Vienna Symphonic Library Forum
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  • VSL Special Edition questions

    This is my first post, so I would like to say hello to all :) HELLO! Well, I've been poking about the possibility of buying the VSL SE library but I have some doubts. I can't find any "search" option on the forum so I can't find the answers myself. What's the difference between one SE instrument fully updated and its DVD editon? For example Violin Solo. I've read something about not having the same amount of samples per velocity (3 instead of 5) and notes being sampled every 2 semitones instead of every 1 tone, but I couldn't find any official information about this. Thank you!

  • Well Basically difference as far i reckognized are

    • Less articulations (this information is available on internet pages)
    • Less Velocity Layers (not necesarely 3 instead of 5 - this varies from instrument to instrument). This information is available the Manuals - which will onfurtunately only be available after purchase, but i am pretty sure support can help you there
    • Less Samples (semitones as written by you) This information can be extracted from Library Manuals (by having number of samples and range of the instrument - however this will not work for legato samples)
    • Eventually (just guessing while analyzing my Lib manual) there could be also a difference in alternations

  • I’m not quite sure if I understand you right, do you mean the difference between the Solo Strings of the Special Ed. DVD version and the SE Download Version, or do you mean the difference between the SE Solo Strings and the Full Vienna Instrument "Solo Strings"? Between the first, there is no difference, but the diffence between the second is enormous (50.000 Samples compared to 107.000).

  • Thank you for the reply. I'm still trying to decide what to buy. I can't understand why the manuals are not on-line to be checked by potential buyers. I usually read the manuals of all things I buy before buying them, so I can read and compare all the features. By the way, does anyone know where to find the best price for the SE complete (Standard + extended + Plus also extended)? Cheers

  • massMover, I meant the difference between Special Ed. and DVD versions. I think it's not only a matter of knowing how many samples are missing, but what are those extra samples used for. It's more clear now, I read more information in other threads. I found the search option! :) It didn't work well with Firefox (only works by clicking on the search square with the mouse, not by pressing the intro key, so I thought id didn't worked).

  • Also have a look at this thread: http://community.vsl.co.at/forums/t/27132.aspx

  • Actually I'm following it already, thank you :)

  • There are some useful articles on the 'Sound on Sound' forum

  • One other difference not yet mentioned is: for the full libraries, the extended versions offer different articulations, while for SE, the extended versions offer different instrument sets (woodwind ensembles, chamber strings, etc.).  With SE, the "SE Plus" versions add additional articulations. 

    Overall, the "Plus" versions of SE really help to round out the basic SE packages, and provide a number of very helpful additional articulations.

    IMO, SE is a great place to start (that is all I own), though for those who are absolutely certain that VSL is their future, a case can be made for going straight to the full libraries.  For those of us with more limited resources, the SE libraries are a great value for what you receive.


  • Thanks all for the info. I have a Synchrosoft key from Cubase. I would use it to store VLS licenses as well. I'm thinking about buying the SE standard version, and building from that if things go right. If I understand correctly, once I installed the SE standard version, I will have 30 days to test the Extended version? Will I have time to test the Plus libraries as well? I read somewhere that demo licenses only worked for the Vienna key. Cheers

  • As far i know (and experienced) Plus can not be tested if you just buy Special Edition

    However if you buy Plus you can also test the Plus Extended

    These Tests are also possible if you don't have the Vienna Key as you purchased the Standard Articulations already.


  • I have a lot of VSL DL instruments and the PLUS versions of the SE and EXTENDED libraries.  I also own Appassionata Strings boxed DVD set.  I don't a lot of differences between SE Appass and the separate package but I'm glad I own it anyhow.  At some point, I'm going to buy BRASS II on DVD because I want all of the Epic Horns 


  • As far as I understand the demo licence system, you can test all libraries regardless if you bought them or not if you own not just any synchrosoft dongle, but the original vienna key. If you have a friend who has a DVD library you should be able to install it and then run it for 30days, maybe this even works if you copy the files of download-instruments from one harddisk to another. I don’t know what else should be the intention of VSL to put all available demo-licences on any key they sell.

  • Thank you for the replies. Unfortunately I don't know anyone who could lend me a copy of the libraries to try them with a new Vienna key. I'm really impressed by the demos of Appassionata Strings! I'm thinking about buying the DVD SE standard version (to have a bit of everything) along with Appasionata Strings ST ED. Later I might add Plus for the SE Strings (I need to experiment with those wonderful repetitions...), and maybe Soprano choir. I'm not trying to use the libraries to simulate a real orchestra, but to blend orchestral colours and emotions with other styles of music. I'm just in to learn and experiment... Do you think it's a good combination? Any suggestion? Thanks and cheers!

  • Yes, I think, the Appassionata Strings and some chunks of the SE is a great combination for the beginning.

  • You don't need friends anymore ;)

    http://community.vsl.co.at/forums/p/27222/178049.aspx#178049


  • Thanks for the link gabriel81, that looks amazing! Had I known about it before... Last Saturday I already ordered the Special Edition at Thomann, they have very good prices for all the VSL libraries. I wish they had the same prices here, so I would buy directly from Vienna.