Thanks for your reply Paul.

I will take another look with my Epic Orchestra and see how I get on with it--it's been a while and, well, life gets in the way! I am tempted by the WWs, and want to make sure that I get them at the discounted price (why wouldn't one!), and indeed before the new tax year kicks in! 

I shall keep an eye out as well to see how others respond and if any useful insights can be gleaned from their experiences with the different instruments.

Stay safe, and thanks again.

Nick 

Hi folks,

Just wondering what, if any, are the compelling reasons to do a cross-grade purchase of the new Synchonronized WW if I already own the full woodwind set in the VI range; that's WW1&2, standard and extended, plus the Special WWs standard and extended? In fact, I purchased the VSL CUBE back in 2003/4 (I think), and then continued to add additional instruments as and when they were released for quite some time, stopping at the Dimension Strings 1. 

I tend to use my own reverbs for each project, and sometimes MirPro, and am happy with the options my other reverb units provide along side Mir.

I've been using VSL since about 2001/2 and love them. However, with each new development, such as Dimensions Instruments and Synchron Player, I'm finding it ever more confusing what I'm actually getting for my money by making the investment. 

In a different thread, the same issue is raised, but I still don't find the overall answer compelling to make the move. I'm hoping that by starting a new thread I may be able to get an answer. Quick scoring tools, such as the Big Bang Orchestra are great, although sadly they don't fit with my particular workflow (a little ingrained in the way I do things I guess!). 

The product overview page lists Synchron first as if it is the primary product, yet states the VI series as being the "ultimate" before going into a brief explanation of the starter packs for those new to the VSL family.

It would be really useful to have a simple explanation of what each product does, and where it fits into the spectrum of products on offer, with a clear distinction of what is new, what is old but repackaged, and the main differences which may affect workflow or established workflows. I have nearly 20 years of projects which use my VSL libraries, each with custom keynote triggers and instrument settings inside VIPro and VEPro, and I cannot believe I am the only person out there who purchased the VSL Cube, grew with the changes and development from EXS to VI and VIPro and now face the problem of understanding what, if anything, I am gaining by buying into the new products which seem to repackage or offer fewer options to that which I currently own. Perhaps I'm being a little thick (it wouldn't be the first time ) but I've felt this way for a while, and have shied away from making additional purchases from VSL except for the software aspect of the products. 

VSL is still the centre of my orchestral set-up, which I enhance with other libraries as needed. Please understand, I love what you guys offer, I'm just getting more and more lost in the wave of your creative developments!

Can someone help this confused composer understand what he feels others have already grasped ? I'd be most grateful 

Thank you,

Nick

Incidentally, here's a recently mocked version of the first movement of my bassoon sonata using VSL's Bassoon. I still have some polishing to do, but I love the simplicity of setting up a single VIPro instrument and grid so I can easily chose the articulations I need with key-switches. Hope you enjoy...

https://soundcloud.com/nickthecomposer/bassoon-sonata-1st-movement/s-DCIhSfb1ZYB

Indeed, I did and have now fixed the issue. Thank heavens I didn't throw the box out! Serial numbers were there but I had not realised that they were three different licenses!

All good - working happily across two computers - soon to be three when I get myself sorted!

Thank you one and all - much appreciated.

Nick

Thanks guys,

So I just checked the page and I seem to have only 1 'P' license and one 'D' license listed there. I have also just found my original packaging and will now enter the serial numbers for the other licenses! 

I feel dumb!

Thanks

N

Hi there,

I'm wondering if there is any way I can get my Vienna Suite to work on more than one computer? I am currently beginning to use my Octo core Mac Pro as my main computer and slaving my Mac Book Pro, but it seems I only have one Vienna Suite license to share between the two computers which means that I can't use the suite on the various set-ups I have. Do I have to purchase a whole new license, or is there some way that it can be duplicated so that all my Vienna Ensemble Pro instances can utilise the plug-ins on whichever computer? It would be very useful.

