The Crow Hill Company has launched its latest free virtual instrument, Orchestral FX, as part of the Vaults series.
Released in a Halloween-inspired style, Orchestral FX is available for both macOS and Windows and comes in AU, VST3, VST, and AAX formats.
In the launch video, founder Christian Henson describes the instrument as capturing “30 string players in a gothic hall in Glasgow performing a single, haunting task with incredible intensity.”
The sounds immediately conjure up classic horror vibes, much like the iconic musical stabs from a vintage horror film. Imagine the chilling strings that accompany Psycho’s famous shower scene—that’s exactly the kind of atmosphere Orchestral FX delivers.
If you’re looking to add a touch of spine-tingling drama to your projects, now’s the time to grab this unique instrument. Visit The Crow Hill Company’s website to download it, but act quickly—like all Vaults releases, it’s available only for six months before it’s rotated out to make way for new releases.
Henson explained in the video that the Vaults concept is all about “one-time gems” that cycle in and out, giving users fresh tools on a regular basis. The company releases a new Vaults plugin each month, with six currently available for download.
Each Vaults plugin maintains a familiar layout, featuring a preset selector at the top, two main parameters in the center, and four additional controls below.
Unlike typical plugins, Orchestral FX doesn’t have a dedicated product page. Instead, it’s listed alongside other Vaults releases on a single page, with minimal information available—so most details come from Henson’s demo video.
In the video, Henson highlights the plugin’s main controls, which include Distance, Aberrate, Chatter, Spook, Echo, and Splosh. The two central controls, Distance and Aberrate, offer the most dramatic effects:
- Distance moves the sound from a close, direct tone to a wide, ambient soundscape as it goes from 0 to 100.
- Aberrate adds a “reverse pitch echo,” which Henson likens to something out of Star Trek. When maxed, it creates an unsettling, alien quality that’s ideal for eerie sound design.
Combined with the additional controls, these parameters allow for a variety of spooky, cinematic textures, perfect for horror soundscapes.
For complete installation instructions, head to the Vaults page on The Crow Hill Company’s site.
Download: Orchestral FX (FREE)
