Well, the Opus 2 looks pretty cool -- definitely missed the B Cl and C Bsn perf-leg instruments in Opus 1 -- but it doesn't seem to be too great a jump for those of us travelling the slow road to the complete orchestral package... But then again, the price is pretty good, and probably worth it, if only for the extra perf-leg instruments and the muted brass stuff. Next time I have some dough to play with I'll probably be picking this one up!

One thing I'm genuinely curious about, though, is whether Opus 2 will properly 'complete' the winds and brass in Opus 1? As it stands, the B Cl, and C Bsn (and also the C Tb) are all basically 'keyboard splits' with the Cl, Bsn and Tb, respectively -- even for the articulations represented, these instruments are not there in a complete range, but rather share their upper registers with the higher-range instruments. Will Opus 2 "fill out" these low-register instruments, or will they remain pretty much unchanged?

All-in-all it's pretty nice, but I'd rather it were closer in price to Opus 1 but contained more of the Pro Edition content (e.g., the proper cre and dim samples, to fill-out Opus 1's pfps, and so on), and no "bonuses". The bonuses are kind of cool, but don't really add any value, in my case. I'm kind of old school that way -- I don't want bits and pieces, just fully integrated instruments.

J.

I agree,
in fact the more I think of it, and the more I think that Opus 2 has somehow "missed the boat", at least in my opinion.
Of course there are interesting things in it, but the "bonus strategy" is just frustrating, because :
- either you only have a taste, and the only way to really get the whole thing is to buy the whole libraries,
- or you already have the libraries and you just pay the same samples twice.
So I do think that a "real" Opus 2 should have been to align with the Pro package, by applying the same politics (half the samples, but as many articulations as possible)

This looks jummy... [:O] I was on the fence about Opus 1... but now I have made my decision. The BUNDLE it will be.

(first... let's check if my creditcard will accept further big buys...)

I'm learning Giga... will be a VSL user soon... and am very happy with this all.

@sirbellog said:

I[...] "bonus strategy" [...] you just pay the same samples twice. [...]

Uh - a "bonus" is just that: additional material for free; you don't pay for it. Opus 2 wouldn't be cheaper without them. We just thought some of our customers would find it interesting and (hopefully) usefull.

/Dietz

dietz,

some of your customers definitively do [:D] !

@sirbellog said:

I agree,
- either you only have a taste, and the only way to really get the whole thing is to buy the whole libraries,

I don't agree with this. if indeed the basic single note articulations of all these libraries are included, that's extremely nice and useful and in my opinion much more than a "bonus". actually, like in opus 1 i would rather consider part of the rest (runs and fast repetitions) as "bonus files".

since opus 2 is also announced as an addition to the the first edition, i wonder whether the chromatic sampling concept is still fully retained (hopefully)?

@sirbellog said:

I agree,
- either you only have a taste, and the only way to really get the whole thing is to buy the whole libraries,

I don't agree with this. if indeed the basic single note articulations of all these libraries are included, that's extremely nice and useful and in my opinion much more than a "bonus". actually, like in opus 1 i would rather consider part of the rest (runs and fast repetitions) as "bonus files".

since opus 2 is also announced as an addition to the the first edition, i wonder whether the chromatic sampling concept is still fully retained (hopefully)?

I agree, these 'bonuses' actually do add value (though I can understand owners of these complete packages consternation). Much more so than the runs - but I have never been a fan of runs. I have no experience of the VSL runs, but in the past I have never found much use for these sorts of things - ever since the days of hardware synths. They are either in the wrong tempo, end or begin on the wrong note, and obviously cannot be manipulated chromatically in the middle of the run... this is a bit OT, but anyone who feels differently about sampled runs and uses them frequently, I would certainly like to hear from you.

You know what I really miss in Opus2 that would have made my day beyond anything else? The Finger tremolos! Those alone would have made the value of the collection for me. [:'(] [[;)]]

my apologies for another delay - at least the product info and articulation list is available from the product page
christian

I should make an adjustment and apology for my last post. Actually, the solo strings "bonuses" are really much more than just bonuses... they are very significant bonuses! I happen to be a Solo Strings owner, so they don't do anything for me, that's all. And I should have made that clear in my original post -- sorry folks.

For my purposes it's still going to be tough to justify the money... kind of sad, but I understand the idea behind the package, and you can't please everyone. I would certainly say that the Opus bundle is a great set for anyone getting started with VSL.

