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  • Recomendations please re VSL string libraries

    Hi everyone. I have been considering a major labrary purchase for some time, and so have kept an eye on the forum here. I wanted some opinions...
    I am looking mainly for strings, so I thought of the Pro edition strings from the Symphonic edition.

    However, I am confused as to whether this includes the performance tool and performance sets. Would I need to buy the performance set as well?

    What would you choose?

    Pro edition strings
    or
    First edition of the orchestral cube [with first edition performace set]
    or
    considering I want to run it on one computer [G5 Dual 2.5 gig Logic 7 EXS24II] should I be looking at perhaps Opus 1 from the Horizon series?

    Look forward to your suggestions

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    Welcome Peter,

    hope I can answer your questions:

    @Another User said:

    However, I am confused as to whether this includes the performance tool and performance sets. Would I need to buy the performance set as well?


    The Performance Set is a seperate package, it contains all the Performance Elements like Performance Legato, Performance Repetitions, Runs....
    The PRO String Edition (a part of the Orchestral Cube) features all the basic single note articulations you need (short and long notes, dynamics, trills and so on)


    Basically you have 3 options:

    The best would be the PRO Strings and the Pro Performance Set (you get the BIG string sections...)

    OPUS 1 is a great "first" product, a good and clear overview over the symphonic orchestra.

    And there´s the Chamber Strings (our small string ensembles with all articulations) that might be your first choice for strings. Also a great addition to OPUS 1....

    Whatever choice you make, you always have an upgrade path, that guarantees, that you never pay twice for a sample you already own (the Vienna Symphonic Library is highly addictive). The only exception here: there´s no upgrade path from OPUS 1 to the First Edition (just doesn´t make sense).

    For more informations and an articulation list, please check our product page

    http://www.vsl.co.at/english/pages/products_&_shop/horizon_series/intro.htm">http://www.vsl.co.at/english/pages/products_&_shop/horizon_series/intro.htm

    All the best, Paul

    Paul Kopf Head of Product Marketing, Social Media and Support
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    @PeterB said:

    Hi everyone. I have been considering a major labrary purchase for some time, and so have kept an eye on the forum here. I wanted some opinions...
    I am looking mainly for strings, so I thought of the Pro edition strings from the Symphonic edition.

    considering I want to run it on one computer [G5 Dual 2.5 gig Logic 7 EXS24II] should I be looking at perhaps Opus 1 from the Horizon series?

    Look forward to your suggestions


    Yes. Paul covered that very comprehensively. For myself, I have just upgraded from First Ed to now include First Ed Performance Set (all the legatos etc in the Perf Set).

    You can upgrade to the Pro Ed (inc Pro Perf set for First Ed).

    What sort of music are you writing Peter? And how are you finding Logic 7 at this time btw?

    And yes, VSL is very addictive. [:D]

    PR

  • Personally, I would suggest getting the Chamber Strings and the Solo Strings. Both of these packages have the patches for the performance tool. You can get the harp by itself now too (with the glissandi).

    If you are writing film music, these packes would be the best to get in my opinion.

    At the present time, the chamber strings is the only string package with any harmonics (natural only). I hope addtional harmonics will be recorded...it would be helpful to know what the plans are for future harmonic patches (if any).

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    @Another User said:




    What sort of music are you writing Peter? And how are you finding Logic 7 at this time btw?

    PR


    Thanks for the replies so far.
    I write for TV, commercials, films and games, as well as more pop oriented work.
    The strings are actually for an other composer who writes for film and television. I designed his studio and act as project manager whenever a major upgrade is planned [like a new G5 Logic 7 and VSL]
    He is comfortable with Logic and EXS 24 which is why I am steering him toward the VSL. Logic 7 I guess will be a little different, and hopefully a lot better than the old version which he currently runs under OS 9.
    I actually do all my writing and recording with a ProTools TDM rig. I run a separate PC for samples and virtual instruments, so I'm more interested in Opus 1 [which I can run in Halion]
    I never got on with Logic so well because I do an awful lot of audio comping and editing. The MIDI is basic in ProTools but the audio editing is so good and SO fast.
    And please everyone, I don't want to deviate from the original questions to get into a sequencer Vs sequencer battle......

