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  4. Dimension Brass Auto Divisi

  • Dimension Brass Auto Divisi

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    I understand the benefit of the ensemble approach, but does auto divisi in VI Pro function any differently when using Dimension Brass versus other VSL brass libraries?   In other words, putting the ensemble sound consideration aside (granted, a big thing), are there auto divisi possibilities available that are unique to Dimension Brass versus using 4 different solo instruments (Bb trumpet, C trumpet, Cornet and Flugelhorn)?
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    Forgive me for bumping this question, but I read in another thread that Dimension Brass "solves" the divisi problem, but I am not clear about the extent to which that happens if one has VI Pro.  Parsing the value proposition with respect to divisi capabilities, my understanding is that VI Pro solves the auto divisi problem, while Dimension Brass gives one the opportunity to take advantage of this auto-divisi capability with the instrumentation not available elsewhere in the product line (e.g., 4 different Bb trumpets, 4 tenor bones, etc.)

    Is my understanding correct?  I am interested in the product and like the ensemble concept, but I want to understand what I would be gaining regarding divisi capabilities.
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    last edited
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    @aplanchard said:

    Forgive me for bumping this question, but I read in another thread that Dimension Brass "solves" the divisi problem, but I am not clear about the extent to which that happens if one has VI Pro.  Parsing the value proposition with respect to divisi capabilities, my understanding is that VI Pro solves the auto divisi problem, while Dimension Brass gives one the opportunity to take advantage of this auto-divisi capability with the instrumentation not available elsewhere in the product line (e.g., 4 different Bb trumpets, 4 tenor bones, etc.)

    Is my understanding correct?  I am interested in the product and like the ensemble concept, but I want to understand what I would be gaining regarding divisi capabilities.

     Dimension Brass solves the divisi problem by having 4 instruments of the same section that played together, but VI Pro solves the AUTO divisi problem by automating the allocation. In VI Pro the 4 trumpets/trombones  auto divisi works perfectly well (although I still prefer to play 4 separate parts because a block chord played is too synchronised), I don't believe auto divisi works well on the trombone/bass trombone/tuba section though, as unless you play a chord where the highest note goes down first and the lowest note goes down last otherwise the wrong parts will get assigned to the wrong line. Maybe VI Pro should allocate parts by pitch rather than note order.

    I now have Dimension Brass, and it is worth it for the new brass sounds that are different to previous Brass libraries, it's probably worth it just for the French Horns, they are really dynamic.
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    sounds great.  Mine is on order.  Good to hear about the horns as they are my favorite instrument of the orchestra.
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    Before this product came out, I consiered trying to acheive the same goal using the dowloaded Bb Trumpet 4 times within VI Pro, using slighly different start offsets, humanize and eq settings, auto divisi, etc. to give the illusion 4 different players. 

    Has any one tried this and acheived any measure of success?  I am curious how close one could get.
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     The auto divisi is pretty amazing in that if you play one note, a four player ensemble plays it, two notes-  it is split into two doubled, 3 - two players on one and the other two split, and four all individual notes.  It is almost eerie to hear the realism as the sound is totally realistic and instantly changes as you play.  Also, the polyphonic legato with this is incredible.  Though you have to play it right.  I prefer to control it manually with separate tracks as I am not that great a keyboard player.  But the point is that there is no problem any longer with phasing or doubling and the sound when combined or split is perfect.   

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     One other thing is that each of the instruments has a very slightly different sound on any given articulation.   In other words they are close enough to blend, but not totally the same, so that the richness of an ensemble is created.  this allows you to try various lines on 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th players to hear the difference, exactly like what would happen with a live group. 

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    I think that is the real value of this collection.  I just wonder how close one could get using VIPro setting (start offsets; humanize settings and different eq for each instrument).  I hope to have time to test that before Feb 15...
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    The humanize settings are really good and there are many presets already set up to select from.  But you don't have to do any work at all to get a great sound from the individual instruments or the various combinations that occur.   And you can definitely hear the splitting taking place.  It is so real sounding it is uncanny. 

  • J
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    Do the instruments have any stereo positioning or are they all centralised (with stereo information) like every other VSL instrument?

    The live recordings I've made with brass tends to be a combination of individual mics and a "stereo" room set-up with the best results achieved by panning the individual mic tracks to their "correct" positions within the stereo room image.

    Julian