I almost forgot:

7. What's the difference between Vienna Instruments I and Vienna Instruments II? This is very confusing to me. Are these the same as the Cube? Does the Cube have the Performance Tool? And what, if any, relation, does any of this have with the Opus Bundle, which I already have?

8. Considering I am already and Opus Bundle user, is there a great discount I should know about?

Thanks for the further questions....
S

Hi Stephen, I'll try to answer some of your questions!

The Performance Tool is a separate VSL MIDI application which controls 'performance legatos', repetitions and alternations in VSL's Pro Edition and Horizon Series sound libraries. It was designed to work with samplers such as Logic EXS24 and GigaStudio, but isn't necessary with Kontakt 2 because the Perf Tool's functions are replicated using Kontakt's MIDI scripting facilities. Kontakt users therefore don't have to worry about the Performance Tool.

The Pro Edition and Horizon Series represent the first stage of VSL's output and are now on their way to becoming obsolete. Both are 16-bit sound libraries which work with GigaStudio, EXS24 and Kontakt:

1. The Pro Edition is a big 250GB orchestral library comprising Strings, Brass & Woodwinds and Percussion volumes (collectively known as the 'Orchestral Cube'), plus the 'Performance Set' which contains all the perf legatos and repetitions for those instruments. The whole shooting match is referred to by VSL as the 'Complete Orchestral Package', although it isn't complete.

2. The Horizon Series is a set of themed titles aimed at those who couldn't afford the Pro Edition or didn't need all its instruments. Some of the its titles are quite specialist ('French Oboe'), but 'Epic Horns', 'Solo Strings' and 'Chamber Strings' have been popular. There is some overlap between the Horizon Series and the Pro Edition, but the samples on 'Glass & Stones', 'Saxophones', 'Concert Guitar' and 'Overdrive' (heavy rock guitar) are not found in the Pro Ed.

3. Vienna Instruments represent the second phase of VSL's drive towards world domination. They are not sound libraries - the Vienna Instrument is a clever virtual instrument designed by VSL. The old Performance Tool software is built into the VI player and operates behind the scenes, so users don't have to worry about that any more (phew). The samples are 24-bit, but there's no big difference between the VI samples and the older 16-bit samples - both sound great IMHO.

The first ten Vienna Instrument collections are:

SOLO STRINGS
CHAMBER STRINGS
ORCHESTRAL STRINGS I
ORCHESTRAL STRINGS II
HARPS
WOODWINDS I
WOODWINDS II
BRASS I
BRASS II
PERCUSSION

These are collectively known as the SYMPHONIC CUBE, which we're told incorporates the entire Pro Edition in 24-bit form plus a huge amount of new material.

'Vienna Instruments II' are the second wave of VI collections, comprising 'Appassionata Strings' (big lush string sections, very popular with VSL users), more specialist and rare orchestral instruments, keyboards, the excellent 'Elements' (an expanded version of the Horizon serite 'Glass & Stones') and non-orchestral instruments such as saxophones.

Although some of the VI names sound confusingly similar to Horizon Series titles, the VI collections are bigger and much more comprehensive - for example the 'Saxophones' VI has four instruments where the Horizon 'Saxophones I' had only two. They also offer a lot of new articulations.

The 'Special Edition' is a compilation drawn from the Vienna Instruments collections. It has a very complete instrumentation and seems like a good way for new VSL users to test the water. All the Vienna Instrument collections (including SE) include the VI player, which works standalone or as a plug-in.

The best way to compare the contents of these titles is to go to PRODUCTS on this site, then select PRO EDITION, HORIZON SERIES, VIENNA INSTRUMENTS I or VIENNA INSTRUMENTS II. You'll then see all the individual volumes / titles listed on the left hand side - click on them to check on their instrumentation and articulations.

Good luck!

Hi Stephen [:)],

and thanks for answering, Conquer!!

I´d like to add that you do get a massive discount when upgrading to the Special Edition, which contains more instruments and sections (2[H] and also gives you a great overview of the Vienna Instruments Collections.

As you already licensed OPUS 1, you are elligible to upgrade to the Special Edition Full Library (Standard and Extended Library) for the price of the Standard Library (445 $) plus 60$ for the Extended Library. All in all 505$. You will also need a Vienna Key, if you don´t already own a Syncrosoft protection device, e.g., for Cubase.

This will give you 75.000 samples in 24 bit quality, more instruments than you already use in OPUS 1&2 AND the Vienna Instruments player - take a look at the Articulation Lists you find next to the product description here to compare the content.

If you need more articulations for the different sections and instruments, the "big" VI collections will be the right way to go.
We have chosen similar names for the VI collections, as they are the logical next step from the sample libraries (Pro Edition and Horizon Series).

