Hello, Aric.
Using the same samples at the same time can lead to so-called phasing problems, when using two instances of the same instrument. (I'm still waiting for some of the specialists here to comment on when exactly they occur to what extent (see my post above).)
To circumvent them, one can send MIDI data transposed by one half-tone to VI (or whole-tone for the special edition; it is sampled in whole-steps) and then, inside VI, use the pitch bend in the opposite direction to "retune" them to the original (wanted) pitch. That way, another sample is used, and there are no phasing issues.
It is preferable to transpose up and pitch down (because otherwise the vibrato gets sped up) - at least this is what is recommended, as I recall.
In short: We want to hear C!
DAW: D ---to VI instance---> VI [uses D sample]: pitch down a whole step ---to DAW---> sounding C (but which is actually a D sample)
Ideally you would include a MIDI remapping tool in your signal chain (we still wanna hear C):
DAW: C ---transpose MIDI signal up a whole step when sending to VI instance ---> contine as above
The modification is just to ease the workflow, so you can enter the wanted pitches, without having to think about the transposition.
Bendings larger than a whole step are, I think, not recommended, so with the SE this trick will provide two additional "phasing free instances" of an instrument, whereas standard instruments will give you up to four (same proceedings but with half-steps).
-Lukas