Composing for action scores

If you're looking to add some serious punch to your action scores, here's a selection of tools and sample libraries perfect for creating high-intensity, adrenaline-fueled soundscapes.

Hard-hitting and percussive

Monolith by Richard Harvey
Monolith by Richard Harvey

Cinematic traditional drums

Metropolis Ark 3 cover art with gears in the shape of a 3
Metropolis Ark 3

The beating orchestra

Tom Holkenborg's Percussion
Tom Holkenborg's Percussion

Full-contact drums

Orange-yellow abstract art
Dagu

Chinese theater drums

Compsing for action, you need drum and percussion sample libraries that can make hearts pound and propel your pieces forward. Monolith by Richard Harvey is a curated collection of large drums and ensembles with a cinematic sound. Metropolis Ark 3 offers everything from massive taiko drums to various orchestral sections performing percussive articulations. Tom Holkenborg's Percussion gives you access to the drums he used for his work in numerous Hollywood blockbuster films. Dagu is a set of giant, rumbling Chinese theater drums. All are perfectly suited to scoring for action.

Gritty

Transit cover art
Transit

Cities in motion

Drones by Alexander Hacke
Drones

By Alexander Hacke

Close-up of a circuitboard
Konduit

Sonic electricity

If you want your action scores to have teeth, the right virtual instrument collections can help you add edge and gritty textures. Transit is made up of heavily processed recordings of the Berlin underground. Drones features a wide variety of long, evolving, and intense sounds. Finally, the sounds of Konduit are jagged with electricity.

Thrilling strings

Benjamin Wallfisch Strings artwork
Benjamin Wallfisch Strings

Cinematic ensembles and divisi

Igudesman Solo Violin cover art
Igudesman Solo Violin

Unique techniques

Berlin Symphonic Strings sample library
Berlin Symphonic Strings

Large cinematic sections

Strings can play a pivotal role in an epic orchestral action score. In addition to its cinematic sound, Benjamin Wallfisch strings features tutti and true divisi sections as well as an abundance of mic positions. Igudesman Solo Violin is a treasure trove of unique playing techniques and tempo-synced patches to create new sounds from a traditional instrument. Berlin Symphonic Strings gives you the inimitable power of a massive string orchestra.

${ cartFlash }

${ modal.header }