    Thanks again

    Peter

  • The string libraries that I have suggested are chromatic, whereas Opus 1 uses whole tone notes and stretch the missing tones.

    Since the question was about strings, I have given you my suggestions.

    I have used just about every string library that is avalible, and VSL chamber and solo strings are just about the best for film, TV, ect.

  • Thanks for your comments and suggestions.
    What I need now is to find somewhere in or near London that can actually demonstrate the different libraries. Any ideas?

    Peter

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    @PeterB said:

    Thanks for your comments and suggestions.
    What I need now is to find somewhere in or near London that can actually demonstrate the different libraries. Any ideas?

    Peter


    Peter. What you may want to do is ring Time & Space in Okehampton in Devon and they will give you some distributors numbers probably. Maybe Turnkey - I'm not sure.

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    @PeterB said:

    Thanks for your comments and suggestions.
    What I need now is to find somewhere in or near London that can actually demonstrate the different libraries. Any ideas?

    Peter


    Peter. What you may want to do is ring Time & Space in Okehampton in Devon and they will give you some distributors numbers probably. Maybe Turnkey - I'm not sure.

    Trying to get someone to demonstrate the different libraries is a big problem. Unfortunately most of the places that sell them do not have someone on the staff who really knows how to do this, and are not often set up so that you can "have a go".
    I would do as PaulR says, and ring Time and Space. In the days when my samplers were AKAIs I drove down to Devon with a load of gear and spent all day trying out different samples. In my view it's the only way to be able to compare.

    DG

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    @Another User said:

    Trying to get someone to demonstrate the different libraries is a big problem. Unfortunately most of the places that sell them do not have someone on the staff who really knows how to do this, and are not often set up so that you can "have a go".


    Exactly.
    I rang Time and Space first. I'm not keen to drive all the way to Devon, especially as they don't have anyone who can show the library properly.
    I have a good longterm relationship with MediaTools [the professional division of Turnkey] and can get a demo, but only of the First edition Orchestral Cube, and probably in Giga format [not my first choice]
    It's slightly frustrating as I would love to hear the Chamber strings too, given the favourable comments made earlier.

    Peter

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    @PeterB said:

    Exactly.
    I rang Time and Space first. I'm not keen to drive all the way to Devon, especially as they don't have anyone who can show the library properly.
    I have a good longterm relationship with MediaTools [the professional division of Turnkey] and can get a demo, but only of the First edition Orchestral Cube, and probably in Giga format [not my first choice]
    It's slightly frustrating as I would love to hear the Chamber strings too, given the favourable comments made earlier.

    Peter


    Yes, Devon is a long way from you and I am not sure if Time & Space can show this on Logic anyway.

    Although, whenever I go there they are extremely helpful and friendly and I generally get round the Logic thing by managing to use Giga, even though I usually manage to lock their computer three or four times a minute.

    This is a strange phenomenom to me. You would think there was somewhere in England that would have all this set up and ready to go at any time.

    You can take my word for it regarding Chamber Strings FWIW. I bought them recently unheard, apart from the demo section. No worries there at all. There is a demo by Martin Sprujiut called Illness & Recovery that employs this part of VSL. Great piece of music to me and shows it off really well. If you haven't already, I recommend you give it a listen. I'm sure that's the one with the Chamber Strings.

  • Just to add my 2p worth...

    I've done the Media Tools demo route in the past, and at the time they only had the first edition. Although they are a very pleasant bunch, at the time they had little exposure to VSL (I'm sure that's changed since), and provided basically a copy of Gigastudio and a MIDI keyboard. Although you can get a feel for the individual patches from it, you don't really get an idea of ensemble, unless they are now providing a sequencer of some sort. On the other hand, it's very convenient. So I guess it's best to really make sure that you discuss what you want them to provide and ring them a few times just to check - and you'll be pretty luck if you get any of the horizon series!

    I've been down to Okehampton, but to look at Roland/Akai format samples unfortunately (so don't have any advice to offer). However, they do make great cream teas, and are a cracking bunch.

  • And chamber strings...

    Just beautiful. Fantastic transparent texture. Wonderful to work with. Can't recommend them highly enough. Also great for layering in with the big brother strings of the cube.