Vienna Symphonic Library Forum
Forum Statistics

181,835 users have contributed to 42,188 threads and 254,610 posts.

In the past 24 hours, we have 4 new thread(s), 30 new post(s) and 53 new user(s).

  • Looking to get a Vienna package, not sure which one to get?

    Hi, so I've heard VSE are really the  reccomended orchestration, and I'm a heavily limited by the logic pro orchestration that come with it. I'm a pretty serious musician but when it comes to technology not so much. I'm really kind of anxious getting the wrong package, I think sound is really important to me, but all of the sounds it comes with seems a bit too much for me. I don't think I need that many but I need the full orchestration.  So I was wondering if there was a package that had all the stuff but I don't think I need that many different selections for each instrument?I have a macbook pro 13 inch retina, and I have no space on it so I'm using a 2 terrabyte external hardrive. Would this be a problem or would I need to upgrade to a better computer? Anyways is there a package you'd reccomend ?Also how compatable is this with logic pro x?


  • Hi

    I would start with the Special Edition Complete bundle. If you don't have the money, take the Core bundle. What is your budget ? It's hard to tell without knowing that. Hope it helps.

    Kind regards

    David


  • Thank you for the response. It's really hard to say, I mean I'm guessing its a long term investment, so really going by bang for the buck. Would the special addition bundle 1 -4 be all I need in addition to the key? It is definitely pricey and already went far beyond my intended budget but it's something I feel like I would inevitably need to get.  


  • So in this case just take the Special Edition Volume 1 (Basic Instruments with basic articulations)

    This can then extended with Special Editions based on your needs in future with

    Special Edition Volume 2 (More Instruments / Sections with basic articulations)
    Special Edition Volume 1+ (more articullations for the instruments of VOlume 1)

    VSL has quite nice upgrades discounts (so you never pay for something twice) 


  • I checked it out and it seems like volume 1 has everything except the choir which I think is essential. So maybe 1 and 4? How well do you think the choir is? Or would it make sense to get volume 1 and then also the the vocal package, depending on how sufficient is the one included in S.e. is. Thanks alot 


  • What I did, to begin, was to take Special Edition Volume 1, its PLUS addition, and the woodwinds from Volume 2 (including the PLUS addition). You might need some different additional instruments, and you can choose the needed sections as you like.

    I like the Special Edition very much. It costs little, sounds great, and may have everything you need, if you don't plan to make the most realistic mockups. I think the PLUS addition is a must, however, since it includes articulations that I consider essential to an acceptable realism (round robins, repetitions).

    Paolo


  • SE 1 complete is a really good start. SE 2 complete is a really great addition. I haven't heard the choir from SE 4, but 255 is a lot to spend just for a very watered down choir especially considering the Standard Choir is 345.

    A few things you should know: The SE instruments are watered down versions of the regular libraries (which contain a lot more articulations and samples). However SE gives you a good collection of articulations (especially with the plus versions) and will put a lot less strain on your computer compared to the regular libraries.

    All VSL libraries (other than Synchron series) are recordered "dry" you will need to add reverb to them. Getting one or more MIRx reverbs will give you fantastic results and is very easy to use. You'll also eventually want to get VI Pro.

    Finally, VSL seems to have a new sale practically every month, so if you can't afford to get everything you want in one go, you can always start with SE 1 and a MIRx, then just wait for everything else you want to go on sale.

    Best of luck,

    Michael


  • So i got volume 1 special edition and the choir and it all sounds great. The only thing is I'm having trouble with logic pro, so when I open it up through logic it works and everything, then when I set up a new instrument on the next track it changes the instrument from the original track. I tried changing the channel and nothing. ANy help.

    Nvm got it working!


  • One last question, sorry. When I change the articulation on a track the whole track changes to that articulation. Is there any way to go from one articulation to the other without having to create a new track for each articulation?


  • last edited
    last edited

    The most basic way is to load an articulation for each cell and assign a MIDI Controller (usually keyswitch, a note outside the playing range, eg C1 for sustain, D1 for legato, E1 for pizzicato etc.) to move from a cell/articulation to another. Then you write a short corresponding note every time you want to change articulation.

    There are several ways to organize your cells/articulations, you can pile it rows or strips, per kind (all the legatos, all the staccatos) and so on.

    You can refer to Beat Kaufmann quite inexpensive (and some for free) tutorials on this and other topics about using Vienna libraries,

    Start keeping things simple and let your skills in using VSL grow along your knowledge of Vienna Instruments possibilities.

    Hope it helps.

    (I'm working on some screenshots for you. I'll keep you posted when ready)


    VI Special Edition 1-3, Reaper, MuseScore 3, Notion 3 (collecting dust), vst flotsam and jetsam
  • I forgot to mention that Keyswitches must precede the note you want to be played with a different articulation.
    In the screenshots I have exaggerated the gap between keyswitch and note start for visualization purposes only.
    Don't care of the "next keyswitch" falling along the duration of previous note: articuation change takes action when a new note is triggered.

    Still, there are situations where single articulation are easily managed on a track on its own, so you don't have to set or even automate lot of parameters (switch velocity cross fade off, change reverb amount, overall level etc) just for a few notes or bars in a passage — I often work this way with pizzicatos. But that's a different story…

    Image


    VI Special Edition 1-3, Reaper, MuseScore 3, Notion 3 (collecting dust), vst flotsam and jetsam
  • Oh great, thank you so much!!


  • Sorry quick question. everything was working great but one day I opened logic and my library isn't coming up the way it normaly does. I open vsl and the instruments arn't there and the articulations that I'm using are showing up red. My guess is that logic is no longer looking at the external hardrive where the library is contained. NOt sure how to fix this. The ereader says it has the libraries