I find it takes a lot of work to get Dimension Strings sounding their best. A real string section has a different performance from each person, and I can't see a way to re-create that without recording a separate performance for each player. When I do that I think it's magical.

With a conventional string library, the natural variations amongst the musicians are already baked in. With DS that's not the case, so if you give everyone an identical MIDI track, it can sound like an orchestra of robots, as you are eliminating the natural variations between the players (such as timing, tuning and dynamics).

The Humanize controls are fantastic time-savers and the results are very impressive, but I think the best way to reproduce the sound of individual musicians is to record separate performances.

I'd love to get a Dimension orchestra together, with a different person playing each musician's part and see what it sounds like. I'd imagine it could be awe-inspiring.

@johnstaf said:

A real string section has a different performance from each person, and I can't see a way to re-create that without recording a separate performance for each player. When I do that I think it's magical.

With a conventional string library, the natural variations amongst the musicians are already baked in. With DS that's not the case

That is exactly right and why I don't understand this weird attack on Dimension - it is a unique library in all sampling systems yet done - there is nothing else like it -  and it became obvious to me the second I started using it the potential is huge, either using it alone or with the other VSL strings.  It is truly like having each player of a string ensemble in your own room, playing exactly what you want them to play, with all their individual differences.  And one may use separate tracks for each and every player, or just one track for all of them with humanize, so it has a lot of flexibility in how much you want to make of it.

@johnstaf said:

I'd love to get a Dimension orchestra together, with a different person playing each musician's part and see what it sounds like. I'd imagine it could be awe-inspiring.

Why not going one step further: When you program each part seperately it is still only one person (you) who makes the decisions, while in an orchestra each violin is played by an different human being. As a result of trying to get hyper-realistic you might end up to program violin 8 in a way you would not play it yourself - just for the sake of individualism.

So here's the idea: 25 users (at least) of the DS library collaborate in programming 1 piece of orchestral music. Tempo will be designated. Each user will do only one single instrument of te DS lib according to his individual taste. Result will be exported into a standard midi file, also the VI Pro matrix/performance will be saved. All individual tracks will be collected by one user who will put them together in his DAW setup and apply any kind of reverb.

I would be in.

@MassMover said:

Why not going one step further: When you program each part seperately it is still only one person (you) who makes the decisions, while in an orchestra each violin is played by an different human being. As a result of trying to get hyper-realistic you might end up to program violin 8 in a way you would not play it yourself - just for the sake of individualism.

So here's the idea: 25 users (at least) of the DS library collaborate in programming 1 piece of orchestral music. Tempo will be designated. Each user will do only one single instrument of te DS lib according to his individual taste. Result will be exported into a standard midi file, also the VI Pro matrix/performance will be saved. All individual tracks will be collected by one user who will put them together in his DAW setup and apply any kind of reverb.

I would be in.

Hi all
I opened this thread with a question
Things have changed and since I'm able to discover the Dimension Library and give answers to myself.  Further, I don't want to favour one VSL product against another. So I suggest closing this thread

My question and all demos triggered a lot of reactions here.
There were lots of constructive and positive posts but also some aggressive or provocative ones.
Those latter feedbacks show me that their users "are in love" with their VSL product. Fine!
A request from my side: Try to accept that other users are in love with other products and that they made other experiences with products than you... ;-)

So let us finally celebrate VSL and all their fantastic products which are giving us so many hours of joy and pleasure.

And thank you very much for your time and efforts.

Beat

@MassMover said:

So here's the idea: 25 users (at least) of the DS library collaborate in programming 1 piece of orchestral music. Tempo will be designated. Each user will do only one single instrument of te DS lib according to his individual taste. Result will be exported into a standard midi file, also the VI Pro matrix/performance will be saved. All individual tracks will be collected by one user who will put them together in his DAW setup and apply any kind of reverb.

I would be in.

[Y] Open a new thread and offer all the important things to start the experiment.

Offer a midifile and an address where we can send our results.

Beat

I will do that in a couple of days.

@Beat Kaufmann said:

Hi all
I opened this thread with a question
Things have changed and since I'm able to discover the Dimension Library and give answers to myself.  Further, I don't want to favour one VSL product against another. So I suggest closing this thread

My question and all demos triggered a lot of reactions here.
There were lots of constructive and positive posts but also some aggressive or provocative ones.
Those latter feedbacks show me that their users "are in love" with their VSL product. Fine!
A request from my side: Try to accept that other users are in love with other products and that they made other experiences with products than you... 😉

So let us finally celebrate VSL and all their fantastic products which are giving us so many hours of joy and pleasure.

And thank you very much for your time and efforts.

Beat

words words words but obviously no demo.

We'll have to decide on a piece for the Dimension Orchestra! Maybe we could include Dim Brass as well...

@Sam Harris said:

words words words but obviously no demo.

Hi Sam

Welcome in the World of VSL.

I couldn't understand your first post because I never thought that a first post can be so arrogant. Now I got the confirmation.

Though I asked for a demo - nobody did a biger demo than me:

If you want to have some more VSL-demos, vist this page: http://www.beat-kaufmann.com/demos/index.php

So I mean your two posts against me are far away from being fair. I'm keen on your performance here in the forum, my dear.

I hope to get more than copy and paste...

Beat

Hi Beat,

Just dropping by. After all these rather heavy posts just a very neutral (as possible) contribution: I have made a test with many elements of your request involved. No further commenting on this page, I prefer to leave this to other people as usual.
As simple as that, to fulfil your wishes.

Please follow this link to my blog and enjoy the comparison between 16 (!) tracks. There is more to come (a somewhat faster second half of the theme), so stay tuned.

And no, not any MIR here, again: at your service Beat 😊

[EDIT: added Chamber Strings]

Best,

Erik

Hello Erik

I only can say: Thank you very very much!

I will visit your Blog this weekend and carefully listen to all the examples.

[^] [^] [^] [Y] [Y] [Y] [H] [H] [H]

All the best

Beat

@John Melcher said:

...It's scored for 48 strings (12-12-10-8-6) and percussion (VSL Percussion). It uses a lot of quarter-tones.

Hi John

This piece sounds great. All these strings (divisi) sound like a new instrument and the "stringy" sound of the DS supports the monster-horror-feeling in a good way.

And I totally agree: The DS Library is perfect for this task.

Thanks for sharing this example.

I wish you a lot energy for bringing this monsterpiece to a happy end.

All the best

Beat

@nektarios - Why do you not want MIR Pro 24? I can understand you may want an unlimited MIR at a lower price, and I don't like having to pay about $350 or more to upgrade to MIR full when I only need a couple more channels of MIR, but MIR 24 works in a lot of situations. Of course DS has 25 instruments. :(

if you have Vienna Suite you can use that for everything else. 

Anyway, an old thread, but I thought it was a curious statement. 

@thenightwatch said:

Why do you not want MIR Pro 24?

Is this question for me?

Beat

Sorry Beat. That was meant for nektarios. Let me edit that. 

@thenightwatch I am seriously considering MIR 24. I am currently evaluating MIR PRO (few days left in the eval period), and so far I like it. I know it's gonna happen fairly soon: I will reach this limit of 24 and here comes more $$$ [:)]