Thanks.

Nick

Sweet stuff - it works. Thanks Sabine.

Though why we can't type it in... if someone is reading this... a fix for the next upgrade perhaps?

Cheers

N

Thanks Sabine,

I'll try that when I get back later.

Nick

Hi folks,

I'm not able to create a keyswitch for new a new matirx in my VI Pro. I've tried copying and pasting a current matrix, and creating a new one, but when I put in a keyswitch value and hit return, it dissapears and doesn't create a corresponding coloured note on the keyboard. This means I'm currently limited to the existing presets and changes I make within.

Any ideas on how to fix this - am I the only one finding this as a problem?

Thanks

Nick

Hi Pavel,

A couple of things - Firstly, are you opening each instance of VI as a direct plug in to your tracks in Logic or using VEnsmble? Though this won't have a direct affect on your RAM in the same way, if I understand the workings correctly, each instance will require RAM to run, so the more tracks, the more RAM, but it might not show in the same way. It might be worth considering opening instances in the 64bit version of Ensemble as this will allow each VI instance to access all of your available RAM while using less for itself. (Ithink I'm right in this - if not please correct me. Also, apologies as this seems overly complicated.)

Secondly, are you definitely working in 64 bit mode in Logic? This is a common mistake which is easily solved - it took me a year to notice I was doing it wrong! Before opening Logic, find it in your applications folder and open the info window (Apple + I). In there is a little button that chooses whether you are opening in 32 bit or 64 bit mode. Make sure you're in 64 bit mode as this will allow your mac to access more than 4GB of RAM. The disadvantage of 64bit mode is that you cannot export your audio to movie - so you have to bounce your mix to audio first, then re-open Logic in 32 bit mode and bounce from there to your movie.

Anyway, hopefully that will solve your problem. If not, then you might have an issue with RAM which can be checked by doing an apple hardware test. I'm about to learn how to do that so can't advise as yet so hopefully someone else will have some further ideas or can fill in the blanks.

Hope this helps.

Nick

Thanks Christian,

I've now managed to work out how to screen share on my mac without using SpyMe - it is built in to OSX5 but you have to have the option clicked in a sub menu of Sytem Preferences before it shows as an option when you connect as a server. If anyone else wants to know how to do this, I shall eventually be putting up my findings here as a short tutorial. Now I just have to get it to actually slave!

Oh the joys of Trial and Error!

Nick

Julian,

That blows what I get out of the water. However, can I clarify somethings with you:

1)  What exactly do you mean in: Strings 9 VIs average programmes 8 per instance by the underlined section?

2)  Do you have your own set-up for each VI or do you use the preset instruments?

3)  Is there a special way to spread the VI / VE / VSL load across the processors or should Logic do that automatically? How do I check it is?

I tried loading a VE with double woodwind, sharing samples and then loaded a second VE to place strings in. As I loaded the violas, VE died and logic followed quickly after.

Any ideas on how to get my system running more smoothly would be blinding. Thanks. (Hitting the hay now so tomorrow is fine!)

Nick

Great job guys - excellent.

Julian,

How much of your RAM did your little experiment use? I have a humble 14 GB compared with yours, but I never get close to using it before Logic or VI quits on me - I usually have about 5.5-6GB left unused according to VI's performance secction.

Nick

Hi Flemming

Well Julian's post puts mine rather to shame. I can't manage anywhere near that many tracks. I would love to know what I'm doing wrong.  

I run this set-up and have not had overload messages for a while - used to get core audio overload - but I do not seem to get as many instances of the VI running as I would like. I gather the problem is down to the 32bit processing of OSX and Logic's ability to access RAM. Logic tends to keel over when I have more than two or three woodwind, a percussion and full strings: after that I cross my fingers when I load another VI up.  I'm thinking of getting a PC (argh!) to act as a slave a la Vienna Ensemble Tutorial Video (see my other post: http://community.vsl.co....20561/142104.aspx#142104) unless I can get things to give me the numbers of instruments I want. Those on the tutorial would be a dream for me - but this may just be me.

