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  • Which products to simulate a Beethoven orchestra?

    Trying to figure out what I'd need to buy in order to simulate a Beethoven orchestra? I'm not familiar with this product, except having seen good reviews of it. Bundles, Packages, Volumes, and Collections? I'm confused by all the options. Thanks if anyone can help me understand this.

  • Greetings BachRules!

    Purely technically speaking, thus disregarding budget concerns - Dimension series, now in shape of strings and brass, plus some form of MIR acoustic treatment, is the most advanced and relevant tool for the job.

    The rest - woodwinds and percussion are now represented by the regular VSL instruments, and indeed come in different packages. I`d say - special edition sections are a bit short for real classical oriented work, so again, if your budget allows - go for "full library" at the least for the main four woodwind instruments - you can do that by choosing from the individual downloadable instrument products.

    Please note, that Vienna Instruments Pro software is also a "must" - for many reasons, from using Dimension series to full extent, to Mirx, and to SSD precache adjustments, etc. etc.

  • You might want to listen to the demos of each library.  The solo strings has a Beethoven Demo here: http://www.vsl.co.at/Player2.aspx?Lang=1&DemoID=5208

    There may be others you'd have to look at each library.


  • last edited
    last edited

    Hi,

    Here are some more Beethoven Demos: Demo Zone => Classical => Albaniz to Berg

    Best,

    Paul


    Paul Kopf Product Manager VSL
  • There are a lot of available features I don't need, because of the particular style of my compositions. I don't employ "expression" or complex dynamics, so I don't need all the articulations offered; and I don't use percussion except for timpani. For the simple stuff I produce, though, I'd like it to sound good (real), and I'm willing to pay for that. I'm not in a hurry, so I'll investigate more. Thanks for the replies.

  • If your needs are not great, and you only need a limited number of articulations, consider taking a long look at the VSL SE editions.  VSL SE 1 will provide you with the basic solo instruments/sections of a traditional Beethoven sized orchestra.  If you want to get more "Romantic" SE 2 adds other key instruments.  The "Plus" portion of the libraries add some additional articulations that help round out each instrument, and add some key flexibility.  Especially if you get VI Pro, you can create alternate legato transitions for the various instruments, so not having "fast" legato patches becomes less of an issue.

    You can think of SE as the "core" of the VSL libraries.  It doesn't have as many velocity layers as the full libraries, and it is sampled only in whole tones rather than every half note.  It is still quite good, and if you don't plan on using dynamics patches, you might not need the full libraries.  There is an upgrade path from SE to the full libraries, with the price of the extended portion of the full libraries being reduced for SE owners.


  • Thanks very much for the helpful orientation.