Unleash the sounds of forgotten realms with Ancient Kingdom, a brand-new virtual instrument collection produced by Doug Rogers and Nick Phoenix and featuring world-renowned recording artist Saulius Petreikis playing his rare selection of wind instruments from around the world. With four groundbreaking effects signal paths in addition to pristine multi-mic recordings, step into the unknown and let Ancient Kingdom transport your music into a dimension where the past meets the future and the spirits of lost worlds come to life with every note.

From the Echoes of Antiquity to the Edges of the Unknown

Ancient Kingdom’s intuitive user interface invites you to explore the primal essence of rare wind instruments while forging into transcendent sonic realms. Anchored by a vivid Center Display with striking 3D instrument models and immersive landscapes representing their origins, its interface offers effortless command over instrument libraries, articulations, multi-mic configurations, and more. The Left Panel empowers you to shape the sound with versatile Mood presets, powerful performance scripts, and precise MIDI controls, while the Right Panel transforms ancient tones into otherworldly textures through innovative FX mixes, convolution reverbs, and flexible channel routing.

Unique Recording Techniques

In addition to the pristine surround sound recordings, this collection introduces four groundbreaking signal paths. These paths employ various innovative techniques, utilizing amplifiers, vibration enhancers, metallic surfaces, distortion amplifiers, megaphones, tubes, and rotating speakers to create a dynamic and immersive auditory experience. These signal paths take the sounds into an other-worldly dimension like you’ve never heard before. The alternate signal paths enhance the presence and capture the listener’s attention by emphasizing the instruments' attack characteristics, offering a bold and vivid listening experience. Whether used in traditional compositions or experimental soundscapes, Ancient Kingdom provides a rich palette of sounds inspired by the historical essence of these magnificent instruments.

What's Included?

Ancient Kingdom features 26 instrument categories, each with an array of highly detailed instrument articulations and combinations across a range of instrument type sub-categories that includes Long, Short, Effects, Legato, and Keyswitch.

Armenian Duduk (Available in A, C, and G)

The Armenian duduk is an ancient double-reed woodwind instrument known for its warm, soulful, and deeply expressive sound with haunting depth, ideal for crafting emotive melodies in cinematic or world music scores. Historically, the duduk is a powerful symbol of Armenian cultural identity and the cornerstone of the nation’s folk music, used in funerals, weddings, and spiritual ceremonies for centuries. Evoke Armenia’s ancient heart in your compositions with the duduk’s mournful, evocative voice.

Bansuri

The bansuri is a traditional Indian bamboo flute, known for its warm, airy timbre, producing a serene sound ideal for melodic or meditative layers in both solo and ensemble settings. In India, the bansuri has been used since ancient times in devotional ceremonies and raga performances, symbolizing a spiritual connection to Hindu mythology, particularly Lord Krishna’s divine flute. Infuse your music with India’s spiritual essence through the bansuri’s serene, soulful sound.

Birbyne (Available in A and Db)

The birbyne is a traditional Lithuanian woodwind instrument, typically made of wood, with a pure, nasal timbre producing a bright, folk-like sound, ideal for lively or rustic themes in Baltic or historical compositions. In Lithuania, the birbyne is a cherished voice of rural festivals, where its spirited notes have rallied communities for centuries, preserving folk heritage through vibrant melodies. Capture the vibrant pulse of Baltic festivals in your music with the birbyne’s lively tones.

Dambrelis

The dambrelis is a traditional Lithuanian jaw harp made from metal or bamboo, which produces sound by plucking a flexible tongue while holding the frame against the teeth or lips. The player's mouth acts as a resonator, shaping the tone and pitch, creating a distinctive twanging, rhythmic sound. It has been used in Lithuanian folk music for centuries, often for solo performance or accompaniment. Historically used by Baltic farmers and herders for entertainment and rituals, it represents simplicity and connection to nature, often played in intimate or ceremonial settings. Infuse your tracks with an earthy Baltic touch with the dambrelis’ twanging rhythmic pulse.

