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  3. Tutorials (Spectrasonics vs. VSL)

  • Tutorials (Spectrasonics vs. VSL)

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    Hi All,

    Before I start please let me say that I'm not having a rant and also I'm very appreciative of the extra VSL instruments provided by Herb et al.

    However, I'm also a big fan of spectrasonics and have recently bought Stylus RMX. RMX has just been updated to version 1.5 bringing a host of new (free) features too. What really has impressed me though is the level and detail in their video tutorials.

    If any of you have seen these I'm sure you'll agree that they are fantastic both in terms of content and production values. Most of all they are free!! The 1.5 update itself has provided over 4.5 hours of additional video tutorial.

    My point is that if Spectrasonics who are selling a $299 package can produce and provide this level of tutorial for free why can't other companies, such as VSL provide the same coverage for a product that costs 10+ times as much. Yes I've seen the VSL tutorial DVD (which is not free) and it doesn't come close to the level of coverage for RMX.

    I think that all companies should take a leaf out of Spectrasonics customer friendly approach and aim to provide tutorial support of equal quality.

    Anybody else feel likewise?

    Regards

    Tim


    PS. VSL is still the best orchestral sample library in the world though! [H]
  • B
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    Amazing. I was going to write an e-amil saying the same thing.

    VSL has a great product. But the tutorial is horrible. It's as if you're supposed to know how the guy is thinking even though he's been using the library for years!
    Native Instrument's Absynth 3 tutorial and Spectrasonic's RMX tutorial are clear and they walk you through step by step on every aspect of the product!

    For example, provide more details exampes of the performance tool in it's use in a song.
  • B
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    Anyone seen the EWQL SChoirs tut videos? They're pretty hilarious.
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    How do you find them hilarious?
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    Anyone heard the new Thomas Bergerson demo for SC? Now THATS a good demo!! [[:|]]

    Why does East West have such poor demos for SC I have no idea. They could get rid of half of them, and it would look so much better.

    Ed
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    @Christian Marcussen said:

    How do you find them hilarious?


    I think what he means is that they don't exactly provide the answers that one hopes for. It certainly is better than nothing, but it can be vague when what you really want is specificity. IMHO the musical examples are not ideal. I would have preferred a Bach choral than the instructors improvisations.

    As for a comprehensive VSL tutorial... I think that would be amazing too. The performance tool tutorial and the ones by Beat Kauffman are very good in their own right, and much appreciated I might add. I'm sure the guys at Vienna are overwhelmed with their other projects like the symphonic cube and MIR to focus on a tutorial the way we all want. Somehow I think one is in the works though...
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    Spectrasonics has the correct philosophy that if they fully explain their products that more sales will come their way (thus the 'free' video set). Their tutorials are bar none - the best in the business.

    Rob
  • N
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    The Spectrasonics videos are good, but I'm glad they're coming out with a manual. I much prefer reading about a product at my speed to watching a video and going at someone else's speed and direction.

    One problem is that developers are too close to their products and tend to be self-congratulatory in videos ("such and such and such...WHICH IS REALLY COOL"; "and another POWERFUL FEATURE bla bla bla..."). I try to remind myself that they're proud of their work, but it still turns me off to hear that all the time.

    They all tend to do it.
  • B
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    I just went over the Stylus RMX demo abd it was clear as a bell. Sure they're patting themselves on the back, but they have a good reason to. It's a remarkable product.

    VSL has a very remarkable product but they didn't consult an outside source before they made it. They only show little parts of info.

    It's like stepping in on a conversation as you walk in on the last sentence...
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    I agree. I just bought RMX last week and the tutorials are first class. And for US$399 - what a quality product. Amazing!

    I also bought the VSL DVD for 1st edition performance set tutorials, beacause after 2 years, I'm still not proficient in the perf tool... so taking Spectrasonic's lead, maybe a video will teach me what I need for VSL...

    Well, that was a waste of $50 (including shipping). This should have been free for download, or a cost of goods + shipping (Spectrasonics sells the DVD for $15)

    I also like how the demo never uses the patches with mediocre intonation, inconsistent articulations, and and limited playable range.

    Maybe the art file updates for GS3 will make me feel better about my investment.
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    @Ed said:

    Anyone heard the new Thomas Bergerson demo for SC? Now THATS a good demo!! [[:|]]

    Why does East West have such poor demos for SC I have no idea. They could get rid of half of them, and it would look so much better.

    Ed


    That was the same I thought! I heard the French Oboe demo from Thomas and wanted to know which choir he uses. I began to search for an official Website or sth like that ... nothing ... but the Soundsonline Forum linked to the new Choir Demo from Thomas and i recognized that it is Symphonic Choir. Its sounds so real in the first Moment! Only the Kyre Demo is in the same Quality. The other ones ... [*-)]. There was no chance for me to rate Symphonic Choir, because I didnt know what reflects the real quality these Kyre ore the other [*-)] - Demos. The Thomas Demo opened my eyes and i got "affinity" to it.

    Don know why i tell so much abaut it [:P]. To practice my english maybe...
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    @Ed said:

    Anyone heard the new Thomas Bergerson demo for SC? Now THATS a good demo!! [[:|]]

    Why does East West have such poor demos for SC I have no idea. They could get rid of half of them, and it would look so much better.

    Ed


    EastWest only finally woke up to the idea that their products need a decent manual after pressure from users, and the initiative of a User who began putting one together himself!..... [8-)] However, the XP Pro Upgrades do have a good manual. But the Kontakt interface is still rather fiddly to use, so the Cube looks more fun and more intuitive.

    But... (back on topic): I totally agree with this post. Spectrasonics are incredibly innovative in features and user-friendliness....they have the most liberal licencing system of any developer too, and I suspect that all strengthens customer loyalty. I would buy any Spectrasonics product blind.

    I've benefited personally from great support with specific issues, so I don't want to knock the VSL team who are really helpful. But a state-of-the-art product should really come with some effective learning tools. VSL is a major investment for anyone, pro or non-pro, and I think part of support is helping people to get working as quickly and as effectively as possible. The QT movies introducing the Cube are a good start.

    Nigel