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  4. symphonic cube, or handpicked orchestra (e.g. incl. dimension series for brass and strings)

  • symphonic cube, or handpicked orchestra (e.g. incl. dimension series for brass and strings)

    R
    R

    Hello there!

    I am looking into purchasing the Cube (i am not much attracted to synchron series, sonically, they seem not as deeply sampled than the VI range.. maybe i am wrong?).
    The cube consists of several libraries, enough for most orchestral uses (although no piano oddly enough).
    But looking through the vi series, i also noticed: appassionata, dimension series. 

    The question rises: is the cube (full) a good pick? or should i go hand pick libraries and create my orchestra.
    e.g. swap chamber strings 1 and orchestra strings for dimension strings 1 and 2? same for brass 1 and 2 to dimension brass 1 and 2?

    what would you pick, and why?

    Ps. i own Spitfire Audio SSO (pro) and SCS (pro), Studio orchestra Pro, Appassionata string from SF, Chris Hein Orchestra Complete, CSS, etc etc..  not sure if it helps in the choice.. but just giving some additional info.

    Oh and i have Special Edition vol1 with plus (non synchron-ized), but i always felt it was sonically a bit lacking (maybe because of the sample limitations in SE series vs Full vi versions?)
  • GuinG
    GuinG

    Hello, Rogier.

    I never did the full math, but considering how upgrading from a solo instrument to a full pack can be done, I sense there isn't that much of a penalty of not going straight to it.

    Considering that, I'd probably recommend you to get a solo instrument library, and compare it with the Special Edition version and see if you still find it lacking on any aspect.

    By the way, were you using the Vienna Instruments, or the Vienna Instruments Pro player engine?
  • R
    R
    last edited
    last edited

    @Guin said:

    Hello, Rogier.

    I never did the full math, but considering how upgrading from a solo instrument to a full pack can be done, I sense there isn't that much of a penalty of not going straight to it.

    Considering that, I'd probably recommend you to get a solo instrument library, and compare it with the Special Edition version and see if you still find it lacking on any aspect.

    By the way, were you using the Vienna Instruments, or the Vienna Instruments Pro player engine?

    Hi Guin,

    thanks for your reply 😊

    I used (when i used SE1) the non pro player (the pro player was quite pricy back then). 
    with lacking i refer to a less deeper feeling, when listening to the e.g. full VI library demos, vs my own (using SE) and the SE website demos. I might have to do with the fact that the SE is using sample streching (whole tone samples), and the full libraries use half tone. Also lesser dynamic layers in the SE.
    Let alone the amount of articulations are lesser in SE (logically so)

    But, the SE comment was more a side comment in my original post. 
    the main question is about which route to go: cube or hand picked.
  • K
    K

    You can't go wrong with the Cube and at its current price it is an amazing value (VSL bundle savings are quite substantial). The combination of Orchestral, Chamber and Solo Strings gives you a lot of freedom to shape the sound.

    The Dimension libraries are very nice as well and provide lots of option for divisi. But a full Dimension orchestra is more expensive, not always as deeply sampled as the Cube (in particular the brass), the size of the string section is limited (8 vs. 14 violins), and generally you will need more resources (about a factor 2-4 more RAM, CPU, ...).

    The VI pro player is free now, but I would recommend to get at least a MIRx venue since this strongly improves the sound.
  • R
    R
    last edited
    last edited

    @Kai said:

    You can't go wrong with the Cube and at its current price it is an amazing value (VSL bundle savings are quite substantial). The combination of Orchestral, Chamber and Solo Strings gives you a lot of freedom to shape the sound.

    The Dimension libraries are very nice as well and provide lots of option for divisi. But a full Dimension orchestra is more expensive, not always as deeply sampled as the Cube (in particular the brass), the size of the string section is limited (8 vs. 14 violins), and generally you will need more resources (about a factor 2-4 more RAM, CPU, ...).

    The VI pro player is free now, but I would recommend to get at least a MIRx venue since this strongly improves the sound.

    Hi Kai,

    Thank you for your reply. 

    You mention that dimension series require more cpu power and ram. That's new for me. But something to take into consideration for sure.