Free music and stage layout blocks for AutoCAD (DWG): orchestra seating, instruments, PA, studio

About the sizes

Instruments and stage equipment are not standardised, so the blocks use the sizes that makers commonly list: a concert grand 2740 mm long, a baby grand 1500 mm, timpani 23 to 32 inch, a 1830 x 610 mm choir riser section, a 1000 x 1000 mm conductor podium, a five-octave marimba 2600 mm wide. Check them against the data sheets of your instruments and equipment before you rely on them.

The blocks are our own drawings, not copies of any catalogue, and the library is not certified. They are meant to plan the arrangement and count items, not to show that a venue meets acoustic, fire, accessibility or safety rules. Take sightlines, riser heights and guard rails, rigging loads, power and noise limits from the rules that apply to your site and from the equipment makers' guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Which items are in the library?

Strings, woodwinds and brass, percussion, keyboards and organs, stands, podiums and seating, choir and acoustics, sound system, stage lighting, recording and control rooms, 16 room and stage layouts and 6 markers. Stage platforms, one grand and one upright piano, PA boxes, a mixing desk and a DJ booth are also in the event venue library; theatre stage machinery, curtains and auditorium seating are not part of this one.

Can I get an input list or a lighting schedule from the drawing?

Yes. Every block carries SIZE, MANUFACTURER, MODEL and QTY as invisible attributes, ensemble positions carry PART, PLAYERS and MIC, audio equipment carries CHANNELS and POWER_KW, and lighting fixtures carry WATTAGE_W, DMX_ADDRESS, CHANNEL, COLOUR and POSITION. Fill them in the attribute editor, export the blocks with BlockSync and sort by section or by hanging position. The sample values are placeholders, not manufacturer data.

Can I use the symbols in commercial projects?

Yes. They are free to use and modify in your own projects, including commercial ones. They are provided as is, without warranty.

How is this different from the event venue library?

The event venue library covers what a hall needs for any event: tables and chairs, stage platforms, a PA box, a mixing desk, a DJ booth, one piano and a drum kit. This library goes into the music itself: each instrument family with its player, orchestra and band layouts on arcs, choir risers, acoustic treatment, front-of-house and monitor positions, lighting rigs and recording rooms. The two use the same sizes and the same look, so you can mix them in one plan.

Can I change a symbol or add attributes?

Yes. Open the DWG, edit a block with BEDIT to change it or add attributes, and save. To update drawings that already contain the block, run ATTSYNC or replace the block. Make a backup first: attribute values can be lost if ATTSYNC is used carelessly.

Where do I find a ready-made set of these symbols for AutoCAD?

AutoCAD itself ships only a small set of sample blocks, so a full symbol set has to come from a library. Download the ZIP on this page and open the DWG: every symbol is a block. Insert one with INSERT (Blocks palette, Libraries tab, then pick the DWG) or drag it from DesignCenter (ADCENTER). You can also download a single symbol on its own.