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  • I'm looking to buy the right Vienna library

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    😶 - I see a lot of catagories for Vienna but I am always unsure which to get! And it makes me confused which is the ideal one to purchase for an aspiring composer sound designer like myself.

    I am a user of East West Symphonic Ochestra (Gold) instruments.
    I am wondering what can give me a similar offering like East West Symphonic Ochestra has done for me.
    I would love to have very fast ochestral articulations and so on and of course general articulations to be covered and so forth, not looking into ochestral effects or crazy slide transitions, however I do focus primarily on very detailed sounds in fast composing articulations. 

    🤔 Which library should I check out, or what would be the right one to purchase? I am mainly looking for a general brass section, string sections (that can cover fast staccato's and other short filled variations) , violins, viaola, cello and so on, woodwinds like flutes and so forth would be nice as well for general articulations. However I rarely do use the flute for most composing sections, so I could easily live without some woodwinds and (choirs)

    All in all, point i'm trying to make is I'd like to have a general library of ochestra sounds at disposal, however I always focus on the strings being articulate enough for very fast sections and slower legato etc.  ðŸ˜Š


  • The «special edition» is a wonderful package...

    https://www.vsl.co.at/en/Special_Editions/Special_Edition_Complete_Bundle

     You must consider to add :

     Vienna instrument Pro 

     https://www.vsl.co.at/en/Vienna_Software_Package/Vienna_Instruments_PRO

     and MIR x

     https://www.vsl.co.at/en/MIRx/MIRx_Bundle

     All together its a great great tool.

     Take time to read specifications and listen exemples.

     Best


  • You didn't mention your budget but I agree with Alain that the Special Editions are a great place to begin your VSL adventure.

    However, you said you would like to have"Very fast orchestral articulations"  and to me that sounds like you might be interested in the performance trills which I use for fast passages.  I don't know if you can get the perf. trills in any of the SE collections so be sure to read the sample content for whatever product you choose very carefully.

    Also, you mentioned you were a sound designer?  IMHO the Vienna Suite is better suited for that than MIRx

     http://vsl.co.at/en/Vienna_Software_Package/Vienna_Suite_PRO  

    because you get more plug in units like converbs, hybrid reverbs, exciter, EQs and more.  You can demo the VS for free. and watch the videos with it.  They are very helpful.

    I'm sure others will chime in but all in all listen to the demos, watch the videos and read the product information very carefully to be sure you're buying the right product for your needs.


  • As others have said, the Special Editions are a good place to start.  If at all possible get the Plus portions as well, as the plus portions (for SE 1 and SE 2) add some additional key articulations.  SE 1 provides the basics for a core classical period type orchestra, while SE 2 adds additional instruments more akin to a late Romantic period.  For what it sounds like you want to be doing, you will probably want both SE 1 and SE 2.

    Especially with the SE libraries, getting VI Pro will really help.  WIth the stretch function in VI Pro, you can create a number of variations on the existing articulations to give greater variety.

    Depending on budget, another option is to go with SE, and also add AP strings, or depending on interests, possibly chamber strings instead.  In the long run, the full libraries have a wealth of options not included in SE.  However the sound of SE is very good.  Many on another forum consider the VSL SE woodwinds to be all one really needs, and adding a full strings library fills out that most important section (with the full libraries it is helpful, if possible, to get both the standard and the extended portions - yes it does get confusing).

    I also used to use EWQLSO Gold and later Platinum in the old Kontakt version.  You will find that the VSL libraries are much more consistent in terms of articulations, and the VSL software is outstanding - you can configure your instruments/patches however you want.  There will be a bit of a learning curve.  Generally, for those new to VSL, it is best to start with the free VI, and once familiar with that, then to upgrade to VI Pro.

    The sound of VSL is very different from EWQLSO Gold, and having both will give you much more flexibility with your sonic options.


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    If you are looking for very fast string articulations, you will probably be happier with the full versions of the string libraries. They have so many more articulations and samples then the SE libraries have. I'd listen to the demo of the different strings to see which ones you like. I'm guessing the Orchestral or Appassionata might be what you are looking for. (That is if you want a "big" string sound.)

    Be aware that all VSL samples are recorded "dry" so you can use any reverb on them you want. This throws some people off who are used to libraries with built in verb.

    I haven't tried this out yet, but you can audition the different libraries online now Audition Credit

    I believe each instrument only includes a limited number of articulations, but that and listening to the audio demos should give you a better idea of what each library is like.

    Michael


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    🤔 Apassionata sounds a lot like what I'd like to do (With a full string library I may need to keep in mind)

    Vienna SE sounds much nicer than my east west library I have right now, which is a big upgrade; however I can't demo it without spending some sort of cash in mind; so I'd like to get exactly if not very similar to what I need.

    I wanted to give a bigger reason why I have been interested in purchasing a string library or samples from VSL.
    I just can't find that... right "spiccato + staccato" heavy epic action type string sounds I want in very fast passages with east west. A lot of the sounds I like is from NI "action strings" 

    But the difference is; I want complete control of those articulations and sounds/creating my own passages.
    I feel VSL if I can find the right library, may be a step into the right direction for me, Apassionata sounds very up to par with what I am hearing maybe allowing me to save a couple hundred from SE if it's possible. 

    I am open to other string library suggestions as well on here or even private message. (I live in the states) However from what I am aware I feel VSL can cover any catagory in the ochestra and it's just finding the right library for me.

    Can anyone confirm Apassionata may be what I want to hear/need? NI Action Strings is primarily the type of sounds I am going for in the spiccato and staccato sections of string composing. However you cannot make your own phrases and have control of each note you want, that's what I'd like if I purchased a string library. ðŸ˜Š


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    @A Fancy Casino said:



    Can anyone confirm Apassionata may be what I want to hear/need? NI Action Strings is primarily the type of sounds I am going for in the spiccato and staccato sections of string composing.

    Appassionata wouldn't be my first choice for that. IMO what they really excel at are warm, rich sounding, flowing sustained notes, legato melodies, lush orchestrations etc. The different legatos and sustains are definitely the strong point of that library.

    The snapiness and tightness you're looking for however is much easier achieved with smaller sections. The more players, the richer the sound, but at the expense of tightness. Appassionata violins are 20 (!) players and you can hear that. The legatos are super-rich and soft, but that also means that the spiccatos and staccatos are not very snappy and quite "flubby".

    The Orchestral Strings short notes have a much more aggressive and tight attack and lend themselves much more to those cinematic repeated patterns etc. The downside for me personally is that the long articulations, while nice and elegant sounding, come across a bit too even and sterile for my liking. Appassionata sounds much more lively and animated.

    I have the full Appassionata library and the Special Edition versions of the Orchestral and Chamber strings. Most of the time, I will use Appassionata for the long articulations and a custom layered patch for the shorts - Appassionata combined with either the Orchestral or Chamber shorts, in order to get add tighter and sharper attack that the Appassionatas can't produce on their own.