You can easily calculate your individual pricing with our Discount Calculator (don´t forget to log in in the lower left corner!).

With the Vienna Instruments, you will find a Standard Library and an Extended Library (which containes more articulations). When you license a Standard Library, you will be provided with a Demo Mode for the respective Extended Library, so that you can find out whether you will need the Extended Library.

Hope that helps!

Best,

Paul

If you have Opus Bundle, you can buy the Pro Edition at a very reduced price and, consequently, the VI Cube at a bit more than half price.

If you are not in a hurry, I guess that the future Close-Out of VI Cube will be equally advantegous if you already own the Pro Edition.

The abandonware appears a wise alternative to the compulsive shopping...

[;)]

[Sorry, I accidentally posted this reply as a new thread a few minutes ago -- please ignore that! -- The morning coffee hadn't kicked in yet... [:D] ]

Thanks so much to all for answering!

So, to summarize my understanding of what you've said:

1. I'm thinking of getting the Special Edition. Where the Special Edition and my Opus 1/2 overlap (in terms of instrument titles), are these the same files, except 24 versus 16 bit? Or are the SE instruments actually different samples? How much overlap is there?

2. I see that the Appassionata Strings are included as "bonus files" in the SE package. Do these bonus files comprise the ENTIRE Appassionata Strings package? How much more (articulations, etc.) is included in the separate Appass. Strs. package?

3. Is the entire Epic Horns package included in the SE? That had been one set I was thinking of buying separately.

4. It appears as though the Harp offerings in SE aren't as extensive as the separate Harps package in the Horizon line. Is that true?

I suppose the most important question is #1, above... since I love the Opus Bundle I already have, I really need to be able to justify any amount of overlap if I move to the SE.

Thanks so much!

Steve Main

Hi Stephen,

I don't own much of the Horizon series. I do however own the complete old Cube & Performance Set, the complete new Cube and the SE.

The main reasons to get the SE are #1 - the Vienna Instruments interface. It's awesome, especially compared to how we used to have to work - and #2 - the additional instruments, which are quite usable, i.e., Appassionata, Saxaphones, Epic Horns, etc.

However, these additional instruments like the rest of their brothers in SE package are only subsets of what's available in the full package of each of them.

I can't stress enough how much difference the new Vienna Instruments GUI will make in your workflow.

So it's summer in SF. You must be cold. Don't worry, it'll warm up in November or you can just go to Oakland.

Best regards,
Jack

@Another User said:

I really need to be able to justify any amount of overlap if I move to the SE.

There is overlap, but SE has a much more complete instrumentation at a fair price and contains the excellent new Vienna Instrument, which is the way forward for VSL - I imagine all their products from now on will run on that engine.

If sample overlap is a sticking point I suggest you wade through the respective articulation lists available here (maybe print them out for ease of comparison) to see exactly how much is duplicated. I doubt another user would have time to do that for you!

One thing worth bearing in mind - if you buy the SE extended version you will have a complete orchestra (with several alternate solo instruments, wind and brass ensembles and three different string section sizes), saxophones, keyboards and two guitars. No important instruments are missing and some rare ones are included, so you will be able to tackle a full orchestral score. The same can't be said for the Opus bundle.[/quote]

Thanks, Conquer!

So, a quick question -- as you said, only part of the Epic Horns package is on SE -- so, I could go pick up the original EH, and run it in Kontakt like I do with the Opus files, or get the stripped-down EH offerings in SE.

Or, is there a version of EH that I can buy that will run in the new Vienna Instrument (that comes with SE). For that matter, if I bough the full version of App. Strs. separately, can that run also in the VI?

I'm really tempted by the price of EH, and I love its huge sound -- I don't want to miss that in SE ..... what's your advice?

Hi Steve.

@Another User said:

>I'm really tempted by the price of EH, and I love its huge sound -- I don't want to miss that in SE ..... what's your advice?

EH is often praised by VSL fans and it's safe to say it's one of their most popular titles. I think it's a classy, powerful and versatile French horn section - to get the best out of it you definitely need the full version. (To make it sound 'cinematic' you'll need a decent reverb.) Check the price of the Horizon version online, you might be entitled to a discount by virtue of owning the Opus bundle.

If it's a question of either / or, I'd buy the SE, which will give you a good overview of much of VSL's huge collection, including the Epic Horns. If certain instruments stand out, you could then consider buying their full version, but keep an eye out for future availabilities - I believe the Pro Edition will be discontinued in September this year.

I just finished installing Pro Edition (what a piece of library!) and fiddled a bit either with it and VI SE: same patch (Performance legato violins), no audible differences between 16 and 24 bit.

The big innovation (at least for Mac users) stays in the AU plug-in, far more friendly than the old EXS-24 Performance Tool.

