Crafted & conducted by the Grammy award winner
Hard-wired to humanity, nothing gets to the heart of music like the human voice – and our most anticipated release to date is a choir that captures the breathtaking range of our most personal musical instrument. Crafted and conducted by Grammy winner Eric Whitacre and showcasing his elite family of singers, this encyclopaedia of the voice will enrich your compositions.
With these sounds at your fingertips, you will start to think differently about the human voice. Go beyond the choral cliches of sacred, angelic and apocalyptic, using these sounds to add depth, beauty, grit, emotion, or suspense. Recorded in the widescreen resonance of The Hall at AIR Studios, Eric Whitacre Choir shares the acoustic DNA of Spitfire’s orchestral range and is designed to complement and blend seamlessly with each of these libraries — all presented in our easy to use, award-winning dedicated plugin, including an Evo Grid for instant inspiration.
Now available through Rent-to-Own on Splice’s platform. Learn more
- You can buy now and download any time
- Students & educators save 50%
- Download user manual
- Compatible with NKS
-
Spitfire Audio App required
Listen to Eric Whitacre Choir
As We Breathe - Homay Schmitz
Tendrils Of Light - Shruthi Rajasekar
Silver Locket - Paul Thomson
Surrender - Snorri Hallgrímsson
Chimera - Louis Rugg
In The Night They Came - Paul Saunderson
Back Home With Tales - Homay Schmitz
Middle Of The Earth - Oliver Patrice Weder
Lead Pipe - Louis Rugg
Holding Fast - Homay Schmitz
Trailer Music - Homay Schmitz
Nostalgia - Oliver Patrice Weder
Composing For Choir
In Action
The human voice carries terabytes of emotional information. The idea that composers can have these sounds at their fingertips just thrills me.
Eric Whitacre
The power of the human voice
When the Spitfire Audio founders approached Eric with the idea of sampling his choir, Eric realised this was the perfect vehicle with which to free composers from preconceptions about the voice, and how it can be used in music. He found himself at home with the microscopic detail of sampling, reflecting his approach to composing, with which he crafts every thread of every sound with acute attention to detail.
Over weeks of recording, Eric conducted his choir for every sound in this Spitfire library, conjuring sounds that range from familiar vocal techniques, including vowels and open vocalisations whose harmonic content transforms with changes in mouth shape, through to more unusual articulations, including shorts and rhythmic passages.
The choir
Eric Whitacre Choir is one of our biggest libraries, filling 200GB of audio, and now NKS ready. We’ve taken a decade of sampling experience and applied this approach to give composers and producers a choral library that uses voices just like another section of your orchestra. In addition to a full orchestral set of samples, we have also recorded a stunning Evo Grid, with each element sculpted by Eric. With the help of design and user experience-agency ustwo (Monument Valley, DICE), Eric Whitacre Choir is housed in a bespoke, self-contained plug-in (VST2, VST3, AU, AAX), developed primarily for composers, by composers. A composition tool that’s easy to use, intuitive and inspiring.
There are 22 singers in total: six soprano, five alto, five tenor and six bass. In the Choir section you will find a total of 170 techniques, while the Evo Grid packs 111 Evolutions.
The Evo Grid
Where the choir meets Spitfire’s unique Evo Grid technology, a new instrument is born – one that so impressed Eric, he said, “Frankly, I wish I could compose like this in everyday life.” Simple in principle, inspiring in practice, the grid takes samples that change in different ways over time and arranges them across the keyboard. Play a single gesture or chord and it will weave a micro-composition that never stands still. Construct your own evolution, or hit the randomise button to automatically generate a unique instrument from an almost infinite array of possibilities. Always original, and always musical.
“The idea is that you can take up to three or four of these Evolutions and combine them,” says Eric, “or cycle through them as one of them evolves, and suddenly you’re painting music in a totally different way, sculpting sound in real time. You can create minutes of profoundly beautiful music in this way.”
Eric Whitacre - Sleep (Live Performance at Air Studios)
I write orchestrally for the voice - that's the way I think about it. The palette of colours in just voices is much broader than many people think: from delicate whispers to gritty sounds at the back of the throat, to shimmering clouds of overtones.
Eric Whitacre
Hall of magic
There was only one place we could capture the magic of this aesthetic. For Eric Whitacre Choir, we returned to Spitfire’s spiritual recording home: The Hall at AIR Studios – the scene of countless blockbuster film score recordings, and the majority of the Spitfire catalogue. “It was magical,” says Eric. “It must be my favourite recording room in the world. Something about the atmosphere in there, it’s absolutely perfect for voices. It’s got just the right amount of bloom, and the spiritual uplift of its original intention as a church.”
