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  3. VSL Pro Ed. Strings or Chamber Strings?

  • VSL Pro Ed. Strings or Chamber Strings?

    G
    G
    Hi,
    I'm a pianist and composer and this is my first post on this forum:
    I mainly use computers (Apple) and softwares (Logic Pro and Sibelius) to render my compositions (classic contemporary music, a bit experimental, but also something more commercial is probably on the way).
    I already have VSL Pro Ed. Brass & Woodwinds and Percussion and Horizon French Oboe, Garritan Orchestral Strings, SAM Horns, PMI Bosendorfer 290, Symphony of Voices and a bunch of free stuff: I want to expand my sound choices, and I know I need Pro Ed. Performance Set (for expressive legato lines) but is well over my actual budget (1400 €).
    I could complete the Cube by adding the Pro Ed. Strings (with no performance), or buy the Chamber Strings (with performance legato/repetition/alternation included) plus Epic Horns and something else.
    You guys are very talented, professional and competent, so please help me with your ideas and suggestions.

    Gianluca
  • P
    P
    I will be you...i bought the chamber strings...because you have a complete package...(legato, détaché, etc....)

    The package STRINGS and PEFORMANCE TOOLS are very good also....
    but it's not the same price...

    So let's go for chamber strings [[;)]]
  • H
    H
    Well you're either going to have a BIGGER sound, or more Articulations. It's a trade off either way. Though I'd tend to go with the Chamber Strings, which is probably what I'll end up getting anyway....so I"m biased.
  • G
    G
    Recently got the chamber strings, and already own a number of other libraries, including the vsl solo strings and the Garritan Orchestral strings you mention. But don't have the vsl pro ed strings ...

    As long as you understand that the basic sound is definitely CHAMBER, a few players not really playing their hearts out, the chamber string package fits imo very well with GOS and the others. There are some pitch problems in GOS, and the ambiance is different, but attention can find the former and reverb fix the latter, so the overall blend is very good. The chamber strings are very solid and have the same reasonable organization as the solo strings. The legato is an especially good sound in most situations; the repetitions still, for me, take up far too much space and offer too little that's unique.

    So I say, follow me: get both solo strings and chamber strings, layer them with GOS, tune where necessary (violas in GOS!), and you've got a very capable string orchestra.
  • P
    P
    last edited
    last edited
    Don't forget about the Opus 1 package... You'll get the basic performance instruments and standard articulations of the strings from the Pro Edition whole-tone sampled. There would be some duplivates with the parts you already got though. And have a look here, too: Discount Calculator

    I'd advise chamber strings only if your major work is for chamber strings.

    All the best,
    PolarBear
  • D
    D
    I have both and I find Chamber Strings just a little bit harder to use often as they have a bit more character, so any articulation is more pronounced and you will be able to tell if it's not done properly. The larger section has a more "impersonal" sound that lends itself more to being played from a keyboard.

    Chamber Strings are much harder to blend in the mix. saying that though, if I need staccati, I almost always use Chamber Strings as Pro Ed Strings often don't have quite enough definition for divsi parts.

    Hope I'm making sense.