And BTW - I get frustrated enough with having to jockey with and switch between multiple instances of a competitor's NI Kompakt interface because it only has eight midi channels... []

The more I learn, the more the new VI instruments seem more appropriate for live performance...

This was just an example - and who is to say what is the 'right' way and what is the 'wrong' way? The fact is in the past I had the flexibility to accomplish usage like this within my workflow. And you actually make my point - they would have to be in separate tracks - but within Giga this was no problem. Having multi-instance floating around to do something as simple as performing multiple layered articulations just doesn't sound like fun.

I must admit that this has me confused as well. Each VI instance only provides a single midi channel, and a single stereo output? So, for instance, a basic string quartet would require four active instances? And if I want to have say Pizz. violins play alongside legato violins this would require two instances? This makes no sense at all. Even the basic NI Kompakt player can handle 8 midi channels/audio outputs...

The Vienna Instruments are blowing my mind! Congratulations on a major achievement. As an avid user of your Horizon Chamber Strings, I was curious about the new samples to that library. Are Ponticello or Sul Tasto samples included? I don't believe there are, but the articulation list is confusing -- as it shows those two categories listed for the Chamber Violas, but without listing any actual sample sets. So I'm hoping the mistake was in not listing the available Ponticello and Sul Tasto samples, instead of in mistakenly listing those sample categories...

At any rate, thrilled at the possibilities and look forward to trying to create some wonderful music with your tools.

The article you post is ancient (from March 2004), and I think only confuses what is in store for us here (much of the 'new' instruments they reference - such as the solo and small string sections, were released as Horizon Products like Solo Strings and Chamber Strings). If you have enjoyed using Chamber Strings for the past months (as I have) why are you questioning your purchase of them?

Isn't V-Span a video conferencing company???

Getting to the party late, but must admit that VSL knows how to create a buzz!

I might be way off on this, but for some reason I keep imagining that VSL is going back to a hardware solution for the Cube. Basically a 'black box' that contains the entire sample library with its own dedicated interface, built in performance tools, and a proprietary 64 bit OS that will allow all the ram required to run the thing -- along with flexible methods for audio and midi I/O...

Maybe its that the graphics of a cube on the teaser intro reminds me so much of Mac's G4 Cube.

I know this couldn't be it - and most would be in an uproar with the investments we've made in Giga and Kontakt along with other libs, but speculating sure is fun!

Thank you Herb! That really helps, and the effect in practice is quite good - especially on fast passages with the spiccatos. Also, I appreciate getting direct feedback from the creator of the company - that is special.

Chamber Strings is a fantastic product that derserves to be talked about more...

Just received Chamber Strings - a library that I have lusted after for almost a year. I must say that, of all the libraries that I currently possess, this one stuns me for its uniform excellence, musicality, and realism. Great job VSL! Makes me want to put on a white powdered wig and coat with tails, and start cranking out rollicking concertos (maybe it's just me?)

Curious, though, about the performance spiccato and detache patches. I've searched the forum and found other questions on this topic - but didn't completely grasp the responses. It would seem that these patches, like the performance legatos, utlilize the performance tool to activate appropriate transition samples from note to note. The effect clearly seems to work -- but is also subtle (at least to my ears - perhaps I'm not using them right.)

What is the actually philosophy behind these patches? In other words - what problem was VSL trying to solve? What do the performance spiccato and detache patches provide that simple individual short notes won't give? Just curious - so that I'll know their proper application.

Kind Regards - and thanks for the inspiring tools!

Agreed! Just ordered the GS version for myself, and can't wait for them to arrive. The depth of expressiveness and character of this library makes it one of the best, as far as I can tell ("Illness and Recovery" on the demo page is my all-time favorite sample library demo).

I've been waiting a long long time for the price to drop a bit...

I don't believe the legato samples are looped in Chamber Strings, but the GS3 updated .art files for Chamber Strings offers the 'mod-wheel blend to sustain patch' solution:

_PERF-LEGATO
SUS-BLEND
VI-6_perf-leg_p_slow+SB
VI-6_perf-leg_p_fast+SB
VI-6_perf-leg_f_slow+SB
VI-6_perf-leg_f_fast+SB
VI-6_perf-leg_f_porta+SB
VI-6_perf-leg_f_sul+SB
VI-6_perf-det+SB
VI-6_perf-leg_p+f_slow_vel+SB
VI-6_perf-leg_p+f_fast_vel+SB

Might not be a perfect solution for all, but it is a functional way to achieve a longer sustain on the target note.

If you haven't already, see the string on GS3 .art files in the giga forum...

To each their own. I love the score.

Wow! Michael Price weighed in on this. Now that is cool...

I think the limitation to this point has largely been the sample players and not necessarily the performance tool. Gigastudio for instance had severe limitations on available dimensions for each .gig file. Now that this limitation has been largely alleviated in version 3, much more deep and complex .art files (and the next generation of .art files) are and will be possible, with a corresponding 'tool' to morph/crossfade/select/lookahead/articulate/writemymusicforme, etc. between them.

