Beginning VSL Newbie Question

[pacificm]

After years of working with my DAW (DP) and VIs on my Mac, I've decided to expand into orchestral.  After researching and listening to all of the most likely options, I've decided to go with VSL.  It clearly offers the best quality sounds I've heard yet.

At the same time, it's become obvious that these quality sounds require a good learning curve in working with orchestration, the VSL library, and related post products including Vienna Suite and MIR.

I'm about to order the Special Edition Volume 1 Bundle, Vienna Instruments PRO 2, Vienna Ensemble PRO 5, MIR Pro, and Vienna Suite.

I have a lot to learn and am interested in suggestions for a beginning VSL Newbie on what resources and approaches you would recommend I consider to support this steep learning curve.  What resources and approaches have worked best for you?

Please let me know what you would suggest.

Thank you.

[Beat Kaufmann]

Hi and welcome in the "family"

Reading about your past you seem to work with a DAW (not with a scoring program)

So I recommend finding a user in your region which can show you all the necessary basics for each piece of software. You will save a lot of time because it is very hard to begin with such a lot of different and complex software (VI, VE, MIR,...). Each will use a lot of time for going "into depth". So it is important that you only get the basics first. Otherwise you will be lost in all "those worlds" (VI, VE, MIR, ARTICULATIONS, DAW, MIXING MATTERS, MIDI, EQs, COMPRESSORS, ...)

Once more I recommend an experienced user who can sort out what the basics are. This could be a successful start:

a) How to integrate the Vienna Instrument and how to manage articulations?

b) How to select articulations (and also probably when and why to select different articulations)

c) How, when and why to treat the VI's output signal with effects?

d) Some basics about mixing Audio-Signals...

After that: Create a small piece of music with all your collectetd experiences.

My opinion is, not to use any other software than the Vienna Instrument until here and eventually some SUITE Effects - just for keeping the overview. Knowing the VI a bit it is time to go on with other VSL software products. Could be that you are able to learn the use of the next software yourself (with videos, tutorials or with manuals). Next software could be:

e) Using the Vienna Ensemble (when, why)

f) Using MIR, the automatic mixing and reverb system.

g) Create a small piece with all your current knowledge (a piece of Handel's Water Music... or similar).

After that: Collect more experiences with further (your) pieces.

You will have further questions. Their answers will take you to the next levels and so on.

Final remark:

You should be very patient and give you a lot of time for reaching the final aim: natural sounding music. There are so many abilities and practical skills involved... be happy about every little step.

 

All the best and a lot of success

Beat

[Pyre]

As ever Beat's advice is excellent. I must second his warning about getting used to the basics first.

I would recommend just purchasing the libraries first, then Vienna Suite, then VI Pro, and MIR last of all. Each new level of software brings with it an enormous amount to learn, and while the products are as intuitively laid out as can be, there remains a steep learning curve simply by virtue of their complexity. I fear that buying everything at once will lead to information overload, and the overlooking of many important features of each product.

I left about a year between buying my VSL libraries and buying VI Pro, VE Pro, MIR and Suite (which come helpfully bundled in the Vienna Software Package). I am very glad I did.

While VSL is the best virtual orchestra tool out there, the work of any tool is only as good as the person using it. And while the VSL demos partly sound incredible because the products are that good, it's also because the people making them have made huge investments of time in getting to know every last feature of the software.

I'm sorry if any of the above comes across as patronising, I just say it from my own experience as someone with a habit of jumping in at the deep end and then realising what I've got myself into.

[pacificm]

Hello,

Thank you for your excellent reply and suggestions!  They are very helpful.

The thing I am wrestling with is how to locate a user in my region to show me the basics.  Since I am new to VSL and scoring, I don't know anyone.  I live in the Seattle area.

Any suggestions on how users can contact one another in the same region?  That would be something I would want to pursue if possible.  Are there regional user groups or regional scoring groups available that I could possibly contact?

Please let me know if there are suggestions I could follow.  Also, are there any good online resources available for tutorials?

Thank you!

[Beat Kaufmann]

Hello again

"Any suggestions on how users can contact one another in the same region?  That would be something I would want to pursue if possible.  Are there regional user groups or regional scoring groups available that I could possibly contact?"

Why not starting a new thread here. The title should already communicate your wish. For example:

New to VSL >> WHO CAN TEACH ME?  (area Seattle)

Please let me know if there are suggestions I could follow.  Also, are there any good online resources available for tutorials?

a) Above all: http://www.vsl.co.at/en/Products/Software#!Video_Demo

b) also: http://www.vsl.co.at/en/Academy/Other_Resources

c) of course the community: Ask all your questions here...

 

Beat Kaufmann