J.

Thanks for the kind words, J.

/Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library

Now that the articulations list is available I also have mixed feelings. It seems like a great package for the people who have the Opus1 and little or no other libraries. It also seems to have a balance which doesn't irritate any "full" product owners. Still I'm slightly disappointed for the fact that I can't justify getting it. A lot of different VSL instruments for a reasonable price is more than tempting, but it really doesn't have anything that I don't have covered already or that isn't too limited to tempt me. Opus1 is a great package, so great that many First/Pro Edition felt betrayed because Opus1 buyers got so much for so little money. I was hoping that Opus2 had the same WOW impact in relation to the Horizon series even if it would have meant a higher price (to a limit of course). Horizon series owners could have gotten a discount for the Opus2. If someone has most or all of the Horizon libraries then he/she most likely isn't interested in limited versions and doesn't have to be concerned about the cost.

This is just my initial reaction and I might get the Opus2 eventually. Especially the demos can have an effect. I wish that every Opus2 instrument is included in the demos and that there will be solos for many of them. I just wanted to share my point of view and I hope that VSL sells great amount of Opus2. Even a difficult customer is always right as he/she has the money and the power to decide where to use it. [[;)]]

@Another User said:

Originally posted by janila
Now that the articulations list is available I also have mixed feelings.

I agree with you, janila. Especially the fact that all us Opus 1 users end up paying an extra $200 total (Opus 1 and 2) more than people without Opus 1 as of now. Too bad there isnt an upgrade or something of the like ... *hint* *hint*...

Yes, as an existing Opus1 user I also have mixed feelings about the price of Opus2 alone compared to the bundle. I would like to understand the policy towards this decision.

@mathis said:

Yes, as an existing Opus1 user I also have mixed feelings about the price of Opus2 alone compared to the bundle. I would like to understand the policy towards this decision.

At leat your purchase would be put towards the future cost of the Pro Edition. If I want to buy Opus (for use on a laptop) I have to pay the full price, in other words pay for the use of samples that I already have a licence to use [:(]

DG

there comes a time when manufacturers have to make a decision: either never update their products, or annoy some of their current customers. Complaining about the raw deal original Opus1 customers are getting is kind of like complaining that computers are getting more powerful and cheaper.

When you pay a "premium" for being an early Opus1 user, what you are really paying for is the time you're getting to use it when nothing else is available. Saying new Opus1 customers are getting a better deal is wrong - because they haven't been using the program the whole time you have. Tech products are worth more when they're new. Given this, everyone has to decide themselves when to make the plunge, and then you can't look back. There are always going to be better deals in the future!

...just another opinion.

.....metrobot, you aren't helping. heh [:)]

This is great! I have NO complaints. Thanks to VSL for putting together such a great package.

I have one question: WHEN WILL IT SHIP???

Thanks.

Bill

@Omega said:

.....metrobot, you aren't helping. heh [:)]

er, uh, what I meant was, just what Omega said! Yah, that's it! [[;)]]

@Another User said:

WHEN WILL IT SHIP?

We will ship in Europe starting this week. In the rest of the world it will take another 2 weeks.

Hope you can wait that long [:D]
Anna

@Another User said:

Originally posted by metrobot
er, uh, what I meant was, just what Omega said! Yah, that's it!

Much better. [:D]

@mathis said:

Yes, as an existing Opus1 user I also have mixed feelings about the price of Opus2 alone compared to the bundle. I would like to understand the policy towards this decision.

At leat your purchase would be put towards the future cost of the Pro Edition. If I want to buy Opus (for use on a laptop) I have to pay the full price, in other words pay for the use of samples that I already have a licence to use [:(]

DG

Why the problem though? You can simply install only the samples included in Opus1 into your laptop, and voila!

------------------------------

As a bundle the two Opus packages make a very nice collection (one that I will certainly seek to get), but certainly in value per dollar Opus1 greatly exceeds Opus2. From the first I heard of it, it was instantly apparent that Opus1 was an excellent collection - really, my compliments on the difficult choices of what to include - it is a very well thought out plan. A fully functional VSL orchestra collection all on its own.
That said, it is obvious that Opus2 could only be 'addons' so to speak, since the basics were all superbly covered already. Perhaps this selection is an even harder task, since now we get into what else would each individual user like to have in addition to what is already there?