But I'm sure that with a limited budget I did the wisest thing buying Pro Ed, no regrets.

Next move? Appassionata, no doubts.

[;)]

Boy, once again I'm confused by Vienna's product names.... So, Coqui, I just looked on the VSL site for "Pro Edition" and see that it doesn't actually exist -- because it takes me to a page with many products, each of which has a "Pro Edition" version....

And, once again, I'm filled with millions of questions.... like, how much overlap is there between the Pro Edition and the Opus 1/2 I've got now?

And also, does any of this Pro Edition (whatever that seems to mean) work in Kontakt? It appears not, since at the top of the page I see "Tascam, Gigastudio," etc. but no Kontakt.

Ah, confusing questions!

[:D]

@stmain said:

Boy, once again I'm confused by Vienna's product names.... So, Coqui, I just looked on the VSL site for "Pro Edition" and see that it doesn't actually exist -- because it takes me to a page with many products, each of which has a "Pro Edition" version....

And, once again, I'm filled with millions of questions.... like, how much overlap is there between the Pro Edition and the Opus 1/2 I've got now?

And also, does any of this Pro Edition (whatever that seems to mean) work in Kontakt? It appears not, since at the top of the page I see "Tascam, Gigastudio," etc. but no Kontakt.

Ah, confusing questions!

[:D]

My pro edition WW translated very well from Giga to K2. Only 2 instrument will have to be remapped out of ...hmmm? Lots of instruments. [:D] I would not try to translate the performance set though. Will translate the brass real soon.

The main benefit for me to go from Opus to Pro is that the samples are chromatically sampled which sound better, more professional. Second, you get more articulations like dynamics for sustain, trills etc.


Look again on there shop to understand the difference between pro etc.. All the info is there. The pro edition is the name given by volume like Pro edition strings, pro edition Brass & WW etc.. Orchestral Cube means all pro editions(strings, brass & WW, percussions). The orchestral Package includes the Orchestral Cube and the performance set.

@Anonymous Joe said:

The main benefit for me to go from Opus to Pro is that the samples are chromatically sampled which sound better, more professional. Second, you get more articulations like dynamics for sustain, trills etc.

Tons of articulations: the user manuals of the Pro Cube and Performance Set weigh approx 1 kg.
It's amazing: in Pro Edition one has an articulation for practically everything, you can do almost everything a real orchestra can do.

I had read the Pro specs in this website, but I couldn't figure such a cornucopia...

[:)]

Okay, thanks.

So, if I want to save money and have as many options as possible, AND I still want to work in Kontakt (for the time being, anyway), then maybe in addition to Opus 1/2, which I own, I should have

1. Epic horns (which works in Kontakt, because it's Horizon)
2. Solo strings (because it has the perf-leg sounds that the solo strings in Opus 1/2 don't have, and it works in Kontakt)
3. Maybe harps, because it has more techniques than the harp in Opus 1/2, and it works in Kontakt.

Then the next stop, in the future, might be Appassionata Strings, which I understand DOESN'T work in Kontakt.

I guess my point is: I should get the 3 above because they'll augment Opus 1/2 nicely in terms of articulations, and the work in Kontakt. My sense is that the SE has even fewer articulations than Opus 1/2, and so I'd be stepping backward if I got just SE.

Steve

@stmain said:

Okay, thanks.

So, if I want to save money and have as many options as possible, AND I still want to work in Kontakt (for the time being, anyway), then maybe in addition to Opus 1/2, which I own, I should have

1. Epic horns (which works in Kontakt, because it's Horizon)
2. Solo strings (because it has the perf-leg sounds that the solo strings in Opus 1/2 don't have, and it works in Kontakt)
3. Maybe harps, because it has more techniques than the harp in Opus 1/2, and it works in Kontakt.

Then the next stop, in the future, might be Appassionata Strings, which I understand DOESN'T work in Kontakt.

I guess my point is: I should get the 3 above because they'll augment Opus 1/2 nicely in terms of articulations, and the work in Kontakt. My sense is that the SE has even fewer articulations than Opus 1/2, and so I'd be stepping backward if I got just SE.

Steve

I think we're on the same boat.

Please let me know where you get the solo strings as they are discontinued and hard to find?

@Anonymous Joe said:

The main benefit for me to go from Opus to Pro is that the samples are chromatically sampled which sound better, more professional. Second, you get more articulations like dynamics for sustain, trills etc.

Tons of articulations: the user manuals of the Pro Cube and Performance Set weigh approx 1 kg.
It's amazing: in Pro Edition one has an articulation for practically everything, you can do almost everything a real orchestra can do.

I had read the Pro specs in this website, but I couldn't figure such a cornucopia...

[:)]

Agreed, and just learned a new word there. [:D]