@muziksculp said:

Well .... To my ears, VSL instruments without any reverb do sound 'bone-dry' !   If there is a bit of lively reflections in that room, I surely  don't hear them registering in the dry instrument/s samples. 

You need to improve your hearing then. Now Sample Modeling; that's bone-dry. [;)]

DG

@Another User said:

Back to the main topic...  Hope to see new VSL Orchestral Libraries !  (I'm guessing you would be happy to see that happen too). or maybe I'm wrong.

Cheers,

Muziksculp   

If VSL releases something I need, I'll get it, but not having anything new is not holding me up at all. Besides, most of the things I need would probably be of no interest to anyone else. [;)]

DG

No student discount  [:'(]

Maybe next month...  [:D]

VSL has sampled the Borsendorfer with close, player and far positions, and I think they did the same with the organ and there is also a wet sample set of percussio, so it's not unprecedented ;) I would probably use the dry samples most of the time, but it's nice to have the same samples with some extra coloured early reflections for certain situations, or even a multi mic type setup like they do now with drum samples, so you can have the dry sound as your direct, then have a room and even "overhead" or some other third position to mix in, which would give you a range of natural colours, but then you can also mix in additional reverb to give you the larger room, or the rest of the room. Something like that.

I personally love the dry sound - the flexibility that it gives you - together with MIR and other processing you could never have that flexibility with a library that sounds good out of the box but then you are stuck with that forever. So given a choice I think VSL has absolutely made the right choice - evidenced by the longevity of the library. But having a multi mic set up would be awesome. But, it may not be possible. I don't know the technicalities of how the silent stage works to that degree, could you do it effectively, or maybe everything would have to be recorded twice to achieve two libraries, rather than one discreet library with multiple mic positions - in which case, I would say going with the dry samples would be the best idea.

@DG said:

However, I do understand that some people would like to be able to control the close/far mix themselves, even though with VSL I've never found this to be a problem. Possibly the one exception for me would be the Appassionata Strings, which I find a little too diffuse at times.

But the laws of physics state that there must be a difference in sound between a microphone pushed 1 foot from the performing instrument and one sitting back 5 or 6 feet or futher-maybe VSL should be  offering something from the distant room perspective of about  40 feet as well. To me these options of the  far settings  are needed, not merely  so much to give the room ambience more space but to realistically approach how a listener in the audience is hearing the sound. After all that is what we're after here, right? Simulation of the room listening experience? How can that be done if everything is miked so closely? [*-)]I don't find that lowering the volume level with a mixer or lowering the midi velocity setting really does the trick-it still sounds like a closely miked sample only softer. Don't get me wrong, I love my VSL library, just would like to toss out some ideas for improvement and I think the laws of physics and my ears make the proof of the pudding if you will, in considering how to build new libraries-a far setting for the mike  or mikes are  really needed

And speaking of how the room listeners hear the overall sound I have noticed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), I have had occasions to wonder if the conductor and players were truely aware to any great extent of what the overall aural impact was on the Orchestra Hall Audience. I am really beginning to believe that sometimes the conductor and the players really don't have a clue because they have no feedback from the hall perspective. Creates a bit of a problem-I'd like to take this issue up with anyone willing to toss it around.

Hello VSL,

Would it be a big problem to just let us know if you plan to release new Orchl. Libraries in the near future ?  Just a Yes, or No would do it. No details needed. Is this too much to ask from you to disclose ? 

Thanks,

Muziksculp 

@muziksculp said:

Hello VSL,

Would it be a big problem to just let us know if you plan to release new Orchl. Libraries in the near future ?  Just a Yes, or No would do it. No details needed. Is this too much to ask from you to disclose ? 

Thanks,

Muziksculp 

you are dreaming !

VSL will not reveal there plans

As exciting as new libs may be, I do wish VSL would fix the flagship Vienna Imperial so I can really play staccato!

Hint - Try playing Tchaikovsky - Op.39 No.13 Kamarinskya on the Vienna Imperial. - It absolutely doesn't work!

I see no issue, if VSL would let us simply know if they will be releasing NEW Orchestral Libraries in the near future.  I mean just a Yes, or No, would be sufficient, no details needed.  But if they choose to be totally secretive about this, that's their choice.  I find this secretive model a bit outdated these days, more developers are being more open, and transparent about their future products, and plans, and are becoming more interactive with their customers, which helps both developer and end-user make wise decisions/choices.  imho. this would be more beneficial than harmful to VSL, What's the problem with beocming a bit more transparent in the area of where they are heading in the area of sample developement. The competition ?  I don't think that's an issue for VSL !

Maybe we will see something New from VSL  during Sept. 2012, as far as Orch. Libraries are concerned.  Afterall I don't think they have abandoned the sample library development part of their business model.  OH ...then again,  maybe they did  [8-)]  

@orchestranova said:

...I must say I am getting a bit sick and tired of VSL's secrecy when it comes to informing their loyal customers of future products. Carrying on like this will only detract customers and steer them towards other competitors who have adopted a much better, modern approach....especially when VSL's products are so much more expensive and becoming more and more outdated in comparison!

To be fair, when you see what happens on other forums when developers make early announcements about products, I think VSL's approach is reasonable. Premature announcements can also play havoc with your cashflow as customers can delay purchases. I recently chose VSL as my main platform when returning to music after looking at these competitors with a "much better, modern approach". I did this because I just want it to work without endless limitations, bugs and fix-ups, and to work well and to sound great - which it does. And I'm one of those who really likes the dry sample + MIR approach.

I believe the main challenge VSL faces is to assemble its vast array of samples and software in an entry level bundle that competes with the newer "out of the box" products. It's all there, not just in one simple plug and play quick process for the impatient (or inexperienced).

