This is a collection of selected pieces I have composed as official sample library demos. Included are demos created for products by Orchestral Tools, Musical Sampling, and Embertone.

Sample Library Demos

This peaceful, lyrical piece is an official demo for Orchestral Tool's Berlin Woodwinds Expansion B: Soloists, Featuring Oboe, English Horn, Flute and Clarinet.

You can read more about Berlin Woodwinds Expansion B: Soloists at http://orchestraltools.com/libraries/bww_exp_b.php
Photo Credit: Charles Vernier http://charlesvernier.com/

By The Lake (Berlin Woodwinds Expansion B demo)

In this lively demo for Orchestral Tools' Berlin Strings library I focus on the short articulations (staccatos, spiccatos, marteles, pizzicatos, runs, trills, etc.) in an attempt to create a rollicking, adventurous piece. Also used in this track: Berlin Woodwinds, CineBrass Core, EWQLSO perc.

Chasing Adventure (Berlin Strings Demo)

This is a demo I wrote for Orchestral Tool's beautiful new Nocturne Violin, the first release in their new Soloist Series. Here are the main libraries I used for the other instruments:

STRINGS: Berlin Strings 
WOODWINDS: Berlin Woodwinds Ex. B
BRASS: CineBrass Core
PERC: CinePerc Core
CHOIR: Requiem Lite

On Eagle's Wings (Nocturne Violin Demo)

This fast-paced track is an official demo I wrote for Orchestral Tools' new flagship percussion library, Berlin Percussion. Every instrument in this demo save for the brass (combination of CineBrass Core and Hollywood Brass) comes from an Orchestral Tools library. Percussion patches used:

Toms
Dresdner Snare 13"
Bass Drum 40"
Roto Toms
Xylophone
Crotales
Glockenspiel
Celesta
Cow Bells (More!)
Zildjian Cymbal
Piatti 20"
Tamtam 130cm
Anvil and Brakedrums
Triangle 1
Seashell Tree
Metal Chimes 1
Ship Bells

Strings: Berlin Strings Main Collection
Woodwinds: Berlin Woodwinds Main Collection, Expansion B.
Percussion: Berlin Percussion Main Collection
Brass: CineBrass Core (primarily), Hollywood Brass (for the FX)


Race to the Ocean (Official Berlin Percussion Demo)

This epic track I wrote as a demo for Orchestral Tools' new, monumentally loud sample library, Metropolis Ark 1. Everything you hear in this track is from Metropolis Ark 1--everything. I cannot wait to blend this library with the other instruments in my template... :)

LICENSE

Into the Nebula (Official Metropolis Ark 1 Demo - Lib Only)

To access and study the MIDI from this VST-ONLY track, check out the MIDI Study pack for this piece, which comes with MIDI (and Cubase Files--bonus if you're a Cubase user), reference audio, and a multi-page PDF for guided composition and orchestration instruction and assignments. https://store.fortecomposeracademy.com/midi-study-pack-1-commanding-the-fleet

I wrote this adventurous track as a demo for Musical Sampling's debut sample library, "Soaring Strings," which has won a spot in my template due to it's ease of use, solid sound, and the most fluid, agile legatos I've ever used. Programming and performing with this library is remarkably easy--there are a few spots in this track where the melody line remains almost untouched since my first pass at inputting it via keyboard and modwheel. With a ridiculously low retail price of $249 (and an introductory price of $199) this library demands a look: http://www.musicalsampling.com/soaring-strings/

Also used in this piece:

Berlin Woodwinds Main and Ex B
Berlin Percussion
Metropolis Ark 1 (choirs + brass)
Cinebrass Core 
CinePerc Core (timpani)
Hollywood Brass (6horns legato)
Spitfire Harp

Commanding the Fleet (Soaring Strings Demo)

This cinematic track that evolves from sorrowful to heroic is a demo piece I created for Orchestral Tools' latest instrument Library: "Nocturne Cello." http://www.orchestraltools.com/soloists_series/libraries/nocturne_cello.php

Orchestral Tools libraries also used in this demo include:

Berlin Strings (I used some Soaring Strings as well)
Berlin Woodwinds
Berlin Woodwinds Ex. B
Berlin Percussion
Metropolis Ark 1 

Defending the Village (Nocturne Cello Demo)

This heroic march is an official demo I wrote for Musical Sampling's latest brass library, "Adventure Brass." The library is very athletic and playable--making it a joy to work with. Check it out here: http://www.musicalsampling.com/adventure-brass/

I will also note that all the strings in the first 2/3 of the piece are from Musical Sampling's recent "Soaring Strings" library. The shorter string articulations in the last 1/3 of the piece are from Berlin Strings. 

Woodwinds: Berlin Woodwinds. 
Perc: Berlin Percussion and CinePerc Core
Choir: Metropolis Ark 1

March of The Victors (Adventure Brass Demo)

This is an official demo I composed for Orchestral Tools' latest sample library, Berlin Brass. This volume completes the primary collection of all four main orchestra sections--strings, brass, winds, and percussion. All four main libraries are used in this demo. Also used are Metropolis Ark 1 and the Timpani from Cinesamples' CinePerc. 

For more info: http://www.orchestraltools.com/libraries/berlin_brass.php

The Wages of War (Berlin Brass Demo)

The Upward Call (Official Metropolis Ark 2 Demo - Lib Only)

This energetic track is an official demo I wrote for Musical Sampling's sample library "Adventure Strings."

One Big Family Adventure (Adventure Strings Demo)

This is a demo I wrote for Embertone's Joshua Bell violin sample library. More info here: http://www.embertone.com/instruments/joshuabellviolin.php

As The Years Pass (Official Joshua Bell Violin Demo)

Saga

The Second Star to the Left

The Second Star to the Left (Berlin Woodwinds Demo)

An official demo I composed for Orchestral Tools' new library Modus - Jess Russo.

Orbit: Official Modus - Jeff Russo Demo

THis is a track I composed using only instruments from ORchestral Tools' Creative Soundpack "ORE": https://www.orchestraltools.com/store/collections/ore

It's a really nice little collection of sounds.

Botanical - Official ORE Demo

To learn how I create music like this on a computer, consider checking out my online course about How to Compose with MIDI and Virtual Instruments: https://store.fortecomposeracademy.com/how-to-compose-with-midi-and-virtual-instruments

Benjamin Botkin began composing music for film and visual media projects in 2005.  Since then, Benjamin has composed the music for multiple feature, documentary, short, and promotional films, written demos for leading sample developers, lectured about film scoring at film festivals, and is creator and head instructor at Forte Composer Academy,  a site dedicated to helping composers succeed in the new music industry. 

Benjamin lives in the greater Nashville area with his beautiful wife Audri and three sons: Ethan, Elliot, and Philip.