You've got a cue due, a half-formed idea in your head, and a template that takes longer to load than it takes to hum the melody. Browsing giant libraries for the right patch is where momentum goes to die.
EastWest is going after exactly that problem with Hollywood Scoring Tools, an all-in-one scoring package that blends orchestral and choral sounds with synths and live instruments. Let's dive into what's inside and who it suits.
Ready-Built Scores, Not Blank Templates
The core idea is a "Scores" system: more than 300 scores containing over 1,000 presets, built from 164 instruments across the EastWest and Sonuscore catalogues. Professional composers designed the patches, and each preset brings together instruments, layers, textures, effects and controls you can edit. So instead of building a palette from scratch, you start with something that already sounds like a finished idea and reshape it to fit your scene.
One Palette, Five Families
The instruments are split into categories so you can mix hybrid scores without leaving the plug-in:
- Orchestral (57 instruments): strings, brass, woodwinds, mallets, harp, piano and celesta.
- Synths (43 instruments): leads, hits, basses, pads and ambient FX for modern, hybrid sounds.
- Band (20 instruments): bass, guitar, drums and keys for a live-band feel.
- World (34 instruments): plucked, bowed, metallophone, wind and percussion textures.
- Choir & Percussion (10 instruments): the voices and impact that make a cue land.
Built for Speed, Backed by Flexibility
Because every preset is editable, you can use the scores as quick sketches or dig in and make them your own. It's a handy fit if you score to picture, write for games, or just want fewer steps between idea and arrangement.
The Specs, In Plain English
- Content: 300+ scores, 1,000+ presets, 164 instruments in total.
- Plug-in formats: VST3, AU and AAX, so it slots into most mainstream DAWs.
- Requirements: EastWest Opus 1.6.6 or later; Windows 10 or later, or macOS 10.15 or later.
- Availability: downloadable from 29 October 2026.
- Subscription: it will also be included in EastWest's ComposerCloud+ subscriptions.
