Vienna Symphonic Library Forum
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  • SE vs Solo Instruments

    Hello,
    I'm torn between purchasing VSL Special Edition or building a library out of the solo packages. If you don't mind helping, I have two major concerns I'd like to settle before making either purchase:
    1.) I hear that the solo instrument packages have a greater number of velocity layers than the instruments contained in the Special Edition package. Is there a detailed chart/list comparing the number of velocity layers between the two?
    2.) I realize that these instruments were all recorded and sampled at the same bit rate/sample rate; however, (excluded the difference in velocity layer count) are the instruments in the Special Edition less detailed and less lush than their solo instrument counterparts?
    Thanks so much!
    -Cody

  • Hello Cody,

    I´ve got the special edtion standard and extended. In my opinion. This Package is a great start for the wonderfull world of VSL.
    So if you want to start with the complete orchester you should purchase the standard and extended version of special edtiion. If you want to buy the DVD Instruments (i beleave that you mean with the solo instruments the DVD Instruments you get an discount on the extended one. You have so the chance to build up your orchester modular:) For the velocity samples i can nothing say.

    Cheers

    Chris


  • [quote=Evenyre]

    It depends on the patch you have loaded.  My SE manual says that the solo strings stacs, detaches, sustains, portamentos and Pizzis have 3 velocity layers.  While legatos and portamentos only have 2.  I don't own solo strings so I can't tell you how many they have but I would suspect that it's more.

    [quote=Evenyre]

    2.) I realize that these instruments were all recorded and sampled at the same bit rate/sample rate; however, (excluded the difference in velocity layer count) are the instruments in the Special Edition less detailed and less lush than their solo instrument counterparts?

    My ears don't think so but you are more than welcome to listen to the SE audio demos and compare them to the larger library demos.

    The main differences between the SE and the larger collections is that the SE collection is sampled at every whole tone and transposed to cover the half tones.  The larger DVD collections are sampled at every half tone (I think that's correct).  Also, you don't get as many variations with the SE that you do with the larger collections which limits your possibilities.