Spitfire Audio’s free LA Atmos Labs instrument brings you the “beating heart” of Los Angeles in a plugin

Los Angeles has a special place in the hearts of many musicians - mere mentions of Laurel Canyon, Sunset Strip and Compton are enough to trigger strong emotional responses - and now Spitfire Audio has attempted to capture the sound and vibe of the city in its latest free Labs instrument.

LA Atmos was recorded on the streets of Los Angeles by the team behind non-profit LA radio station dublab, and promises to capture its “beating heart”. 

Inspired by musique concrete techniques, it’s powered by field recordings of everything from crickets and crowds to sirens and helicopters, all warped and manipulated to create both melodic and percussive soundscapes.

As with all Labs instruments, there’s a simplified control set that enables you to tweak the sounds.

Find out more and download LA Atmos on the Spitfire Audio website. Labs runs on PC and Mac in VST/AU/AAX formats.

Ben Rogerson

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it. 

Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects… image
Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects…
…with the latest issue of Computer Music magazine