Definition of Orchestra hit
An orchestra(l) hit or stab is an isolated staccato note or chord synthesized from the sounds of many orchestral instruments together, or sampled from a single sforzando performance. The orchestra hit sound was propagated by the use of early samplers, particularly the Fairlight CMI's ORCH2 sample. The sound is used in pop, hip hop, jazz fusion, techno, and video game genres to accentuate passages of music.
The orchestra hit has been identified as a "hip hop cliché". In 1990, Musician magazine stated that Fairlight's ORCH5 sample was "the orchestral hit that was heard on every rap and techno-pop record of the early 1980s". The orchestra hit has been described as popular music's equivalent to the Wilhelm scream, a sound effect widely used in film.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Orchestra hit?
An orchestra(l) hit or stab is an isolated staccato note or chord synthesized from the sounds of many orchestral instruments together, or sampled from a single sforzando performance.