Double Shepherd Flute

The double shepherd flute is a traditional Slavic double flute, made from wood and consisting of two parallel pipes, creating a rich, dual-layered sound with a warm, harmonious timbre and a bright upper range well-suited for pastoral or emotive themes. Its cultural significance lies in its role in community storytelling and celebrations, preserving Balkan musical identity through oral traditions. Linked to rural shepherding, it was played during long days in the fields, carrying the pulse of village life. Evoke the Balkan highlands in your compositions with the flute’s soulful, harmonious tones.

Flugelhorn

The flugelhorn is a brass instrument with origins in Germany, known for its smooth, lyrical sound and rich timbre, bridging the gap between the trumpet and French horn. Its warm, mellow sound makes it ideal for majestic yet intimate themes. Developed in 19th-century Germany for military and marching bands, it later became prominent in classical and festive music, symbolizing German precision and innovation in brass design with its noble, uplifting qualities. Evoke the grandeur of Germany’s festive legacy with the flugelhorn’s velvety, majestic tones.

Fujara (Available in High and Large)

The fujara is a large Slovakian overtone flute made from wood, producing a deep, resonant timbre with natural overtones, delivering a bold, earthy sound perfect for dramatic or meditative melodies in folk or cinematic scores. Recognized as intangible cultural heritage, the fujara symbolizes Slovak folk traditions tied to pastoral life, played by shepherds in the mountains to communicate or reflect, evoking the rugged beauty of Slovak landscapes. Infuse your compositions with Slovak heritage using the fujara’s deep, earthy voice.

Goat Horn Amber

The goathorn is a traditional Lithuanian wind instrument featuring a simple design with a few finger holes. It is made from a real goat horn, sometimes adorned with amber, and produces a raw, earthy timbre ideal for adding intensity to battle themes or creating visceral ceremonial cues. In Scandinavian and Baltic cultures, goathorns were used in rituals and warfare to signal gatherings or battles, rooted in Norse traditions and symbolizing strength and ancestral connection. Evoke the Scandinavian warrior spirit in your scores with the goathorn’s fierce, primal sound.

Goat Horn Ebony

The ebony goathorn is a modern variation of the traditional goathorn, crafted from dense, dark ebony wood instead of animal horn. While retaining the classic shape and playing technique, this version offers a richer, more refined tone with improved durability and resonance. It typically features a few finger holes and is used in folk and contemporary interpretations of Baltic music. Blending traditional craftsmanship with modern materials to give a fresh voice to an ancient sound, the ebony goathorn infuses your music with Viking spirit and contemporary craft through its rich, woody tone.

Hulusi (Available in High and Low)

The hulusi is a traditional Chinese free-reed wind instrument featuring a gourd wind chamber and bamboo pipes, including one main melody pipe and often one or two drone pipes. It produces a smooth, mellow, and haunting sound reminiscent of a clarinet, making it well-suited for lyrical melodies or atmospheric layers in world or cinematic music. Originating from the Dai and other ethnic minorities in Yunnan province, the hulusi was historically played at festivals and courtship rituals, embodying community and social harmony. Evoke China’s ancient revels in your music with the hulusi’s silken, lyrical tones.

Irish Whistle (Available in Regular and High)

The Irish whistle is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument that produces a bright, clear tone, capable of expressive ornamentation and fast, intricate melodies by a skilled player. In Ireland, it is a cornerstone of traditional folk music, played at pubs, dances, and festivals since the 19th century. It represents cultural identity through storytelling, passing down tales of strength and resilience. Evoke Ireland’s defiant Celtic spirit with the whistle’s bright, expressive melodies.

