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  4. VSL Appassionata Strings vs. LASS

  • VSL Appassionata Strings vs. LASS

    M
    M
    Hello I am looking to purchase a string library. VSL has solved one of the things which irritates me about many libraries; I can load up as many articulations as I want on one MIDI channel and keyswitch between them. Furthermore, I can keep my keyswitch map consistent between instruments. Does LASS do this or will I have to have 20 tracks for one instrument, each with one articulation per track? violins I pizz. violins I stacc. violins I legato violins I leagto medium etc. etc. etc. etc......... If so, it's going to be Appassionata Strings, because frankly this is just such an irritation for me! Thanks! MOH
  • C
    C

    nowaday nothing else is better then VSL. I have LASS, but believe me, VSL library is the best I have ever used! With LASS you have to do some complicated things.....buy appassionata and you'll here the difference in quality and programming
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    What is wrong with Appassionata ?

    You can keyswitch any articulation !

    With VI PRO you can now also use progrm changes to change articulation
  • M
    M
    Maybe a misunderstanding. I LIKE VSL because I can keyswitch anywhere and keep my keyswitch map consistent between instruments. I DISLIKE other libraries because I have to load separate channels for every articulation. So my question is: do I need to set up many different tracks using LASS, or does it have a master keyswitch patch? MOH
  • E
    E

    Hi,

    Since LASS is a Kontakt product it is possible to load patches in an instrument bank (in one channel yes). So program change is at stake here. It has some nice features, but be aware of the fact that really many samples are more or less out of tune. Especially in the attack part of the smaller divisi. Furthermore many staccato and spiccato patches suffer from a strange added fifth (a result of rough bow playing I guess). It makes it rather unusable in many situations.

    The forum on Audiobro is only open for registered users, which means that you cannot get an impression of "what is going on" before buying. Something completely different here at VSL, I must say.

    If you want my opinion I think that the quality of the VSL products and the variety in articulations is just unsurpassed. Nevertheless, every string library has its own qualities, just like in the real world, speaking of differences between top orchestras all over the world. Maybe in specific situations it is nice to have the choice yourself at home/studio.

    Finally I think (I do remember a previous discussion here on this forum about LASS) that this is not the place to discuss the program  features of other products, imho. Again, unfortunately Audiobro itself doesn't offer a forum for non registered users.

    Erik
  • M
    M
    Hi Thanks for the info! MOH
  • J
    J

    Plus the new VSL sampler (Vienna Instruments Pro), with it's time stretch feature, gives you endless possibilities on the length of your short notes. This is VERY powerfull and you can't do that with LASS !   
  • M
    M

    You can definitely do keyswitches in LASS and have them the same for all sections.  One great thing about having a library in Kontakt is the flexibility and ability for the user to customize things.  LASS also does have the ability to change the length of short notes as well.  Personally, I really like having the divisi sections (appasionatta doesn't have that, it would require getting chamber strings, right?) and there is some fantastic programming in the library including things like auto divisi (including dividing parts between sections with polyphonic legato).  There are definitely some intonation issues here and there but I've been very happy with the realism I've been able to get in my tracks.

    Obviously, different people are going to have different preferences.  I'd definitely try and find a way to try both out and get some different opinions on a site that's not affiliated with either library, of course any site owned by a company is going to only give you one side of the spectrum.  FYI, LASS also has a lite version of the library as well if you're not interested in the divisi splits.
  • D
    D

    Appassionata and LASS are two very different products, which suit two different purposes. They are not equivalents, so it all depends what sort of sound you want.

    DG
  • M
    M
    Thanks everyone! I'll probably go with VSL. Since I've taken the plunge and started to buy some of their samples, I have been incredibly impressed with the quality and the easy of use. MOH
  • S
    S

    I know I am years late, but the Vienna Appassionata Strings are far superior to the LASS library. I purchased the SE editions to the Appassionata Strings in the volume bundle not to long ago. The quality, the warmth, and the smoothness of the Appassionata strings is just unmatched. Based on the mp3 demos and user created videos LASS is just harsh sounding. If you really want something emotional, warm, and powerful the Vienna Appassionata Strings are the ones to choose.
  • G
    G

    Hi,

    I never tried the Appassionnata Strings but I'm using the Dimension Strings everyday (I really have to give Appassionata a try). And an other (important) thing is the recording/sound.

    These days, my coworker and I are remixing an old track where LASS were used. Its sound seems so awful when you have tasted the VSLs : bad high resonance, ugly contrabasses, odd short articulations, etc. Of course, we don't have time to re-record it with Dimension Strings but if we had, we would definitely do it.

    Also keep in mind that the 2nd violins in LASS aren't the recording of an additional set of player but "transposition-tricked" 1st violins.

    VSL is the cleanest library company on the market. I had the opportunity to try numerous libraries and never found a serious competitor. Such a pleasure to mix when you move music AND sound !!!
  • C
    C
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    @Groctave said:

    Also keep in mind that the 2nd violins in LASS aren't the recording of an additional set of player but "transposition-tricked" 1st violins.

    Well, it's the same with VSL...  :oP  Personally I use LASS with Dimension Strings in combination.  They're both amazing and serve different purposes.
  • S
    S
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    @Groctave said:

    I never tried the Appassionnata Strings but I'm using the Dimension Strings everyday

    The Dimension Strings do sound pretty good based on what I have heard from the demos, and the idea of having the each individual player setup is a huge perk. However, I would defintely recommend you giving the Appassionata Strings a try! They are much larger in sound than the Dimension Strings and are quite rich, but each library suits a certain part!

    I like composing the big lush warm pieces and not so much on the solo or smaller pieces. Therefore, the Appassionata Strings really struck for the best strings in what I do. I use them in nearly every composition I create.

    Vienna has the best string libraries based IMO and beasd on what I have heard from demos and libraries that I already own. I also think their woodwinds and the epic horns are pretty good. I still have to purchase the other parts, but I am sure they are all good too
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    G
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    @Casiquire said:

    Well, it's the same with VSL...  :oP  Personally I use LASS with Dimension Strings in combination.  They're both amazing and serve different purposes.

    Totally agree ! But I prefer to tweak the 1st violins like I want with placement, early reflexions, etc. to get clean 2nd violons than having pre-transpositioned ones. And thanks to templates (and VE Pro) it's like "out-of-the-box".

    I used LASS a lot (love their Legato Sordino) but they lack articulations and I'm not as comfortable with them as I am with VSL/VI Pro. 
  • G
    G
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    @sururick said:

    However, I would defintely recommend you giving the Appassionata Strings a try! They are much larger in sound than the Dimension Strings and are quite rich, but each library suits a certain part!

    Yes, Dimension Strings isn't an all-purpose library and I sometimes have to layer it with bigger libraries which I'm not fond of the sound.

    Appassionata is just a matter of time... I do like the warmth I could hear in the demos.
  • C
    C

    I think DS could be usedas your only library but it has a naturally smaller sound, just from the style of playing.  No matter how much doubling you do I haven't yet heard a single example that sounds like more than about ten strings.  That's perfect for any Classical playing or minimalist modern playing or studio strings, but anything Romantic-era or cinematic would need some supplemental library.  I tend to write Romantic so I need all the divisi I can get.  But if anybody tends to write chamber music or strings for pop/rock music or Classical era music DS is easily the perfect choice, no other library needed.