Ah great! It's awesome I don't have to worry about placing them in MIR... Can't wait for the new player!

"...how long the note should sustain is simply not available at the moment a mere note-on message is received and at which the algorithm would have to pick an articulation."

Are you suggesting that VSL developers can't break the time-space continuum, i.e., tell the future? :-)  I too was going to discuss the impossibilities, but A. I have a lot of faith in VSL to do something outside of my imagination, B. they might aim for a "second pass" algorithm (as Kai described), and C. it was bedtime. But you are correct, of course, that note-on and velocity only, played live, has too little information to pick sample length and playing style. 

Bring on the speculation. I haven't seen a tease campaign this much fun since the advent of Vienna Instruments. 

By the way, for you folks in the States, you're getting a further discount (over 15%) if you buy in dollars (Ilio, et al) than online (in Euros). That is another kindness VSL extends, often unnoticed. It makes the math a whole lot simpler. Also, if you buy in Euros from the States, your credit card may ding you with a currency conversion fee.

There's a speed bump, though, with Ilio: they can take a day or so to confirm the purchase and send the codes. 

Great Paul, but we need an strings-only demo! 

A couple of questions for VSL:

Is the new Synchron Player only for Synchron libraries, or will it be able to be used with the older libraries as well?

I'm really interested in the articulation switching, especially when played live. Could you post a video of someone playing a string section in real time showing how how different articulations are triggered or switched to? Also, seeing a video of how articulations are triggerd in Sibelius would be very helpful.

Thanks!

Michael

Hi,

I went ahead, and purchased VSL Synchron Strings (Full Version) .  

I used some VSL Vouchers I was holding on to quite a while back, which came in very handy !  

Looking forward to more info. updates, and some really well crafted audio demos, and if possible some video tutorial demos of the new Synchron Player in action playing the new Synchron Strings I. 

I'm super confident that Synchron Stirngs I sound amazing !  

Thank You Very Much VSL, and Congratulations for making the move to your Synchron Stage based Libraries. I'm super excited, and delighted with these new developemnts, and would love to see the Brass, Woodwinds, then more Strings, ..etc. Released as time goes by. 

Cheers,

Muziksculp 

There are some things that I would miss without MIR. Especially the PreEQs ("Silk" blends normal Strings so well with Mutet Strings). Please add the MIR PreEQ to the Synchron-Player if possible.

Thanks.

I've never been more excited about a library. Never.

For years I only ever used VSL. Now I do use others, but VSL is always my favorite. BUT... the only reason I ever used anyone else was softer staccato attacks, more RR's for some articulations, and brilliant rooms. You guys didn't just take user feedback seriously, you took it to a whole freaking new level. Am I surprized? No. Am I freaking out with giddishly awesome joy? Possibly. It's so... beautiful. 😢🎉😃

Can't wait to hear the demos!

-Sean

Can someone explain what this means from the product info page: "We’ve developed a new sampling process wherein all performances are recorded and edited at 'fixed gain'"?

@nektarios said:

Can someone explain what this means from the product info page: "We’ve developed a new sampling process wherein all performances are recorded and edited at 'fixed gain'"?

I am assuming it means that the natural dynamic levels of each layer are captured in relation to each other so that the correct dynamic range of the instrument is preserved, also preserving the natural balance with the other instruments.  If that is the case and will extend to future brass and woodwind that would be very welcome. 

Achieving accurate balance between dynamic layers and different instruments that are all recorded at essentially the same volume is both tricky and frustrating despite the tools available - and when it comes to dynamic layer balancing almost impossible to do in any meaningful way with the current software.

I also notice there is no mention of performance trills (I'm guessing the half and whole trills listed are the traditional sampled type) - is this because they are simply included as the fastest layer of performance legato?  Considering the number of repetitions that are now available this would make sense - and would be very convenient.

Wow, that is awesome! 

I have already bought it

SYNCHRON STRINGS I

SYNCHRON STRINGS I include all these instruments?

The sections of 1st violins (14), 2nd violins (10), violas (8), cellos (8), and double basses (6)

Actually, I do use other libraries such as Berlin Strings and only reason I ever used anyone else was too much better legato script, short note attacks and huge detail sampled short/long articulations, etc. You didn't just take user feedback seriously.

Have you made decision yet on any usefull articulations as bellow ?

Legato Slurred, Expressive
Legato Agile
Legato Fingered
Ostinato Arpeggio Legato slow/fast

Spiccatissimo
Spiccato
Spiccato Exposed
Staccato
Staccato Bold
Martele FFF
Portato Short
Portato Long
Repetitions slow/fast
Blurred Spiccato
Blurred Staccato
Blurred Portato

Flageolet Sustain
Sustain Soft
Sustain Immediate
Sustain Accented
Sustain Expressive Dyn (Short expr.)
Sustain Expressive Dyn (Long expr.)