The choir has been captured via the most sought-after microphones, pristine preamps and legendary tape machines by world-renowned engineer Jake Jackson.
Eric Whitacre
Listening to Eric’s music, you wouldn’t imagine he grew up in Nevada, surrounded by the dust of the desert. It is a landscape that seems alien to the traditional view of choral music. Yet these open spaces and huge skies have helped create his unique sound. “It somehow found its way into my sense of aesthetic, and even into making the sample library. There’s a lot of the open desert in there. What I love about the west coast of America and the desert is that it is pregnant with possibility, and that found its way into the sound.” After high school, which was spent writing electronica and listening to Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode, Eric went to study in Las Vegas and – on a whim – joined a choir. “It absolutely changed my life. I thought, that’s the sound that’s been in my heart my whole life. It was a singular moment and it absolutely transformed me.”
As conductor of the Eric Whitacre Singers, he has released several chart-topping albums, including 2010’s best-selling Light and Gold. A sought-after guest conductor, Eric has conducted choral and instrumental concerts around the globe, including concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra. In addition to several collaborations with Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer, he has worked with British pop icons Laura Mvula, Imogen Heap and Annie Lennox.
What I love about writing for voices is that sometimes a simple minor triad is all you need – you don’t need to dress it up. It’s sophisticated because it’s so simple. And it has a gravity to it. It goes deep, at a cellular level.
Eric Whitacre
Interview: Eric Whitacre
The choir
Tutti
- Long Aah
- Long Ooh
- Long Mmm
- Long Eh Evo
- Aah Eh Aah
- Ooh Aah Ooh
- Mmm Aah Mmm
- Breathy Mmm
- Short Aah Full Out
- Dynamic Swell Aah
- Dynamic Swell Ooh
- Dynamic Swell Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Eeh
- Episodic Aah Nah
- Episodic Ooh Nah
- Episodic Mmm Hyah
- Episodic Aah Dah
- Pitch Clash Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Maj 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Min 3rd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Maj 3rd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Maj 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Min 3rd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Maj 3rd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Perf 4th)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Perf 5th)
- Cloud Grace Aah (Min 2nd)
- Cloud Grace Aah (Maj 2nd)
- Rhythmic Evo Lah
- Rhythmic Evo Nah
- Rhythmic Evo Dee
- Episodic Ahh (NV to Vib)
- Episodic Ooh (NV to Vib)
- Episodic Mmm (NV to Vib)
- Aah Full Out
- Microtonal Bending Aah
- Microtonal Oscillating Aah
- Microtonal Shift
- Microtonal Cluster Pitch Aah
- Fluctuating Ooh
- Breathy Ooh
- fp
- Erupting Hums
- Ricochet Aah Nng
- Aleatoric Aah
- Bubbling
- Harmonic
- NZ
- Cyclical
- Whistle Mmm Blend
- Pitched Air
- FX1 (Long)
- FX2 (Short)
Sopranos
- Legato Ahh
- Legato Mmm
- Legato Ooh
- Legato Oh
- Long Aah
- Long Ooh
- Long Mmm
- Long Oh
- Soft Breathy Aah
- Long Nanana
- Short Aah
- Short Ooh
- Short Mmm
- Short Oh
- Short Soft Breathy Aah
- Dynamic Swell Aah
- Dynamic Swell Ooh
- Dynamic Swell Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Eeh
- Episodic Aah Nah
- Episodic Ooh Nah
- Episodic Mmm Hyah
- Episodic Aah Dah
- Pitch Clash Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Maj 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Maj 2nd)
- FX1 (Long)
- FX2 (Short)
Altos
- Legato Ahh
- Legato Mmm
- Legato Ooh
- Legato Oh
- Long Aah
- Long Ooh
- Long Mmm
- Long Oh
- Soft Breathy Aah
- Long Nanana
- Short Aah
- Short Ooh
- Short Mmm
- Short Oh
- Short Soft Breathy Aah
- Dynamic Swell Aah
- Dynamic Swell Ooh
- Dynamic Swell Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Eeh
- Episodic Aah Nah
- Episodic Ooh Nah
- Episodic Mmm Hyah
- Episodic Aah Dah
- Pitch Clash Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Maj 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Maj 2nd)
- FX1 (Long)
- FX2 (Short)
Tenors
- Legato Ahh
- Legato Mmm
- Legato Ooh
- Legato Oh
- Long Aah
- Long Ooh
- Long Mmm
- Long Oh
- Soft Breathy Aah
- Long Nanana
- Short Aah
- Short Ooh
- Short Mmm
- Short Oh
- Short Soft Breathy Aah
- Dynamic Swell Aah
- Dynamic Swell Ooh
- Dynamic Swell Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Eeh
- Episodic Aah Nah
- Episodic Ooh Nah
