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  • INTRODUCING: Synchron Smart Orchestra

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    Hi everybody,

     

    An incredible step up from the already impressive Smart Orchestra: The Synchron Smart Orchestra adds a level of authenticity that enables you to paint with the big brush and then go into detail as you like!

     

    You even get the string sections from our brand-new Synchron Duality Strings and full control over the mix and close mics for each instrument and section!

     

    The tutti sections were taken from Big Bang Orchestra: Altair, while the ensembles and solo instruments are a great selection from BBO products and our flagship Synchron Series products. 

     

    Learn more about crossgrade discounts on the product page (scroll down to find the details!). 

     

    Enjoy!

     

    Paul


    Paul Kopf Product Manager VSL
  • This is a nice improvement on the original VSO Smart Orchestra, that used the old Silent Stage recordings. I think the newer Synchron stage recordings used here are the best in the business as recordings, although some of the processing/mixes others do are interesting. I wonder if an "XP" add-on will be released for this, I have that for the old VSO, it provides additional solo instruments (e.g. Violas, English Horn, Bassoon, etc.). I'd add that if it appears...

    The choir here is nice, I think it's a lot more natural sounding if you push attack to 35 and release to 85. The Harp is really really nice! The celeste sounds like the old actual celeste but a better recording in a better space. The percussion is nice, you don't mention it much on the page but it's Synchron percussion. The tuttis are all way better than the original VSO tuttis, the soloists are generally better too, although some of the old soloists were pretty good. The organization is a bit simpler than the old one.

    I think this has a good place in the VSL product line, a nice sketching library, and unlike the old one, this one sounds good enough to just stick with if the result is working for you. The Synchron player is universally acknowledged as the best player in the industry. This is a good starting point for either a piece or a virtual instrument collection. You will want an 88 key keyboard to drive this well, and a good expression pedal (or even breath controller, but those are costly) you can map to VelXF so you can jam with both hands rather than ride the mod wheel. I also have the drum pads on my controller mapped to the keyswitches. It's a lot faster to write a piece that two-handed way if you can do it, and you can just stay in this simple library and embellish plenty, and add in the "Hello!" free VSL libs too.


  • Not a big fan of ensemble libraries in general, but this one is a great sketching library with a very good quality sound. The audio demos sound extremely good and "polished" (in a positive way).

    The new lyrical legatos are beautiful. Are these really new recordings? Curious to me they sound like the VI Flute, Clarinet, Oboe and Trumpet in C. No big difference to me in terms of expression and playability, it's just a "wet" recording in a bigger room. On the other hand, it shows and proves the VI recordings have been top-notch since then.

    I want to know some more information on the mixes. They continue the way it was introduced with Duality Strings. This is no critique, I much prefer the new mixes. Only the compressors do more harm than good in my opinion. I disable them all. And I also don't understand why the room mixes get panned. But hey? If it sounds good, it is good, right? But I also get rid of all these pannings. I want a natural sound as recorded. In several threads here and at VI-control I was talking about the close/mid microphones and I never understood why these were narrowed (powerpanned). So my thinking was right all the time? What is the reason behind this new mixing approach? The close microphones are not narrowed (powerpanned), but balance panned.

    I also like the new mixer preset structure. Instead of hundred different ones, only three. I was never happy with the current ones in the Synchron libraries, because all have different settings, even across the same instrument family. What I would like to see in the future is one "classical" preset with unified settings for the tree and the room mics. And without any processing or more additional panning as needed.


  • Oh, and I hope we get lyrical legatos for all of the instruments in the future. ;) In my opinion they would be even better with some progressive vibrato as an alternative. But please the progression not too slow as in the espressivo patches. 


  • Was going to purchase synchron smart orchestra and some of the BBO's (andromeda, altair, black eye, and capricorn) that are discounted for BF.

    @Paul

    Altair is one of the BBO's I am considering but to what extent is it represented in synchron smart orchestra? Would it be redundant to acquire altair along with synchron smart orchestra or is there other content in altair that is not present in smart orchestra that would justify acquiring both?


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    Hello TonyF!

    BBO-Altair and Synchron Smart Orchestra share the same brass recordings, string and woodwind sections are similar, but come from different recordings.
    If you want more options as far as the sound is concerned, BBO-Altair may be a nice alternative to Synchron Smart Orchestra, because you have more microphone channels at hand.

    Best regards,
    Andi


    Vienna Symphonic Library
  • Are there any clear benefits with Smart orchestra over Prime edition for live playing except the price?


  • I would sure think so. This is meant for one person to play a full orchestra themselves. Synchron Prime is a traditional orchestral library, so if you want five different instruments/sections, you would need five people on five keyboards.

    Of course you aren't really explaining how many people you have playing. It could be that you actually want one person to play just flutes on one keyboard, and another person to just play oboes on a second keyboard, and another person to just play clarinets on a third keyboard, etc., and if so then Prime might make more sense.

    @johanibraaten said:

    Are there any clear benefits with Smart orchestra over Prime edition for live playing except the price?


  • Hi! The Synchron Prime Edition is a complete All-in-one orchestra that follows a more "classic" approach, as it features all instruments and sections individually.

    Vienna Smart Orchestra has been designed to play a solo instrument with one hand and the rest of the orchestra with the other. Perfect for sketching out musical ideas, composing, and quick orchestration work.

    We do offer in-depth videos for both products on our YouTube channel and the respective product pages (under the VIDEO tab).











    VSL Team | Product Specialist & Media Editing
  • This is the YT video that convinced me to purchase synchron smart orchestra. Was going to purchase some BBO's, which I did (andromeda, black eye, capricorn, dorado, and eridanus). But instead of altair I bought synchron smart orchestra.

    I know it's designed primarily for live use but I like the way the instruments are organized and segregated.

    And it supposedly has some synchron duality string samples. 😁




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    I broke down and bought Synchron Smart Orchestra today. It's really great. The woodwind soloists specially recorded for this are very strong and I'll get use of them outside of a sketching library. The brass soloists make me want Synchron Brass more than ever.


  • Tanks for the info. It seems like the smart orchestra is well suitet for live playing. However, can you use it as a soundsource for scoring in Sibelius? I read that there is some integration between Prime edition and Sibelius. How does that work, will it integrate equally good as the native Sibelius sound and are there any choir in the prime edition?

    @Andreas8420 said:

    Hi! The Synchron Prime Edition is a complete All-in-one orchestra that follows a more "classic" approach, as it features all instruments and sections individually.

    Vienna Smart Orchestra has been designed to play a solo instrument with one hand and the rest of the orchestra with the other. Perfect for sketching out musical ideas, composing, and quick orchestration work.

    We do offer in-depth videos for both products on our YouTube channel and the respective product pages (under the VIDEO tab).











  • Thanks, this is acually how i intend using it. There will be 4-8 persions with their individual keyboard playing at the same time so each person are onne section or soloist.

    @mducharme said:

    so if you want five different instruments/sections, you would need five people on five keyboards.



    @johanibraaten said:

    Are there any clear benefits with Smart orchestra over Prime edition for live playing except the price?



  • In that case then Synchron Prime might be better for you. You will have more choices of instrument that way.

    Thanks, this is acually how i intend using it. There will be 4-8 persions with their individual keyboard playing at the same time so each person are onne section or soloist.


  • Would love to know what articulation and mix preset Synchron Smart Orchestra uses for the Violins and Celli legatos. They are really really nice and I'm trying to replicate in Duality Strings.