Vienna Symphonic Library Forum
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  • Mixing & Mastering

    C
    C
    Hi all,
     
    I've been investing in VSL products for a while now and really enjoy using them.  However, when I produce orchestral music and export my mixes I find that they do not sound so clean, fresh and realistic as the demos on the VSL website.  I wonder if anyone can help me with this.
     
    I use these libraries:
     
    Solo Strings 1 & 2 SL
    Chamber Strings 1 SL
    Appassionata Strings 1 & 2 SL
    Harps SL
    Woodwinds 1 SL
    Brass 1 SL
    Percussion SL
    Vienna Imperial
    Synchron Steinway D FL
    MIR Pro 24
     
    I also use these mixing and mastering tools:
     
    Cakewalk SONAR X1
    Fabfiler Pro Mixing and Mastering bundle
    2C Audio Breeze 2 Reverb
     
    Take for example the first demo under the Harp 1 product on the VSL website.  This is called Sakura Concertino by Guy Bacos.  Can anyone help me understand how this demo was made?   Alternatively, has anyone been able to produce demos that sound as good?  If so can you tell me the steps you made, apart from the composition itself?
     
    Thanks for the help,

    Chris
  • DietzD
    VSL Team
    DietzD

    Hi Chris,

    many demos come with a complete set of "How To"-tutorial files. Just look out for those pieces with a red "Play" button. You'll see a "Download Tutorials"-link then just below the player.

    HTH,

    /Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library
  • C
    C

    Hi Dietz,

    That's great, I wasn't aware of this.  I will certainly take a look at some and see if I can reproduce.

    Many thanks,

    Chris
  • C
    C

    Hi Dietz,

    Ok, so I have been trying some of these tutorials.  Some of them come with Vienna Instruments files with the extension .fxp.  How are these opened in Vienna Instruments?

    Thanks!
  • DietzD
    VSL Team
    DietzD

    The *.fxp-files are meant to be loaded by VST2 plug-ins.

    HTH,

    /Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library
  • C
    C

    Hi Dietz,

    I don't quite understand? :-0.  All my Vienna Instruments products are running ok.  I use Cakewalk SONAR X1 which is able to open VST2 plug-ins.  Are you referring to any specific plug-in?

    Thanks,

    Chris
  • DietzD
    VSL Team
    DietzD

    Hi Chris,

    AFAICS the *.fxp files are in there for historic reasons (pre-VST3), mostly. They are meant to get loaded into individual Vienna Instruments instances.

    ... if you have specific questions we would have to get you in contact with the creator of the tutorial. I don't have the production details at hand, in most cases.

    Kind regards,

    /Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library
  • C
    C

    Hi Dietz,

    Ok, one tutorial I was looking at is called "Prayer - Cello & Piano" by Ernest Bloch.  The programming is by Jay Bacal and the tutorial says there are midi files and Vienna Instruments preset files.  The preset file I presume is the .fxp file though I don't see any way of opening this file in Vienna Instruments.

    Best Regards,
    Chris
  • DietzD
    VSL Team
    DietzD

    Hi Chris, 

    it needs a VST2-compatible host to open a *.fxp preset. An instance of Vienna Instruments opened in Cubase or Reaper (for example) will be able to access these settings via the DAWs own file management (see screenshot below).

    Kind regards,

    Image

    /Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library
  • C
    C

    Hi Dietz,

    Ok, I see how to open the .fxp file now via Cakewalk SONAR X1.  I cannot see a way to open them via VE though.  Presumably this is becausse VE is using VST3? 

    Regards,

    Chris
  • DietzD
    VSL Team
    DietzD

    VE Pro is using a proprietary plug-in format for its "built-in" tools, like VI, MIR Pro, MIR EQ, panner etc. 

    The tutorial you're referring to seems to be a quite old one, maybe released before the more recent versions of Vienna Ensemble ... I will ask Jay Bacal to chime in with the actual details! :-)

    Kind regards,

    /Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library
  • JBacalJ
    JBacalJ

    Hi Chris,

    The Bloch cello demo was created more than 10 years ago.   Sadly, the .fxb instrument preset file format seems no longer to be compatible with the current versions of the Vienna Instrument program.

    You can still learn a little from the midi file.  Notably, the frequent switching of articulations via keyswitches and the shaping of phrases with the midi Expression controller.

    More recent "tutorials" should use Vienna Ensemble compatible files.  I also included Cubase project files which will open the entire project.   No fuss, no muss.   You can download a free trial version of Steinberg's Cubase 10 from their website.

    Finally, I recommend checking out VSL's MIRx software.   It will instantly give you a more professional sound.  It's like having a world-class mixing engineer (Dietz) in a single plug-in.

    Happy experimenting and music making.

    Best wishes,

    Jay
  • DietzD
    VSL Team
    DietzD
    last edited
    last edited

    Thanks, Jay!

    @JBacal said:

    [...] Sadly, the .fxb instrument preset file format seems no longer to be compatible with the current versions of the Vienna Instrument program. [...]

    The workaround would be to use a VST2-host like Reaper or Cubase for loading the old .fxp-based settings and save them as Presets in the recent Vienna Instruments for further use. Cumbersome, no doubt, but doable. 😊

    /Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library
  • C
    C

    Hi Dietz & Jay,

    I will try this workaround.  Looks like I should be able to do it through SONAR X1.

    Regarding the MIRx mode for MIR Pro, I am only using the Synchron Stage venue.  Are MIRx presets now available for this venue?

    Regards,

    Chris
  • DietzD
    VSL Team
    DietzD
    last edited
    last edited

    @Another User said:

    Regarding the MIRx mode for MIR Pro, I am only using the Synchron Stage venue.  Are MIRx presets now available for this venue?

    No, not yet - sorry to say so.

    Kind regards,

    /Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library
  • C
    C

    Hi Dietz & Jay, I have another question about the preset and midi file, maybe you can help. The frequent switching via keyswitches I see is selecting the different articulations. However, for each articulation there appears to be only one or two keys that actually make a sound. Why is this? Best Regards, Chris
  • Beat KaufmannB
    Beat KaufmannB

    ...However, for each articulation there appears to be only one or two keys that actually make a sound. Why is this? Best Regards, Chris...

    Why do you want more keyswitches? I think it's great that we need only one command per articulation (tone outside the range of the instrument).

    Even though you have obviously been using VSL samples for a long time, this link might answer your question:

    followed then by this one:

    There are probably more tips on this site which could be helpfull on your way.

    All the best

    Beat

    - Tips & Tricks while using Samples of VSL.. see at: https://www.beat-kaufmann.com/vitutorials/ - Tutorial "Mixing an Orchestra": https://www.beat-kaufmann.com/mixing-an-orchestra/
  • C
    C

    Hi all,

    I have another question regarding the tutorials:  In demos that use Piano I see in most cases, that the midi is separated as right top, middle, bottom & left top, middle, bottom.  Why is this? 

    Regards,

    Chris
  • L
    L

    I see in most cases, that the midi is separated as right top, middle, bottom & left top, middle, bottom.  Why is this? 

    Most likely because it's been programmed from the score rather than played. Ease of organisation and dynamic control etc etc
  • C
    C

    Thanks Louis, I figured it would be some reason like this.