I would like to see a first chair + modular divisi string section library packaged like Dimension Brass, but for the time being quite happy to layer Solo, Chamber and Orchestral strings in VI Pro 2. The current possibilities and options are endless with VSL, and perhaps that's the only real challenge. Outdated? I can understand people thinking this but when I dig deep into performance matrices, MIR, VE Pro, VI Pro, Vienna Suite - I don't think so!

Well, I think some of these posts are just a little too self important if you ask me (to say the least). I think VSL is choosing the policy that is right for them, and that's fine by me. As for their products being outdated? (What?) I could have bought other libraries becuase I want proper divisi to work with but the trade off in flexibility and sound quality was just not worth it - I'll wait or go without. That's just strings, as for the rest - what on Earth are you talking about "dated" "expensive"??????

VSL, you've done so well, changed so many people's lives so much for the better with such truly future proof products - keep doing what you do best - we'll wait.

By the way, it doesn't hurt to read between the lines a little. If VSL was NEVER going to do another string library don't you think they would say "No string library for the forseeable future". The fact there is silence is telling in and of itself, yet non committal. And with people like some on this forum - I don't blame them! [:P] Afterall who wants to be caught between a deadline and some of you folks!

Wow guys - chill!

Why do you think I am expressing my frustrations? Because I don't like VSL and don't wish to support them and use their products in the future? Of course I do! I'm just saying that it can be frustrating, as a customer, to not have a clue what is going on when you are in the market for new libraries and so badly want to stick with a developer you trust (VSL!). I am not saying I wish for VSL to disclose release dates on future products....just some rough plans as to what they are intending on doing! That's all! I think the OP can see where I'm coming from here...

Regarding my "expensive" comment ...I am merely stating the obvious! I guess I take back the term "outdated" - VSL's samples sound great and they haven't needed to update their samples due to the brilliant VI Pro.

If VSL were planning on releasing a plug-in version of MIR / future libraries from the Dimension series / etc. it would be great if they could let us know...it's things like that I would appreciate... 

I will repeat again. I don't need a lot of details. I would Just like to read a YES or NO answer to my simple question, which is :

Will we see any new VSL Orchestral Sample Libraries in the near future ?   

Also note that I deleted the (WHEN) from my question, to make it even easier for VSL to provide a very general statement/reply ... Simply YES or NO. That's all I need for now, and will be content with that type of answer.

So far, VSL has decided to keep me, and possibly other loyal customers in complete darkness. Which I don't really think is a good/helpful strategy. 

Hopefully some one from VSL will write something on this thread, and let us feel that they are still in touch with us as loyal customers, who just want to know that they are going forward in the area of Orch. Sample Library development. 

I hope my request is not interepreted as 'Asking too much from VSL' , since I have purchased quite a number of their libraries, and their other non-sample based products, and would like to continue purchasing *NEW* VSL Orch. libraries, whenever they are made available.  

But .... At this point in time, I'm in complete limbo as far as knowing, or getting some general feedback from VSL, regarding if they will continue offering NEW Orch. Sample Libraries in the near future   [*-)]

Thanks,

Muziksculp 

Don't you think VSL might have *their* reasons for not revealing timetables or details ahead of time? Maybe those might be very valid reasons that they don't want to discuss for reasons of their own. I look at it this way - so far they have delivered, frankly if you think about it, products beyond our wildest dreams 15 years ago and then some - and it's worked out pretty good - so I am inclined very much to give them the well-deserved benefit of the doubt in this case. I can imagine the reasons why they might do this there are many. There is also another (among many others) company who tended to keep developments close to the chest and for good reason and that is Apple under Steve - and I always thought that was an incredibly smart way to play things and worked out well for that company as well whatever critics may say (and there will always be critics). The fact is that in the corporate world where you have unique strategies and technologies it's naive to think you can just be open about it and still remain commercially viable. There are no dobut real world considerations, as well like I mentioned, it just simplifies your relationship with your customer and that is a good thing - "this is what we have, when we have more, we'll tell you". There's no room for ambiguity, hurt feelings, disappointments, or delays that result in all kinds of anger. I'm just guessing at possible reasons, those two seem plausible enough to me to warrant their policy on their own, I'm sure there are plenty more I can't think of just now.

The proof is in the pudding. Know them by their fruits as the saying goes: Does VSL care about it's customers? Have you tried their products? Incredibly complex libraries and software that *works*. I say VSL cares very much about it's customers that's based on a decade of experience and observation.

OK, having had a strong business background from a previous part of my life:

There are many excellent reasons why VSL cannot reply to these kinds of questions, nor - IMO at least - should they.  VSL has chosen the business model of silence, and that is that.

For one, if they were to announce, "We are currently working on the mostest brilliantest fabuwonderous strings library the sample world has ever seen...

All I will say is remember not too long ago when one certain company announced in advance a particular library, a certain "compass directional" company immediately announced far in advance their own competing library of the same type?  What was the likely end goal: to impact sales of that first company's library by encouraging people to wait to see if the "compass directional" company's forthcoming product would be better.  That second announcement by the "compass directional" company did impact the publicity of the first company as it got many people talking about the second company's forthcoming plans, to the detriment of the first company.

If the competition does not know what VSL is working on (which they would if VSL publicized it), those other companies, won't be able to try to circumvent things, etc.

Howver much one may wish for an announcement, it likely will not be forthcomng.  IMO, one of the secondary ways VSL has been able to stay "on top" as it were, is that the competition has very little idea of what VSL is actually doing.

Here is a quesion,

say tomorrow I buy the solo violin and the chambers strings, to complete the strings sections,

And then a month later they release a new library. if they would anounch such an upgrade path, I think many people would buy current library knowing they will not just loose thier investment, therefore, there would be some sort of credit for owning legacy products towards the new library .