Labanoro Duda

The Labanoro duda is a unique and rare Lithuanian bagpipe traditionally associated with the Labanoras region. It features a single drone with a melody pipe (chanter), typically made from wood and animal hide, which produces a robust, droning timbre with driving rhythmic energy. Though it nearly disappeared, recent efforts have revived its craftsmanship and performance, making it a symbol of Lithuanian musical heritage. It continues to celebrate its cultural significance in folk dances, rural festivals, and weddings, with roots tracing back to medieval traditions. Evoke Baltic celebrations in your compositions with the Labanoro duda’s earthy, rhythmic pulse.

Native American Cedar Flute(Available in Flute and Piccolo)

The Native American flute is a traditional wind instrument used by Indigenous peoples of North America, known for its breathy, warm timbre and haunting, deeply emotive sound. Typically made from wood or bamboo, it has two chambers and is played as an end-blown flute, with a block (or "bird") directing air over a sound hole. Historically, it was integral to courtship ceremonies and storytelling, with each tribe crafting unique designs to reflect spiritual connection, healing, and communal values tied to Indigenous traditions. Evoke ancestral spirits with the flute’s breathy, heartfelt melodies.

Persian Ney Flute

The Persian ney is an ancient end-blown flute made from a hollow reed with six finger holes, producing a breathy, intimate timbre and poignant, emotional sound ideal as a solo melodic voice. It is central to Persian classical music and Sufi mysticism, played for centuries in spiritual and poetic settings, its expressions of longing and divine connection symbolizing cultural significance. Infuse your scores with Persian mysticism using the ney’s emotive, soulful voice.

Shakuhachi

The shakuhachi is a traditional Japanese end-blown bamboo flute with five finger holes that creates a rich, breathy timbre, capable of producing a wide range of expressive sounds through subtle breath control and finger techniques. Originally used by Zen Buddhist monks for meditation since the 8th century, the shakuhachi is now a key instrument in Japanese classical, folk, and contemporary music, embodying the spiritual discipline and tranquility central to Japanese Zen tradition. Evoke Japan’s meditative serenity with the shakuhachi’s raw, soulful call.

Skuduciai Pipes

Skuduciai pipes are traditional Lithuanian panpipe-like instruments made from wood or reed, producing a delicate, airy quality with a woody timbre that adds subtle, organic textures. They are an important part of Lithuania’s cultural heritage, played in folk festival ensembles practicing ancient polyphonic traditions. Their origins in rural villages tie them to communal harmony and nature. Evoke Lithuania’s ancient rural spirit in your scores with the pipes’ gentle, airy tones.

Viking Lur

The Viking lur is an ancient Scandinavian and Baltic wind instrument made from bronze or wood and shaped in a long, curved form resembling an animal horn. With no finger holes, it plays natural harmonics that gives it a bold, brassy timbre with a haunting, resonant tone ideal for epic fanfares and battle themes. Dating back to the Bronze Age, lurs are iconic symbols of early Nordic musical heritage, used in ancient traditions to signal important events or rituals and unite communities in ceremony. Evoke Viking glory in your compositions with the lur’s commanding, regal tones.

Viking Voices

The vocal traditions of the Norse people during the Viking Age were often tied to storytelling, rituals, and communal gatherings. Viking voices produce a raw, guttural timbre with primal expressions, taking the form of chanting as part of rituals, rhythmic recitation, mythic storytelling, and melodic forms rooted in oral tradition. They form a vital part of Norse cultural and spiritual life, evoking ancestral spirits and collective strength. Evoke ancestral hymns in your compositions with the raw, primal depth of Viking voices.

Viking War Horn

The Viking war horn is a traditional Nordic signaling instrument, typically carved from animal horn or wood, which produces a deep, commanding sound whose power belies its simple design. During the Viking Age, war horns—symbols of courage and calls to action—were used to communicate across great distances, rallying warriors, signaling attacks, and initiating gatherings and sacred rituals. Evoke the Viking marauder’s spirit in your compositions with the war horn’s deep, resonant blast.

What Will You Create?