Sul Ponticello Leg
Sul Ponticello Tremolo
Sul Ponticello Tremolo Accented
Sul Ponticello Staccato
Sul Ponticello Sustain
Sul Tasto Legato
Sul Tasto Portato Short
Sul Tasto Portato Long
Sul Tasto Sustain Immediate
Sul Tasto Sustain Soft
Sul Tasto Tremolo

Hm, you know the Berlin Strings than so you will know that their 

• section size is something between an a bit to small symphonic or a bit to large chamber ensemble
• it comes without any real recorded con sordino samples at all.
• and it has not more mic-posittions then the standard version of the SyStr. and
• ithas just half of the amount of velocitylayers ( not to talk abot the large amount of Variants recorded for each articulationtype in SyStr.)

The Berlin Strings Articulationlist seems to be impressive on the first glance, but as far as I understood VSL SyStr. is nothing more than a Volme 1.

I am pretty sure that a Volume II will include not only an original sordino articulationset as we know it from VSL (I expect also the Sul Pont, Sul Tasto, Harmonics articulations we have got for all previous VSL stringlibraries).

But yes the different legatotypes seem to be not that different if you compare just the names. But again when it comes to recorded Variants and Vel.Layers the SyStr seem to provide that much more real recorded details of the stringsound that scripting must not so much alter synthetically the recorded Stringsound as it seem to me pretty audible the case for the Berlin Strings

However Lets wait what the audible reality of SyStr will be, since technical details and features are one side. Viennese Strings another 😉

@Tensivity said:

• What's in the standard versus the full library?  Am I really going to shell out another 350 clams for it without knowing what the contents are?  

From the product description

"The Standard Library and Full Library of Synchron Strings I both include the same articulations. The difference lies in the number of provided microphone positions"

My initial impression was that this would be a great library to have, but I'm happy with Dimension Strings etc. However, with 8 dynamic layers this could be something really different. I feel this could be one of those libraries that fills a need that I didn't know I had, and that is exciting. The player seems like it could be a great timeseaver as well for quick mockups.

Any first reactions to Synchron Strings I? 

I have a lot of other VSL libraries along with MIR and the Synchron stage pack so I'm a little leary of jumping in without having more information about what this will do that what I already have won't. The new Synchron player appears to be a key element and we don't know when that will be available. 

Snything that simpliefies the process and makes it more intuitive is great but sure would be nice to hear what you think.

Geoff

@Another User said:

... a presumed "scientific volume" of an instrument on a stage. So many variables with fuzzy definitions: Which instrument? Who's the player? What notes were played? ... And: Who has been listening?

https://www.vsl.co.at/community/posts/t41142p2-MIRx-natural-volume-without-MIRx?=#post247133

@Another User said:

... a presumed "scientific volume" of an instrument on a stage. So many variables with fuzzy definitions: Which instrument? Who's the player? What notes were played? ... And: Who has been listening?

https://www.vsl.co.at/community/posts/t41142p2-MIRx-natural-volume-without-MIRx?=#post247133

I had discussion before some years ago, I don't remember if it was on this forum or another one and I do remember that was the position VSL took - however I hope that has changed.  New experience and technological advancement over time bring new possibilities.  If they didn't then why make a new library of instruments already covered?   😊

In general dynamic relations can have many variables - but the variables in this case are pretty cleanly defined, and from where I'm watching it seems to be by design.  The instruments are being recorded in position in the same hall - based on the diagrams it seems the plan is very much to fill out the whole orchestra with their seating intact in relation to each other.  The array of microphones will be in the same position for all, and I would assume they will be the very same microphones each time.  Based on this setup the relations in dynamics between layers and between different instruments (including the effect relative distance plays) is very much measureable, and I would say extremely relevant.

In the end it begs the question - if this is not what they are doing, then what on earth does the "fixed gain" mean?  Just to have uniform volume within individual dynamic layers?  That's not terribly exciting.. because VSL has done a good job of that since the very first library.. it hardly seems like something to advertise as a new feature..

It is certainly my hope this is what they are doing - I respectfully disagree that natural dynamic levels and correct dynamic range cannot be provided by sample libraries - yes, decisions have to be made, you obviously cannot cover every possibility of live interaction.  But then again these libraries are a snapshot of the Synchron players, in the Synchron hall, using the Synchron recording chain - so why not?  That correct dynamic relationships are perceiveable is hard to dispute - because it is so painfully obvious in its absence.  😉