You can turn off the IRs with Synchronized libraries. With Synchron libraries, IRs are in the samples, so the only thing you can do is to only use the close microphones. But they still contain a lot of room information.

Paolo

Hi, 

I'd like to add my thoughts here as well: 

SYNCHRON-ized collections are made from optimized VI samples... so they are very convenient to use out of the box, with perfect balance and placement @Synchron Stage Vienna. 

But of course you can use them just like in Vienna Instruments, as "a stack of lumber and cans of paint" (very nice picture, @jasensmith) to create music in a different sonic environment. 

For newcomers, Synchron is the way to go, for sure. 

Best,
Paul

Concerning preferences for VI or Synchron libraries, I would do a forecast before choosing a route. If you only plan to use these libraries in a very reverberant hall, with a modern cinematic quality, Synchron is the easy way. If you are looking one of the rare libraries that can be adapted to any situation (orchestral, chamber music, different types of hall) VI is still the best choice.

Paolo

Hi, 

Thanks for your opinion. Just saying: You can make the SYNCHRON-ized collections as dry as the VI Collections with a few clicks ;-)

Best, 
Paul

Hi,

Thank you, everyone, for all the input.

Jasen, Paolo, as Paul said already, you can easily play the Synchron libraries' samples drily — actually that was of one my first questions before deciding to go the Synchron route.

Lucy, thank you especially for the pointers on MIR Pro... You've disentangled one of my main concerns with it, I now know what to expect and how to proceed.

All the best, António

@Paul said:

You can make the SYNCHRON-ized collections as dry as the VI Collections with a few clicks 😉

Isn't it also true you can disable some of the mic channels in the mixer of the Synchron libs in order to get dry samples there too, or do the Synchron libraries actually have ER's and tails baked into them in a way they can't be isolated?

All mics have reverb baked in. The closer the mic, the more direct the signal. But to my ears, the room can always be heard even with the closest mike. It's the core difference between native Synchron and Vienna Instruments samples. 

Thanks for clarifying that!  Good to know.

Hi Jasen,

I see no reason for you to apologize, none whatsoever. This said, I'm affraid you seem somewhat mistaken about Synchron libraries... As I said in my previous reply, and Paul even before that, you can easily play Synchron libraries' samples drily... Meaning, you can easily play — it's only a matter of a few clicks — any sample from a Synchron library without any panning, reverb, etc..

All the best, António

I am testing out Synchron Strings 1 and so far very impressed. VSL have been on a huge journey throughout the years, generating incredible libraries and software for the world that really no one else could have done. In my view this latest approach is the holy grail and actually represents the best of both worlds - a beautiful ready to use sound that is natural, and also flexible enough with the MID and close mics to use as a dry library. I'm a loooong time user of VI Pro, VE Pro, and MIR and I know all these libraries and software more or less back to front and inside out :) 

The Synchron Strings recorded on the Synchron stage are supposed to have the sound of that beautiful location imprinted on it *naturally*. Even then it is dry without the added reverb by way of the reverb channel in the multi mic mixer. Because all venue recordings add a touch of reverb on to the final recording (almost all). In the old days it was a Lexicon, Quantec or TC Electronic. They are creating a classic orchestral recording signal chain and process with immense flexibility.

If you want a dry sound to feed into MIR, all you need to do is turn off the Reverb channel in Synchron player, as well as the main mic (if using Decca mix) and the room mix. I've even compared the Mid Mic mix on it's own with the VI Pro samples and they are very similar sounding, just richer. I think the close mic on it's own is too dry, but if you really want that, it's there as well.

The MID mic + a bit of Close MIC fed into MIR, or even just the MID mic into MIR will be absolutely in my opinion dry enough to place in any of the locations MIR provides and not suffer at all, and also nice an efficient for your CPU. For many people, even the Main decca mic plus the MID and/or Close into MIR will also still be dry enough.