This isn’t just another virtual instrument collection—it’s a portal to uncharted sonic realms for composers and producers seeking to transcend the ordinary. Ancient Kingdom, crafted by Doug Rogers and Nick Phoenix, harnesses the haunting, rare wind instruments of Saulius Petreikis, paired with pristine multi-mic recordings and four innovative effects signal paths. These tools defy convention, blending ancient timbres with futuristic textures to ignite your creative spark. If you’re ready to weave the spirits of lost worlds into your music, this extraordinary library is your key to crafting bold, timeless soundscapes.

THE MOST DETAILED STRING LIBRARY YET. PERIOD.

The long-awaited sequel to Hollywood Strings has finally arrived. But this time, we made a hard pivot: Instead of going bigger, we recorded a tight 21-piece chamber strings ensemble in EastWest Studio 2 for our most nuanced string library yet – smaller room, same production team, no less cinematic. You´ll find all the essential articulations, including legato, detache, pizzicato, staccato, spiccato, marcato, col legno, and even rare textural styles like flautando, each with up to four dynamics, ensuring an unparalleled level of expressiveness and realism. From the delicate intimacy of pianissimo to the commanding authority of fortissimo, and everything in between, articulations are captured with exacting detail by an extensive array of microphones, giving you unprecedented control over the performance and sound of the strings.

EMOTIONAL. INTIMATE. RAW.

We close-mic´d every instrument closer than we ever have before, capturing the grit, depth, and air of every note in the finest detail possible. You can independently control 3 separate close mic positions (including mics attached directly to the instruments), plus main, mid-field, and surround mics. There's no limit to the depth you can create – Hollywood Strings 2 is even Atmos-ready, so you can create Atmos mixes in DAWs that support Atmos. Epic arrangements are great, but there's more to strings than scale alone... and while its predecessor is indeed epic, Hollywood Strings 2 goes even further, molding itself to any task.

NEW STRINGS, NEW ROOM & A RICH HISTORY

Hollywood Strings 2 was recorded in EastWest's own Studio 2, just like the themes to The Beverly Hillbillies, Hawaii Five-O, and the soundtracks to Encanto and A Star is Born. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Weezer, and Metallica also selected Studio 2 for its tight and punchy sound! It's only fitting that these strings suit cinematic metal or heavy rock as well as they would an epic film cue. If you've had your fill of massive ensembles and need focus and precision, you won´t find a more intimate string library anywhere else. Even if you already have them all.

THE ORIGINAL CAST RETURNS

The original Hollywood Strings featured the collaboration of award-winning producers Doug Rogers & Nick Phoenix and engineer Shawn Murphy. Together, they created the most advanced string library of all time... and now, all 3 returned to do it again. Their goal was simple: Capture the same cinematic quality as the original, but with more granular control than any string library to date. The result is clear, clean, and dry, with a character that effortlessly lends itself to any genre. Doug Rogers and Nick Phoenix have produced multiple award-winning sample libraries and virtual instruments together for over three decades - more than any other sounds production team in the industry - including NAMM TEC Award winners Hollywood Choirs, Hollywood Orchestra Opus Edition, and Hollywood Fantasy Orchestra. Academy Award and BAFTA winner Shawn Murphy is one of the most prolific sound engineers and mixers in the history of cinema. Some of his credits include the Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, and Hunger Games franchises, Jurassic Park and the Lost World, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Psycho (1998), Mission: Impossible, Apollo 13, and Titanic.

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

Hollywood Strings 2 boasts an extensive library of 126 meticulously crafted instruments, offering an unparalleled range of sonic possibilities, including the best ever recorded playable trills and runs. With over 160 gigabytes of extensively sampled sounds, every note resonates with unparalleled authenticity, capturing the essence of each instrument with breathtaking detail. And powered with our state of the art OPUS engine, you can instantly download just the individual instruments you need for instant access or download them all, it's your choice.