Awesome - can't wait!

Hi, great programing, wonderful sound! Can you tell which libraries were used on this teaser? 

No problem, more or less Symhonic Cube stuff. Solo strings, Orchestral Strings, Woodwinds I+II, Brass I+II, with a few exceptions.

for example when the "Flutes" registration is on, a bass flute is part of this register.

Most of it could be realised with the Special Edition content, except the runs, which requires the fast performance-legato content.

best

Herb

Amazing how powerful the system becomes, I will be waiting for the release...

Best to you and your team
Andres 

Hello Billy,

Here are the links to the

Special Editions

Vienna Instruments PRO (Version 2 is in the pipeline).

Best,

Paul

Hi Paul,

Like all others I am greatly looking forward to the release of the new editions. A strange question perhaps, but would you be kind enough to share the name and model of the small additional keyboard used in the demo?

Please keep up the excellent work, you are in a legue of your own!

Regards,

Roy

Hi Roy, 

Thanks!

It´s a Doepfer LMK 4+ we´re using there. 

Best, 

Paul

 ...and the small keyboard is KORG Kontrol 49

best

Herb

 Paul,

Many thanks for the keyboard information.

Best regards,

Roy

To my ears, one of the least convincing demos I have ever heard from VSL. Sounds very synthetic INDEED.

I would prefer LESS features that automate composing, and MORE features that simplify library management, template management, controllers, patch changing flexibility etc etc.

It feels like all software development is headed towards the dumbing down of the user. Like the iPad. I cannot see any advantage with having chordal setups pre-programmed unless I am accompanying a singer on a cruise ship. Perhaps that's the audience now.

Really not impressed at all. Sorry.

One of the least impressive demos I have heard from VSL. Very synthetic sounding. Very non-useful features.

I would prefer greater flexibilty and refinements of the existing purpose of VSL. Better patch switching operations, easier template mangement, etc etc. And more resources devoted to better libraries (such as some REAL divisi recordings like LASS for example.)

I really do NOT need chords played out for me, or orchestrations suggested to me. Even pre-programming my own would have no use whatsoever unless I was accompanying a singer in a restaurant on a cruise ship. Perhaps that's the new audience for VSL.

Quite apart from that, it just sounds dreadful. Get real guys, have you forgotten what ortchetras sound like?

Sorry.

I agree 100%. Sounds like the organ at radio City in NYC. Hopfully VI Pro 2 will offer something other than this.

@Another User said:

Better patch switching operations, easier template mangement, etc

I agree! I was thinking the other day that it would be nice to switch the tuning scale across all instances, instead of having to do it to each VIP instance. I'd like time saving features for setting up or editing a template. I'd like ability to edit several things with one click, several instances, etc. I'd like most to be able to save time in editing out the performance. That doesn't mean I want a dumbed down, less flexible performance. I want as real as possible. I just want to have features that will take less time to get the same result (or an even better result!)

So while I see your concern with the video, I think it's too early to say anything... and the free upgrade will have wonderful features I'll enjoy having. But I wouldn't be complaining. If they asked for money for the upgrade, and didn't have the features to merit it, that'd be another story. But for free... I aint complaining! [;)]

-Sean

Hmm, all valid and balancing which is always a good thing. 

Free? Well, lets not forget that the features are all dependant on owning VSL libraries in the first place. The software is a vehicle for those products. And part of my comment was actually that I am ready and willing to spend more, on library improvements.

Of the more recent library developments I applaud the full choir, but we are seriously lacking proper divisi string recordings. And I have always wondered why VSL (and other libraries actaully) don't hire a second bunch of violinists to record a REAL second violin section. To me it is as important as recognizing the viola section. EQ just is not enough to create a convincing 2nd section. But beyond this, divisi WITHIN those sections too, is really needed. I think expectations from samples are still ahead (amongst the cognicenti at least) of what they can deliver acoustically at this time. By this I mean that the samples have still a way to go.

I for one would be happy to shell out for a whole new violin library, starting from the ground up. Something perghaps between the sizes of Appasionata and Orchestral Strings. We don't (at least I don't ) really need all the FX re-done. What we need are:

Easily switchable articulations (we have this, I just want it better, more of it, easier)

A variety of portamenti, not just one slightly over done option

Better programming of the above so that we don't get flashes of dissonance as samples crossfade

Legatos that endlessly sustain

Divisi (which can auto or not at users demand. Learn from LASS - it sounds pretty real, just unweildy to use)

Switchability between monophony and polyphony (perhaps integrated into a real auto divisi?)

