Orchestral Tools - Metropolis Ark 1

5.0 (4)

3 Critic Reviews

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Orchestral Tools - Metropolis Ark 2

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Page last updated Oct 20, 2025

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Description

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Unlock the power of cinematic soundscapes with Orchestral Tools' Metropolis Ark 1, a comprehensive Kontakt Instrument that serves as an essential tool for composers and music producers. This robust music software draws inspiration from the grandeur and intensity of orchestral music, offering a wide range of dynamic instruments and sounds. Perfectly suited for film scoring, game music, and any project that requires a bold, epic sound, Metropolis Ark 1 is designed to capture the essence of large-scale orchestration.

With over 18 sections of orchestral ensembles, including strings, brass, and percussion, Metropolis Ark 1 provides an extensive palette for creating intense musical moments. The library is noted for its dynamic layers and nuanced articulations, enabling users to craft expressive and realistic scores. Each sound is meticulously recorded with stunning clarity, ensuring that your compositions resonate with depth and emotion.

This instrument library runs on the Kontakt platform, making it compatible with a wide range of DAWs and setups. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an aspiring composer, Metropolis Ark 1 equips you with the tools needed to bring your most ambitious musical visions to life.

Key Features:

Comprehensive orchestral library designed for cinematic scoring
Over 18 sections of orchestral ensembles including strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion
Dynamic layers and articulations for expressive scoring
High-quality recordings for depth and clarity
Compatible with Native Instruments Kontakt platform
Ideal for film, game, and trailer music production
Requires Kontakt 5.5.1 or higher, full version needed for operation

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Orchestral Tools

Metropolis Ark 1 Walkthrough: Instrument sections

Orchestral Tools

Why Metropolis Ark 1 Is My Favorite Orchestral Kontakt Library

Alex Moukala Tutorials

Albion One vs Metropolis Ark 1 - Sound and Feature Comparison

William Morris Music

Epic Theme - Metropolis Ark 1 Demo track

Alexander Smith

Bulb - Orchestral Tools Metropolis Ark 1 Overview and Composition

Misha Mansoor

Quick Look & Review Metropolis Ark 1 from Orchestral Tools

Sample Library Review

Composing with Metropolis Ark 1

Orchestral Tools

Somnium Letalis - George Strezov - Metropolis Ark 1 Demo

Epic Orchestral Music

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Orchestral Tools - Metropolis Ark 1.

Features and functionality

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Metropolis Ark 1 excels in trombones for f-fff, low strings, legato highs, and its choir, providing a unique and large feel hard to achieve with base libraries.
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The spiccatos in Ark 1 are somewhat loose but work effectively as overlays when combined with other libraries.
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Metropolis Ark 1 utilizes MIDI CCs for dynamics, primarily CC1 (mod wheel) for crossfade and CC11 for expression, instead of traditional velocity control.
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Comparisons

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Ark 1's brass can be effectively combined with libraries like Junkie XL Brass or Hollywood Brass for enhanced low brass power and dynamic range.
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Spitfire libraries, while realistic, are noted for being conservative with top range dynamics compared to Ark 1's boldness.
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Use cases and applications

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The library is particularly useful for creating epic, cinematic music, offering powerful overlays for brass and strings.
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Software and compatibility

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Users need to set up velocity in the instrument options and route it to the controller within Kontakt Player for effective use in FL Studio.
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User experience

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Owners new to Kontakt and FL Studio found learning to set up Metropolis Ark 1's velocity and MIDI controls a valuable process, highlighting the importance of consulting documentation.
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Critic Reviews

Orchestral Tools Metropolis Ark 1

soundonsound.com

Orchestral Tools' Metropolis Ark 1 delivers a colossal orchestral soundscape that’s both powerful and dynamic, perfect for modern compositions. With unique instrumentation, including oversized string and brass sections, and the addition of a rock rhythm section, it excels in loud, bold arrangements. The library's strengths lie in its massive low strings and engaging choir samples, which provide a thrilling cinematic experience. However, it does lack traditional orchestral components like flutes and woodwinds, which may deter purists seeking a more classical palette. Overall, it's an impressive tool for media composers aiming for dramatic scores but may not suit those desiring subtlety or nuance.

positive

Full Review

Orchestral Tools Metropolis Ark 1 Review

musictech.com

Metropolis Ark 1 is a colossal orchestral library that delivers an impressive array of sounds designed for epic compositions. With its expansive range, including a powerful brass section and thunderous percussion, it excels in creating bombastic scores. However, its sheer size—160GB—may be a drawback for some, as well as its specific focus that might not suit gentler orchestral needs. The library is beautifully recorded and integrates well with other tools, making it a top contender for those in film scoring or trailer music. Just be aware that its loud, dramatic style might not cater to every composer's palette. Overall, it’s a must-have for epic soundtrack enthusiasts, but perhaps too niche for broader applications.

positive

Full Review

Orchestral Tools Metropolis Ark 1 Review | BPB

bedroomproducersblog.com

Metropolis Ark 1 is a colossal orchestral library focused on delivering epic sounds with incredible power. While it excels in creating grand, cinematic atmospheres with its expansive brass, strings, and percussion, it notably lacks softer dynamics and solo instruments, which may limit its versatility for some users. The absence of standard woodwinds and quiet articulations makes it less suitable for nuanced compositions. However, for those aiming to produce dramatic scores or intense soundtracks, this library shines with its high-quality recordings and efficient engine. If you're seeking to evoke grandeur, Ark 1 is a worthy investment, but it may not meet the needs of every orchestral composer.

positive

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 4 Ratings

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krzakson8

121

over 6 years ago

Outstanding library.

This one is my main go to library for every heavy orchestral compositions. The main purpose of this library is to serve as a Epic/Trailer music all rounder but you can use it to write fortissimo possible sections in any orchestral score. There are lots of articulations to chose from for every instrument. Legato patches are amazing. Included Choir is something that i instantly loved. Horn sections are huge and full. Bass instruments sounds very good and agressive. Strings are also unique and fits the whole kit. I also like all the percussion and hits. Overall the only missing element in this library are woodwinds but looking at agressive and heavy approach on the dynamic range of instruments in this library its completely understandable (just use different library for woods). Overall this product is just outstanding 10/10.