I hope this helps a little.

Nick

I am asking a friend to build me a PC to act as my slave using VE3 over a gigabit network and to expand my insances of VI that I am currently able to run.  Ideally I dont want to spend a fortune but what sort of CPU and RAM requirements would you advise?  He said that he was thinking a quad core 2.4GHz per processor probably on an Asus motherboard with as many RAM slots as possible and starting with a pair of 2GB DDR3. Would this be too little or too much?

I'm also trying to get my old dual 2.5GHz G5 to act as a slave, again for VI and VE3, but have no idea how to get its screen to appear in my master computer (detailed below). The set-up tutorial for VE3 is for a pc slave. Any chance of having one for a mac to mac slave set-up? I'm a bit of a technophobe outside of what I make Logic do so simple, step by step explanation would be very gratefully received. I've got it connected by a G'bit ethernet cable, and I've tried using SpyMe to bring up a copy of the screen, but as yet have had no luck. I chose SpyMe because it handles multi screens! The G5 has 6GB RAM and both have current OSX running.

Also, if I do get them linked, how many instances of VI should I be able to run through VE3 on the G5 with that ampunt of RAM?

Anyone got any further advice for this either of these set-ups?

Thanks in advance...

Nick

 Christian, it seems the problem was to do with the checksum - Maya sent me through MD5 and I ran a comparision of the two - The file I thought was wrong was actually ok, but the one before it did not match when the checksum was calculated. I've downloading the 001.cab again and and it seems fine now.

I have no idea, incidentally, what the checksum means, but at least it's another thing to remember if things fail to do what you expect.

Thanks for your help, though. All sorted now.

Nick 

Thanks Hetoreyn - have now tried that and sadly no difference. The files are all on the desktop and unlocked/unblocked.

Hi,

 I've just been installing my overdrive and concert guitars for VI and got as far as the extended library for the concert guitar. When trying to install this, I came across an error reading the file <151 Concert-Guitar/Concert_Guitar_ext02.dat>. This had happened with other files during the installation of the overdrive and standard concert guitar and I simply re-downloaded and replaced the file. However, after 5 attempts at doing that for this file, I still get the error stating it's a corrupt file. 

Can anyone help?

Thanks

Oh, and Happy New Year to you all!

Nick 

I would love to hear more jazz and big band articulations in the clarinet, trombone and any others lacking such things - for example falls at the end of the note which I have only discovered in the Trumpet a3 (though there may be more I've missed). These provided in single instruments and ensembles would be very cool.

Also, an 'A Clarinet' which just has that extra depth of tone, and is used so regularly in the orchestra. We clarinettists have pairs, not singles!

For that extra sense of realism, a full set of sneezes, coughs, splutters, watch bleeps, whispers and wrapper rustlings would be really cool - then you might try and pass off recordings as live! 

Nick 

Thank you Conquer - that's saved me a few bob!

The question is in the title - have I already got the French Oboe within my VI symphonic cube or will I miss out if I don't buy the Horizon Series before it closes out?

Thanks

Nick

Hi there,

I would agree with Conquer above, but would add that I do use VI and in general have had little reason to complain - The score issues can be over come and using tricks you learn along the way such as putting a rest into a note such as a semi-breve or dotted crochet to create a tie within a bar and zooming close to check the actual position of a dynamic or slur - when zoomed out too far you don't get the exact position that will be printed. I've used Logic since the days it was Notator on the Atari back in the early 90's. It's also more and more becoming the standard in LA, or so I've been led to believe.

