VI SE has a more friendly GUI, less articulations but more instruments (but with basic articulations only: no trills nor repetitions) than Opus.

IMO, if you don't need a résumé of extra instruments like saxophones, cembalo or electric guitar, you possiblly don't need SE and can keep going with Opus in the months to come.

If, on the other hand, you aim, to say, to a trendy, cinematic strings sound, the right choice is Appassionata, not SE.

it is essential a clear vision to start from (unless you have a wealthy wallet and can disregard the economic aspect of the question).

[;)]

Hi Chemicalseb. (Is that an anagram?)

Presumably you have Opus 1 and 2? There is sample overlap between the Opus bundle and SE, but one big difference is that SE offers a complete orchestral instrumentation (including some rare instruments) plus keyboards, guitars and saxes. You should check the instrument list (look in PRODUCTS > VIENNA INSTRUMENTS II > SPECIAL EDITION > ARTICULATIONS.)

As Coqui says, the other significant difference is the Vienna Instrument GUI, which is very powerful. You can load many patches and switch between them using a choice of keyswitches, mod wheel, MIDI CC commands, playing speed, etc. The 'Performance Tool' is now integrated into the software so you don't have to set that up any more. However, the VI is not multi-timbral but instead responds to incoming MIDI on all channels simultaneously. This means you have to use a separate VI instance for each musical line.

(i used to be a big fan of the chemical brothers, and my first name is Sebastien...so chemicalseb haha)

After getting opus a long time ago, I switched to the East West Symphonic Orchestra Gold, which sounds great. However a few days ago I went to see the Bourne Ultimatum, which has some of the most awesome strings. There was no way to do something like this with EWQL.

So I loaded Opus again and I was very pleased, except that I had to use Gigastudio (going through memory problems etc), and the performance tool (which works but Id rather not have to use it)

And, I happen to have 600 bucks in my bank account. Just enough for VI SE (without the extended library)

I don't really use trills. Maybe they could be created using the legato patches.
And repetitions could be done using the standard staccato alternations.

I just listened to the Appassionata strings and wow! Sadly it is too expensive. And I dont think I could just get the strings, Id need the other instruments as well.

You say that the VI uses separate instances per instrument. Is the VI interface memory/cpu consuming?

OK Seb!

@Another User said:

Is the VI interface memory/cpu consuming?

Not particularly, but the patches use more samples than other libraries and therefore tend to gobble up RAM. But if that becomes a problem, there's a very useful RAM optimisation facility - the VI scans which notes you use in an arrangement and discards all the unused samples.

@Chemicalseb said:

And, I happen to have 600 bucks in my bank account. Just enough for VI SE (without the extended library)

Looking at this economic phase, perhaps it's worth considering an alternative: Gold Pounds.

[6]

haha..gold pounds...tempting haha.

I'm so tempted to get VI SE, but I need more convincing haha.

I just saw the requirements for VI SE. It states that syncrosoft 5.1.6.2 or something is needed. I currently have 4.9.7.6, a while ago I tried updating but it somehow prevented me from using my existing key.

Is the latest version really needed for VI SE? or would it be possible to use it with my version.

Or else this means that I have to reinstall my computer and hope the update works haha

@Another User said:

Is the VI interface memory/cpu consuming?

Not particularly, but the patches use more samples than other libraries and therefore tend to gobble up RAM. But if that becomes a problem, there's a very useful RAM optimisation facility - the VI scans which notes you use in an arrangement and discards all the unused samples.

One of the major advantages of the VI is it's ram efficiency. You can load far more samples with the VI than for instance GS3.

Chemicalseb, joking aside and pardon my insistence but if you have a low budget, and do not need a sample collection, and you like the Appassionata, I would start from Standard Appassionata keeping the Extended option open for better days.
According to my experience, the VI SE makes more sense for the first time VSL user, unless you wish to upgrade in future to VI Cube and get a (little) discount on it.
IMO, an interesting alternative could be the purchase of Opus 2 if you don't already have it. It has lots of extra articulations, repetitions and bonus instruments (some of the Epic Horns, basic Solo Strings, and s.o.).

Just my two pennies.

[;)]

opus 2 it is!!

thank you guys for your help [:)]

Good choice - I have both Opus 1/2 and recently upgraded to VI SE. Here are a couple of comments:

I used Halion with Opus 1/2 and it's a nightmare - Halion has never worked well for me (too many bugs that Steingberg is not interested in fixing because nobody, except me, is crazy enough to use Halion for large sample libraries). The VI user interface was a godsend - it's so much easier to work with (and, so far, it does work).

HOWEVER (caps intended), I am now limited to a single machine for the entire orchestra. I used to run Opus 1/2 across two and sometimes three machines. So I now have to bounce tracks when I never had to before.

Bouncing tracks is about as much hassle as dealing with Halion, so there's no net gain in my opinion. Assuming that Gigastudio can reproduce the functionality of the VI (which Halion should be able to do but, in reality, can't) then you're better off with Opus 1/2.

rgames

@Another User said:

you're better off with Opus 1/2.

If you're happy to continue using the Performance Tool and don't mind not having the complete instrumentation of SE, then supplementing Opus 1 with Opus 2 just before the two are discontinued makes economic sense. However, it's pretty clear that the VI collections are the way forward for VSL - don't expect them to support the older sound library formats in future.

@Conquer said:

don't expect them to support the older sound library formats in future.

Thanks, the same to you, you are welcome [:D]

VSL guys told that (on Mac systems, at least) the Performance Tool-EXS24 combo will survive in Logic Pro 8. Thins suffices me: if will be proved untrue, I will claim my money back!
[6]

I do have VI Chamber Strings, I appreciate the Speed Control but IMO it's not of vital importance for the non professionist or even the semi-professionist.

Thanks Coqui, you're welcome too. [:P] It's good to know that VSL users will be able to continue using the Performance Tool with EXS24 in Logic 8, though Seb did say earlier he'd rather not use the Tool. What I meant by 'support' was I don't think VSL will be issuing any more EXS or Giga (etc.) sound libraries in future. (But maybe that's stating the obvious . . . )

I just remade my master orchestral template.

This time, I'm using Kontakt. It manages RAM SOOO much better than gigastudio.

I was able to load all of Opus 1 and ALL of the EWQL RA library. Everything across two computers. (about 10 kontakt instances) and everything runs SOO smoothly.

However, I just realized that ...Opus 2 is coming to my house soon..and I dunno if i have enough ram left in my template haha.

*sigh* I'm glad I ordered Opus 2 in the kontakt format.

Hi Seb - glad to hear you're enjoying Kontakt. I guess you don't have to use the Tool any more? Makes set-ups much quicker. Enjoy Opus 2!