Vienna Symphonic Library Forum
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  • Vienna base + Notion 4 or Vienna top + Sibelius/Finale much much later...?

    Hi guys. I need some advice from more experienced ones. I have Cubase 6 Elements, GPO 4, Miroslav Philharmonik and dongle from Cubase. Before I worked in the Jeskola Buzz - which is a freeware tracker, Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra and similar stuff, so you can imagine the workflow... Now I'm during a long process of converting some of my projects from Buzz to Cubase. I'm short of money so my purchases has to be rather kinda of upgrading line than buying a top class final product. And I'd like to ask you a few questions hoping your answers can save me from going in the wrong direction. First of all I'd like to know whether Cubase dongle will work with Vienna stuff or if I need to buy another key from Vienna? Second thing is which item to buy first - Notion 4 - which looks like the proper tool for me now, because its score notation tools look much better than those in Cubase or Sonar. Or should I buy a basic Vienna first and than upgrade it to more complex stuff? Does it matter which one I will buy first? Or maybe buying the Notion is a bad call? Which Vienna library I should buy first - having mentioned libraries? And last question - will be the full version of Cubase 7 sufficient for symphonic music /in meaning of notation and automation of expression etc./ or should I think rather about Logic? Cheers and thank you in advance for you replies and effort. Jerry

  • Cubase dongle, Vienna key, same thing.

    Cubase has the VST Expression Maps for notation, Logic does not. As notation is not nearly the execution or 'performance' by itself, I don't do a lot with the notation in it. Composing in Cubase that way is slow; the one reason I would lean on Cubase is the nested polyrhythm builder. /edit: I saw 'Logic' in your post out of an hallucination apparently./ My opinion is that composing in notation and sequencing would more or less involve two programs, Notion notwithstanding. I don't know Notion. For me the value of Finale or Sibelius lies in the capacity for a detailed proper score for printing.

    If I were you I would upgrade to Cubase 6.5 full rather than 7 as 7 is still going through some growing pains, and there have been fundamental changes to the mixer [interface].


  • Thank you for your reply - and you saw properly: Logic was and is there in my post. And what about Vienna libraries - which first should I buy as attachement/supply/replacement of GPO and Miroslav? Cheers. Jerry

  • I recognize the shortage of money. My opinion is GPO tends to be underrated and Miroslav overrated, YMMV. I would proceed from what you think kind of sucks in those and replace via the Downloads singles here [>extended]. I won't be very satisfied with the SE approach because of the lack of articulations. you may run into a particular sitch where GPO has a couple SE doesn't even.

    as per Logic and notation, the one thing I have really done in Logic was to import notation files and do a bit on top of that; my result was Logic gave a more useful result right off the bat (vs Cubase). But I rely on VE Pro and it vis a vis Logic is not a marriage made in heaven. Besides that I have a lot of preference for Cubase.


  • Generally, it is not uncommon for users of VSL to use both a notation program as well as a sequencer, as a good sequencer has more flexible tools when seeking to do quality mock-ups.

    If your budge only allows for one or the other, Cubase would be a serious suggestion, as its notation features are better than many of the other sequencers out there.  Also, if you only have the option to buy one, I would strongly suggest staying away from Sonar (which I have and use just as a sequencer) - while it is good for midi editing and sequencing, its notation features are beyond horrible.

    As for which libraries to buy, in the long run, most VSL users, if at all possible, end up buying full libraries.  The problem is that for many of us, the funds are not available to start there.  You can do well enough with the SE libraries (especially coupled with VI Pro).  One path some users have taken is to start with SE, then add the full AP Strings as funds allow.

    In so far as you can, try to figure out what it is you specifically wish to accomplish, and then slowly start to buy libraries based on your specific goals.  It is very easy to spend a lot of money heading down what turn out to be wrong directions.  Planning can help you to avoid some of that.  Especially seek to figure out which libraries sound best to you.  Each of us have our preferences based on what we may write, but that may not translate over to what you like or to what you are seeking to do.

    Best wishes as you seek to make your decisions.