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  4. Kontakt 5 VSL versus VSL original

  • Kontakt 5 VSL versus VSL original

    P
    P

    Hello there, recently I bought Kontakt 5, which includes a "special" version of the VSL.
    In what way are these samples different from the actual, most recent version of VSL?
    My special interest goes to the clarinet, which I play myself.
    I am not very happy with the Kontakt 5 VSL clarinet.
    The main problem is the hesitant attaque in the forte, but also the instability of the tones.
    Is "the real thing" from VSL better?

    Thanks in advance - Peter.
  • G
    G

    This may explain it:

    http://www.native-instruments.com/forum/threads/kontakts-5-the-vienna-symphonic-library-vs-the-other-vienna-symphonic-library.157524/
  • J
    J

    If I recall it correctly, VSL just gave NI the samples back then. I think all the programming and whatever was done to the material afterwards was done by NI. Which explains why those instruments sound and behave so very different from the actual VSL stuff. I believe that the Kontakt patches don't even have VSLs legato script, do they?
  • G
    G

    You also have to take in consideration that the Vienna Instruments player (and the pro version) is a key variable in this equation. Kontakt version VSL instruments aren't (imo) even remotely comparable in their performance shaping & fine detail tuning possibilities to VI/VI PRO played VSL instruments.
  • P
    P
    last edited
    last edited

    Dear all, thanks for your suggestions.
    I googled some more, with [kontakt 5 vsl] and [kontakt vsl versus vsl].
    I found some other articles, on:
    kvraudio
    native instruments

    It seems likely that VSL sold the original samples to NI, without any programming or scripts.
    And not all the articulations or dynamics. And not all the instruments, such as Piccolo or Contra-bassoon.
    NI put them in their own ncw-format so that they can't be used in other programs.
    But I simply recorded the samples in wav through my soundcard by playing them in Kontakt one by one. Piece of cake. And lossless.
    Then I could closely study and edit the samples in my (still very useful) Cool Edit 2000.
    With these edited samples I easily programmed my own clarinet in Kontakt 5.

    Kontakt not only contains a VSL library, but also a Legacy VSL.
    Suggestions exist that the Legacy sample set differs from the regular one.
    However, I cannot hear or see any difference between them.
    It looks like the samples have remained the same for quite a while.

    Besides that SOS mentions there is a legato articulation in the Kontakt Legacy set.
    I don't see that, unless they mean the "Release Trigger" instrument.
    (My recently built clarinet plays a convincing legato, just with the same release as in sustained mode.)

    In the mean time I have become very curious how the Vienna Player makes a decent clarinet out of these (I think) sub-optimal tones.
    I'm thinking about buying the Woodwinds SE, which are now in promotion.
    When I do, I will keep you posted.