- Episodic Mmm Hyah
- Episodic Aah Dah
- Pitch Clash Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Maj 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Maj 2nd)
- FX1 (Long)
- FX2 (Short)
Basses
- Legato Ahh
- Legato Mmm
- Legato Ooh
- Legato Oh
- Long Aah
- Long Ooh
- Long Mmm
- Long Oh
- Soft Breathy Aah
- Long Nanana
- Short Aah
- Short Ooh
- Short Mmm
- Short Oh
- Short Soft Breathy Aah
- Dynamic Swell Aah
- Dynamic Swell Ooh
- Dynamic Swell Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Eeh
- Episodic Aah Nah
- Episodic Ooh Nah
- Episodic Mmm Hyah
- Episodic Aah Dah
- Pitch Clash Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Maj 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Maj 2nd)
- FX1 (Long)
- FX2 (Short)
The Evolutions
Tutti
- Long Aah
- Long Ooh
- Long Mmm
- Long Eh Evo
- Aah Eh Aah
- Ooh Aah Ooh
- Mmm Aah Mmm
- Breathy Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Aah
- Dynamic Swell Ooh
- Dynamic Swell Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Eeh
- Episodic Aah Nah
- Episodic Ooh Nah
- Episodic Mmm Hyah
- Episodic Aah Dah
- Pitch Clash Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Maj 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Min 3rd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Maj 3rd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Maj 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Min 3rd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Maj 3rd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Perf 4th)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Perf 5th)
- Cloud Grace Aah (Min 2nd)
- Cloud Grace Aah (Maj 2nd)
- Rhythmic Evo Lah
- Rhythmic Evo Nah
- Rhythmic Evo Dee
- Episodic Ahh (NV to Vib)
- Episodic Ooh (NV to Vib)
- Episodic Mmm (NV to Vib)
- Aah Full Out
- Microtonal Bending Aah
- Microtonal Oscillating Aah
- Microtonal Shift
- Microtonal Cluster Pitch Aah
- Fluctuating Ooh
- Breathy Ooh
- fp
- Erupting Hums
- Ricochet Aah Nng
- Aleatoric Aah
- Bubbling
- Harmonic
- NZ
- Cyclical
- Whistle Mmm Blend
- Pitched Air
Sopranos
- Long Aah
- Long Ooh
- Long Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Aah
- Dynamic Swell Ooh
- Dynamic Swell Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Eeh
- Episodic Aah Nah
- Episodic Ooh Nah
- Episodic Mmm Hyah
- Episodic Aah Dah
- Pitch Clash Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Maj 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Maj 2nd)
Altos
- Long Aah
- Long Ooh
- Long Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Aah
- Dynamic Swell Ooh
- Dynamic Swell Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Eeh
- Episodic Aah Nah
- Episodic Ooh Nah
- Episodic Mmm Hyah
- Episodic Aah Dah
- Pitch Clash Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Maj 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Maj 2nd)
Tenors
- Long Aah
- Long Ooh
- Long Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Aah
- Dynamic Swell Ooh
- Dynamic Swell Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Eeh
- Episodic Aah Nah
- Episodic Ooh Nah
- Episodic Mmm Hyah
- Episodic Aah Dah
- Pitch Clash Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Aah (Maj 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Maj 2nd)
Basses
- Long Aah
- Long Ooh
- Long Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Aah
- Dynamic Swell Ooh
- Dynamic Swell Mmm
- Dynamic Swell Eeh
- Episodic Aah Nah
- Episodic Ooh Nah
- Episodic Mmm Hyah
- Episodic Aah Dah
- Pitch Clash Aah (Min 2nd
- Pitch Clash Aah (Maj 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Min 2nd)
- Pitch Clash Static Aah (Maj 2nd)
Mics & mixes
Mics
- C(lose)
- T(ree)
- A(mbient)
- Outrigger
- Mid
- Gallery
Stereo mix
- Big
- Medium
- Small
Adding Choirs to Your Scores
Writing an Emotional Piece in 30 Minutes
How To Write A Choral Symphony
How It Works: Eric Whitacre Choir
How it Works: The Evo Grid
FAQs
How do you add Eric Whitacre Choir into Kontakt?
You don’t! Eric Whitacre Choir is a dedicated plugin available as VST, AAX and AU so it can be used directly in your favourite DAW.
What software will I need to run Eric Whitacre Choir?
We provide an AU, VST2, VST3 and an AAX, so as long as your chosen DAW supports one of those plugin formats, you’re good to go.
Why do I need this product?
Consider this the new core part of the orchestral range. Adding a choir to your composition can be as second nature as adding percussion, for example. This library’s voice, under Eric’s scrutiny, is a brand new world of sounds and aching emotion waiting to become part of the repertoire for composers.