As for VI, I've had a few problems which I think may be unique to my set-up which has never really worked smoothly since I got it back in 2005 (long before I could afford VSL stuff). I run Logic Pro 7.1.1 Dual G5 2.5 with 8G RAM and the problems I've had are listed in a post I put up just a few minutes ago - VI instances/Core Audio Overload. That said, once I've converted my lines into audio and then mix from there I've found it very easy to work in and even editing audio is a snip - I have Pro Tools LE too and am using it less and less for editing audio - sacrilege to many I know.

Hope this helps.

Nick

Hi all,

I've been away from the forum for a while and maybe the issue I'm about to raise has come up before, so apologies if I'm visiting trodden ground.

I'm running a Logic Pro 7.1.1 on a Dual G5 2.5 8G RAM. with a Digi 002 Rack. Here are some problems I'm finding:

1. I seem only to manage about 7/8 VIs before I run out of memory, at least according to the performance section of the window. If I have been using other applications and shut them down before I open Logic I find I have less memory available for samples and once I optimize an instrument particularly if it is the only instance of the instruments, the difference between what was used and is then optimised does not necessarily add up. I.E. if the clarinet used (say) 400Mb of RAM and my total available was 1500Mb then after optimization the number of samples used may only be 10, but the total available is 1700Mb. (These are not accurate figures but an example of how the problem is manifesting). However, if I start from a newly restarted machine there are less problems, but gradually the memory still falls and the sums don't add.

2. I am having problems with Core Audio Overloading. This one has really stumped me as it was my belief that my Digi 002 rack should be dealing with all my audio. It is not saying problem with synchronizing audio and midi (at least in general - that comes up occasionally). It's connected by Firewire 400 and only gets problematic when a large number of midi notes are triggered from a fully VI loaded piece, usually about 7/8 instruments with Ivory piano (sorry, but I got it before your Bosendorfer edition came out!) - if converted to audio I have far fewer problems, but less flexibility in writing/editing changes.

Can anyone offer any solutions?

I hope this is clear - it's quite complicated to explain and I'm not the most systems literate person on the planet - I have basic setup skills and after that hope it will work!

Thank you in advance for any advice

Nick

Hi folks,

For what it's worth, I find a combination works best. I work out my themes/motifs on paper with a note about what instruments might take them, then do the various inversions, retrogrades etc. and possible alternative harmonies on paper. I also try and hear the orchestra in my head before I actually start putting it into the computer.

As I use Logic, I tend to work in the score window and treat it like a word processor for music. in this way, I may not be using calligraphy, but I'm still using musical notation.

If I remember I put in dynamics and slurring as I go, and can put in automation for the midi tracks to change the articulation at the same time. Once you get the hang of it it becomes quite quick. The advantage is that if you then find you have to print out parts for a real performance, it's not such a slog to edit what you've done. However there are times when it gets impossible because of time constraints and the playing in the lines becomes the best way forward.

It's been really interesting finding out how others work though - glad to see we seem aware of the downside to putting it directly into the computer directly, even if laziness or time constraints still lead us to to do it that way. It's sad that the art of paper writing is on the decline, but so understandable given the nature of the music business. Ho-Hum.

Nick

Hi

I was wondering if anyone else had discovered an oddity with their VC_perf-legato from the standard prest level one.

In the middle of a string quartet I'm resetting onto VI from the original VSL on EXS I noticed an extra note or two in the cello and on further investigation it appears that my VC_perf-legato has a lower chromatic grace note/appogiatura when played at velocity 89 or above on note A1 when struck new - none of the other notes, just A1. Has anyone else discovered this? (I'm working on Logic which seems to work an octave lower - don't know why!?!)

I tried reloading just that patch/cell, but it's still there.

I've also still not worked out why (and obviously not for the string quartet), when loading VI-14 VSL Preset Level 1, the sounds for matirx cell 2:1 (03 Vl-14_perf-portamento) don't sound, though the name is present in the cell. I have to reload them which then makes them available, but this is a little bit of a pain.

Any ideas, particularly for the first problem which I can't seem to find a fix for.

Thanks
Nick