For those who don't yet have the pleasure of owning the listed VSL products, can we get additional information on what additional functionality the .art files offer? For instance, I am sitting on the fence concerning Horizon Chamber Strings -- but have GS3, so some additional detail on the new .art files might help me make a more informed purchase.

I would imagine that the increased dimensions available in GS3 have been utilized for more velocity layers, etc., but what other goodies can we expect?

Regards,

David

Man! I love the sound of those strings. VSL Chamber strings have a warmth and realism that no other library I've yet heard seems to capture, and you have used it to great understated effect here. They also seem more 'agile' if that is the right word.

Very nice work. And the singer is fantastic! Bell-like voice...

Regards,

David

FYI -- the Gold Group Buy has now reached 36 entries, and a discount of 40%...

Yes! Chamber Strings Group Buy! Please!

Many that I have talked to love this library, but it is *just* out of reach for those same folks (unfortunately including myself...) I would definitely jump on the list if the terms were similar to the EWQLSO group buy...

You can in Sonar 4 - with the new track folders option. Works great.

David

Have you updated Gigastudio with the latest patch? I at first had the wild CPU meter fluttering that you describe, but after updating with version 3.01 it was fixed.

5 instances of Gigapulse! Wow. I feel comfortable with a max. of about three, but my comp is much less of a firebreather than yours. GP is by nature a 'real time' number cruncher, so as you send streams of data to be processed when you play your samples, you will see CPU usage change dramatically.

- David

I think there is some confusion over two separate Tascam products that really serve two different areas. Gigapulse Pro comes embedded with Gigastudio 3 Orchestra (Ensemble and Solo get a cut down version), and only works with GS3 as a 'host' in a sense. You can process external audio through Gigapulse Pro if you have an audio card driver that supports GSIF-2, but again the processing happens inside of GS3. I believe it comes with GS3 Orchestra whether you purchase it outright or upgrade.

BTW -- Gigapulse is much more than just a convolution reverb -- many library developers are using Gigapulse's "instrument resonance simulation" to mimic such things as pedal up/down in pianos, guitar body models, mic modeling, etc. It is a pretty amazing sounding machine.

Gigapulse VST is a standalone plugin for use in a host DAW (Cubase, Sonar, Nuendo, whatever...), and allows the same general functionality as the embedded version and works as any other VST type plugin.

So if you buy GS3, you get Gigapulse in some version. If you want the processing that Gigapulse provides without using Gigastudio, you would need the VST.

Hope this helps.

David

Glad to hear that it is being looked at, Dave. I've experienced the same problems with the VSL legato demos and GS3, and have yet to fully enjoy what VSL legato has to offer (and I'm currently evaluating which library to buy.)

Is there any info I can provide that could help narrow your search for a solution? Maybe a .txt file from the midi monitor while playing the samples?


Regards,

David

Yes. I'm using the M-audio Delta 1010 with the new GSIF-2 driver. It has been rock solid, and the ability to bring audio signal into GS3 via the 1010 for processing with Gigapulse has been very very cool.

M-audio has a good track record of providing timely updates to their drivers. I'm happy.

-- David

It looks like Tascam at least believes that the performance tool should work with GS3 + Sequencer under Rewire.

From the Gigastudio 3.02 patch release notes (page 4):

When using GS3 in ReWire mode, without MIDI port processing tools such as the VSL Performance tool or Garritan's Maestro Tool, the ReWire MIDI ports should be used. This will allow either real time or faster than real time ReWire audio rendering. Do not use the GS3 MIDI ports.
• When using GS3 in ReWire mode, with MIDI port processing tools, the midi track will be routed to the MIDI port processing tools and ReWire audio
rendering must be done in real time mode. Please refer to your DAW's
documentation on how to set this.

Still not sure exactly what it would look like, but it seems like they almost take it for granted that it will work. I intend to contact Tascam about this in the near future.

This is NOT a list of the fixes in 3.01. The actual release notes for 3.01 are available here:

http://www.tascamgiga.com/pdf/GS3_301_changes.pdf

Regards,

David

Hi Dave, thanks for the reply. I am using GS3 and Sonar on one machine, and would prefer to keep it that way if possible, and really want to take advantage of the rewire functionality in GS3 now that it is available.

Would the Performance Tool have to be a rewire device to operate under this scenario? How difficult is that sort of programming, I wonder?

I have not yet had success with the Imidi legato in GS3 (something about the way external midi is handled by GS3 creates problems that have been well documented here) and as far as I know VSL has not yet programmed their libraries to work with GS3 directly without the Perf. Tool (other than the aforementioned VSL legato demos that came with GS3 Orch.) The alternator works fine, but then again only one Imidi rule is allowed at this time...

It looks like I might have to hold off on purchasing Chamber Strings and Solo Strings until I can come up with a workable situation. The performance elements of those libraries are what sets them apart!

Thanks for your time, and let me know if you can think of a way to do this, as many GS3 users are now rewire users on one comp.

Regards,

David