Synfonia Nord studio by an ensemble of the country’s most gifted string musicians. Building on this flexibility, Cells’ eDNA mode - powered by Spitfire’s renowned Electronic DNA engine - allows a deeper level of control over the instrument’s sounds and textures.
With its innovative Scale Mode and expansive sound palette, Cells offers you a new way to compose
For musicians and producers who want to break free from the creative limits of traditional sample libraries and experiment with a more spontaneous and collaborative music-making process, Ólafur Arnalds Cells is a tool that’s worth exploring. With its innovative Scale Mode and expansive sound palette, Cells offers you a new way to compose - one that feels alive, unpredictable, and entirely your own. In Ólafur Arnalds Cells, Spitfire Audio has created a tool that’s more than just another sample library: it’s an interactive and creative partner that transforms the way you bring your music to life.
Ólafur Arnalds Cells is now available for an introductory price of $199 USD (£159 GBP/€199 EUR) until December 1st. To learn more about Cells, watch an in-depth walkthrough with Paul Thomson or visit Spitfire Audio’s website.