Slightly more generous upper pitch range limits

Greater number of round robin samples for repetitions (4 is simply not enough. And it should be a prime number like 7 so we don't get repeitions of samples in phase with the beat, obvious when you think about it)

Legatos beyond the octave (and poratmenti too)

Legato trills and tremolandi  (with full dynamic ranges)

A real, actually different, 2nd Violin section with all the articulations of the 1st (including divisi)

Some sweeter pianissimo registers accross all articulations. It's still very hard to emulate what a real string section can do when you can hear a pin drop in the studio

What we do not desperately need: Surround recordings of sections, Multi microphone options, integrated reverb, harmonisation intelligence, millions of scale runs, crescendos (unless they auto timestretch, again think about VST 3.5 or midi clock or some way of controlloing their length in real time).

I know I am asking a lot. But really, I think VSL should recognize that we composers can simply get bored of using the same string sounds and widen our options (I know I have). A fresh "from the ground up" spanking new String Seciton. I would pay a grand for it if it did all of the above. At least.

Thx

Hi Paul,

good to meet you at the DV workshop in Clapham, London,

Looking forward to the release of all the new stuff, is there an ETA yet?

Best,

Nick

I agree that divisi is probably one of the most important things VSL can focus on right now. However, VSL may be doing that. Those recording and those programming the software aren't the same though, so who knows when what happens? Personally, my preference would be a more fully extended library and dimension strings. That would be amazing. That and any more improvements to save time (with the same results, as mentioned before)... I'd sell my everything but my soul for! lol Where as a violin II would be outdated by this point. I'd consider buying it... but why waste money on that when the inevitable divisi will have to happen?

Legato trills may not be recorded, but I think I have easily emulated the sound with what I have. Sweeter pianissimo? Yes, big time! Real-time time stretching is an amazingly wonderful idea, but I fear the computing is not ready for it. I'd rather have the option to time-stretch myself to the tempo's, this way I can find the best sounding one. Imagine creating 20 different patches via time stretch. What would be more easily accomplished would be by having these 20 new patches, and having the software choose which one based on the tempo of the peice. Less automatic stretching, more automatic choosing which articulation would be nice in that regard. Scale Runs and crescendo's help build a more natural sounding performance. The more the merrier, imo.

Anyway, aside from getting off-topic a bit. I'd say that if VI 2.0 or future developement focused on ways of improving the time it takes to get the same or better results, the better. That's what most of us seem to want. I agree that VI 2.0's demoing of the sequencer feature seems to show a simpler, dumbed down approach. However, I think there are still uses for it for someone wanting to maintain 100% flexibility with their library.

Either way, looking forward to seeing this on my computer. I only wish I had it last week! [:D]

-Sean

Hi Herb, 

This looks like another awesome development - but sorry to pester, but is the "CPU used when instrument off" issue going to be fixed in this coming release? Your team told me they hoped to be able to do so, no promises of course - but I wonder if there is any chance it will be done...?

Replying to iscore film - although VSL never seems to really let anyone know what is coming next until it's done, I venture a speculative guess that divisi strings with a twist is well on the way and probably nearly here. Give it a few months. Again, just a guess.

I have to disagree with previous post about harmonisation intelligence - I think that is an excellent feature especially as a massive time saver with dimension brass (and other dimension libraries to come). First time I tried it out with DB, I was like, oh yes this is an enormous time saver. Also VSL does things with long term vision and engineers things to last. Some of the features may seem a bit trite to you now but I expect they are there for a reason and will be more obvious once future libraries are released. These guys are Austrians remember. They know what they are doing ;) They are always building the platform. Other things I agree with on though, more libraries, more articulations ;)  and more pianissimo, this is something I also have thought of - but having said that, have you played around with using the dynamics and expression sliders and even a bit of the filter? You can use those in combination to greatly soften pianissimo samples both in tone and dynamic effect - in fact it goes all the way to silence.

The biggest developments for me besides the divisi / dimension type libraries has got to be a modulated hybrid MIR. I don't mean hybrid like a convolution stage added on to an algorithm stage, I mean a modelled reverb drawn from a static convolution captured from a real room, but that breathes like an algorithm simulating a real room. In other words, there is no convolution except that it is the starting point, for direct, SR and tail... That has to be the holy grail right now... instrument placement without the (for me) dreaded static convolution effect. Although I think the Star Wars demo was exceptionally convincing...

mpower88, 

I agree that it should be in the works. I don't doubt it. I just don't guess about when. I don't think any of the new features are bad, not at all. I only meant to state my preferences. I'm more in the middle, partially agreeing with the comments I responded to, partially liking what their doing. But ultimately, I won't know until I have VI-P 2.0 (Which I badly badly want right now! lol). The filter is good, also the muted string samples are good for pianissimo passages (and sometimes a combination of the two). I just hope Dimension Strings is as throrough, and hopefully more than the current offerings.

And yes, the Stars Demo's are incredibly convincing!

-Sean