Vienna Symphonic Library Forum
Forum Statistics

196,689 users have contributed to 43,028 threads and 258,426 posts.

In the past 24 hours, we have 4 new thread(s), 7 new post(s) and 95 new user(s).

  1. Home
  2. Sample Libraries
  3. Vienna Instruments Libraries
  4. Need to choose 1 - Extended or Plus?

  • Need to choose 1 - Extended or Plus?

    S
    S

    Hi guys, I have the basic Special Edition, and I would love to get both the Extended and all of the Plus articulations, but I can only afford 1 right now.

    I'll ask a very hypothetical question (and obviously my newbie status will show[^o)]). My favourite piece for orchestra (I'll leave Vivaldi out of this, my other fave) is Rimsky-Korsakov's Spanish Caprice. I'm obviously not going to get anywhere close to that with a minimal set up, but in your experience, what would I need more of, if the Gods were to come to me and give me some talent, in aim to make something similar? Do I need more articulations from the basic instruments, or do I need more depth from the new instruments - ie do I need Plus or do I need to extend my library? Let's assume I won't have the funds to buy the other for 6-12 months. I can only choose 1.

    The only instrument I play 'for real' is electric guitar, and the number of articulations you can get is incredible, you can feel much more with a vibrato pinch/artificial harmonic than you can with a straight note, if that makes sense. But you can also get an amazing feeling out of a 7-string if all you have is a 6-string.

    These are the most impossible questions to ask, I know...nonetheless, I'm asking for opinions:)

    edit: I should have mentioned, I also have Epic at my disposal now after buying VEP. My gut tells me to go for the articulations, rather than the extensions, I think. Problem is I don't know what Plus sounds like unto itself.

    Merci,

    Shawn
  • J
    J

    In my experience, you can never have enough articulations (samples).  If the SE and SE plus are all that you can afford and you don't plan on buying anything else in the future, aside from a download or two, then buy the SE and SE Plus.  However, you might want to consider putting that money into one complete library such as the Solo or Chamber Strings so that you can have all available articulations.  Bare in mind that the SE extended and, to some extent, the SE plus are not a watered down version of the Cube.  They are more like what residue is left in the water after the Cube is watered down.  A big difference.

    Then later on, whenever VSL offers some promotion or a "Thank You For Being a Loyal Customer" sale, you can slowly build to your collection.    
  • S
    S

    You're suggesting I buy everything for say violins or another (single) instrument? I don't mind that idea, as a guitar play I'd like to do EVERYTHING a single violin can do. I can do that for a smiliar price and still have upgrade options (in the future) for other instruments?
  • N
    N

    What do you think you most need?  What do you think you would make the most use of?

    The Plus library has some very useful articulations and does help to fill out the basic SE.  Having the additional articulations will help you to better emulate a real orchestra.  OTOH, would you have a use for chamber strings, and the ensemble woodwinds (among others)?  Or, can you make do with the instruments within SE, and live without those in SE Extended?

    In the long run, you may wish to aim to have all four of the SE libraries.  Another option would be to go with Plus, and then add a full collection later such as AP srrings or chamber strings.

    Another way to look at it... what sort of music do you expect to be writing?  Depending on what you expect to be doing, one collection may have an advantage over a different one.
  • S
    S

    I think the problem is both will be equally useful. Having said that, and knowing the Extended samples are already on my drive (Vienna graciously gave me a 30 license to try it, since when I bought the library a couple year ago, I avoided those instruments completely because I didn't want my projects to be locked into something I didn't intend at the time to buy) I should probably just order the licence to extend this library, then save to get the Plus articulations for the whole thing all at once.

    As I say, I think both are equally useful so I may as well start with what is easiest knowing I will eventually have the whole Special package.

    As far as what kind of music goes, I'm all over the board, from Steve Vai-inspired world orchestral to Vulgate passages in the choir to raunchy hard rock...no country though:). Vienna has proven itself to be the most important library in my little collection, invariably in everything I write.

    And if I get really lucky and I can sell my motorcycle (just put it up for sale online) I won't have to wait long for Plus:)

    Shawn
  • M
    M

    If you want the extra instruments in the Extended (maybe you should try some of them out first on your demo license?) then get that. If you want more depth to the instruments you already have, get Plus. It's really all down to that choice - only you know the answer.

    M
  • B
    B
    Since Shawn started this thread, I don't want to take focus away from the original question, but I have a somewhat similar dilemma: I have Special Edition and Special Edition Plus (a good package, by the way, Shawn). This gives me full orchestra + appassionata + chamber strings + solo strings. What should I add to get more solo string articulations? What should I add to get more orchestra string articulations? What should I add to get appassionata articulations? My music dealer is as confused as I am by all the various options. I do not need more wind instrument stuff right now: I'm good there. I just need more string articulations as described above, whether in one package or several, without paying to duplicate samples I already have. Thanks.