Strezov Sampling has carved out a niche with their Ethnic Orchestra series, bringing together rare and region-specific instruments into polished, highly playable collections. With Pacha, the focus shifts to South America, created in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Alejandro Fatur. It promises guitars, harps, woodwinds, percussion, and cinematic mood-setting elements – all wrapped up in one library.
From the first notes, it’s clear that Pacha follows the same philosophy as the rest of the series: comprehensive, authentic, and musical straight out of the box.
First Impressions
I’ve long been a fan of this lineup. Instead of hunting down obscure sample libraries for individual ethnic instruments (with wildly inconsistent quality), you get everything you need in one cohesive toolkit. Pacha continues this tradition beautifully:
“I know of nothing else that can offer you the South American sound so comprehensively in one package at this price point.”
The design is simple, the content is broad, and the sound is inspiring.
Plucked Strings
The guitars and plucked instruments are the stars here. From nylon warmth to earthy, characterful strums, these patches are not just beautiful and realistic – they’re inspiring.
“Some of these plucked instruments are so good on their own that they could justify the entire library.”
There’s also a breadth of choice – overlapping timbres that can be layered for richer, more personal results. And while designed for South American music, these sounds easily translate into singer-songwriter, folk, and cinematic scoring.
Woodwinds
The woodwinds stand out with nuance and personality. Ocarinas, quenas, quenachos, zancas – each comes with expressive articulations, glides, and even sets of improvisations in all keys.
“Absolutely stunning. These woodwinds have that special X-factor – warm, emotional, and beautifully human.”
Some have a dusty, almost lo-fi aura, adding authenticity and character that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.
Percussion
29 percussion instruments cover the African, indigenous, and Hispanic roots of the region. From cajóns and congas to shakers, bells, and wood blocks – the palette is extensive.
The sounds themselves are vibrant, with great transient detail and texture. But dynamics are a bit limited, leaning toward “one-shotty” rather than deeply playable across the velocity range. Also missing are pre-made kits or loops, something that could have sped up workflow for newcomers.
“They sound really good, but I wish there were some ready-to-go kits to jump straight into.”
Still, the raw quality of the percussion is undeniable – with some sounds shining as mix-ready gems.
Sparks (Sound Design Elements)
As with previous Ethnic Orchestra entries, Sparks is the hybrid sound design category. These patches lean into cinematic drones, textures, and ambient atmospheres – great for underscoring.
They sound gorgeous:
“These are like S-tier – beautifully balanced, big but effortless, and fantastically done.”
The only frustration? Control. Elements are baked into just two layers, limiting customization. You may hear a sound you love but not be able to mute or emphasize specific parts. A future update (or an Evolutions-style expansion) with deeper layer control would make Sparks shine even brighter.
Pricing & Value
Like the rest of the series, Pacha lands at a surprisingly competitive price, even before intro discounts . Considering the scope, quality, and uniqueness of what’s offered, it’s hard to beat.
Final Thoughts
Pacha is another home run for Strezov Sampling. It captures the spirit of South America in a way no other virtual instrument currently does.
“Super, super impressive. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Yes, there are some limitations – percussion dynamics, missing pre-made kits, and Sparks’ lack of granular control – but the core instruments more than make up for it. The plucked strings and woodwinds alone are worth the price of admission, and the library as a whole is a unique, inspiring toolkit for composers across genres.
If you’re writing cinematic, folk, world, or hybrid scores – Pacha belongs in your collection.
Prefer video? 🎥✨
Want to hear Pacha in action and get my full first impressions? Check out the video review where I play through the instruments and share thoughts in real time.
👉 Full review: https://youtu.be/Bi6jAIDwZbQ
👉 ‘No talking’ edit: https://youtu.be/Tnl5kKxd078
