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  • How do multi-user licenses work with the VSL?

    Hi Everyone.

    I am a composer living in Los Angeles. I attended the recent NAMM show and was very impressed with the VSL demo. I am interested in purchasing the VSL, but have a question about the number of users authorized to work with it.

    I have a writing partner with whom I co-compose and orchestrate. He and I generally share resources (mixers, software, etc) at my studio when we work on film projects. If we purchase a single VSL together, does that mean we can both use it in our work? Or must we purchase an additional license? Some of our work is credited as both names together, but some is credited to only one name if one of us is too busy to get involved.

    Sample libraries vary on this issue, so I thought I would ask here before making any decisions.

    Thank you for your help.

  • Only the original purchaser of the Vienna Symphonic Library is the licensee of the samples. So if two people are working on the same project, and the licensed user is doing the orchestration using the library, that's fine.

    It is not possible that two people share one library for working on different projects as it is not possible to sell one license to more than one person, or to a company. One license can only be sold to one individual person. Therefore, the question is not whether you are working on the same or on different projects, but the crucial point is that anyone who uses the sounds (the creative person) and who is not the original purchaser is doing so illegally.

    Thank you for asking and for bringing up this question!
    Best wishes,
    Martin

  • Surely if the work is done in your studio and you have the licence,
    your friend is allowed to use the VSL in your studio!?
    Or am I wrong?

  • If you literally stick to the license agreement, only the original purchaser acquires the license to USE (= do the creative work with) the library. Being an official representative of the Vienna Symphonic Library I can't give you any other answer, being aware that sometimes the practice in a studio is slighlty different, when two people are working on the same project....

    Best,
    Martin

  • Thank you for your replies. I apologize for my absence, but can only say that I can finally come up for air again after a very busy week! I think I understand the way the library usage issues work. As long as I remain the sole creative user of my library, things are ok. For orchestrators and other teams of musicians, the issues get a little fuzzy.

    Thank you once again.