@Guy Bacos
I appreciate it. But in my initial post I said that it is possible to write very fast and very slow passages but I haven't managed/heard convincing melodic (medium slow?) ones.

I just cannot understand how people can say there is nothing wrong with this lib? Don't you compare to other libs or listen to recordings? Don't you want something new, improved or groundbreaking from a new lib?

@fahl5, I know that people can get lost in the programming and forget to use their ears and emotions to judge the whole piece. No offence, but you seem a bit like this, pushing as a many pieces through as possible.

Guy Bacos got some demos on the product page, BUT the ones that sound acceptable are the ones layered with other instruments. Its basically covering up the problems of the lib.

VSL told me that Synchron Strings I is the first and many more will come. So what? We have to wait for longer and spend more money to get something they promised LAST YEAR?

You guys are basically saying this lib cannot be improved by us?
Is VI-Control the best site to resell it?

Hi all,

there have been some discussions going on about the quality of the lib and it seems there are some major drawbacks. (To be honest, I have never seen so many negative comments about a lib release and I read VI-control a lot)

In another thread I compared it to drawing the Mona Lisa (discussion with fahl5): VSL promissed a set of different brushes, different colours so we COULD attempt to draw the Mona Lisa. What did they deliver? Some brushes are missing and some colours are wrong. Not even Da Vinci could paint the Mona Lisa with that!!! That's the point!!!

The lib has potenial with its clarity and wonderful lows. But also some major drawbacks that make it unusable for me. What's the purpose of releasing a lib that just sounds so fake. (The human brain is pretty amazing to notice, even for a layman)

Problems I have:

1) The sound should be fuller for this ensemble size. 
2) Fake legato. It is possible to play very slow and very fast passages but it is impossible to obtain realistic melodic parts. It always sounds synthy, no matter what I try. The blur function just does not work and even introduces a reverb. 
3) Violins are too bright. They cut through every piece and the fake legato just amplifies the synthetic characteristic.
4) The mids are missing. Maybe beacuse the violins are too bright?
 
Possible solutiuon?
 
1) Overlap with another instance. (Doubles memory)
2) Manual overlap, delay and attack adjustments. (Time consuming)
3) EQ adjustments. (Clarity is lost)
4) Doubling at lower octaves. (Faking it)
 
VSL was pretty useless in ADMITTING their failure and in helping me. They tried ot sell me Synch CS to add another sound, ridiculous.
 
Therfore, do you guys have any other suggestions how to improve (improve in the sense to make is useable) apart form the ones above.
 
Thanks
 
 
 
 
 

Absoluately, we may want to use this lib for different purposes. But I am asking myself why VSL released a lib that can't compete with others, for example Berlin Strings. Its pointless.

Let me elaborate on the Mona Lisa example. VSL promissed a set of different brushes, different colour so we COULD attemp to draw the Mona Lisa. What did they deliver? Some brushes are missing and some colour are wrong. Not even Da Vinci could paint the Mona Lisa again!!! That's the point!!!

That's why I am so upset, because the lib has potential but they screwed up and covered it up. VSL, you need to stand by it and improve!

@fahl5
You see how Synthetic String I frustrates me. They promised us heaven on earth (they have never advertised so aggressively as for SS!). Legato re-invented! Really? Must be really inventive overlapping two notes,aa uhhh.

Ok, let's clear this once and for all. Do you have the same piece in SS and dimension string? Can we listen to this. I suggest you to listen to other VSL string lib. There are so much more organic.

(BTW, are you being paid by VSL? Just out of curiosity)

I am sorry, but the violins scream (buchstaeblich) synthetic.
This is worlds away from Hollywood legato, I am afraid.
I am still interested whether good sounding legato is possible. (Blur function is useless, my DAW could already do this 10years ago).if someone manages, would be highly appreciated.

Exactly, I don't want to EQ the piece! The lows are beautiful but the violins are too bright. Again, no offence but in your piece the violins are too dominant. Cutting through the piece like a piano, only in a bright, almost painful way.
Just take the time to listen to Orchestral or dimensional strings. Much more balanced.
BTW, I now have the impression the this lib is not intended for classical music.

If you guys are happy I am fine. But I would bet some money that you won't convince a client to buy a piece made with this lib and only this lib. And if you do, please let me know. (Please don't comment that you are only using this lib for mockups. You can use Kontakt for this and don't need a 600euro lib)

Agree with you guys, the pieces are not convincing. 

Synthetic Strings I just does not deliver what was promised. 

Hi guys, no offence but what do you like about the sound (not your programming, Steffen? The too bright violins? The missing mids? 

The Synchron Strings have potential but at the moment they are lagging behind in respect to Orchestral and Dimenson String. Those sound much more organic. Don't you think?

Thanks for sharing. I also find RoomMix+Main the bestfor general purpose. Not sure whether Mid is required, might just take up memory?

Does this piece convince you? To me it still sounds synthy. 

The lows sound very nice and I so like the sound the SyS cellos. But the violins, OMG. They are terrible. Scratching sound and very synthy. 

Fab programming, great job! But I recommend everyone to listen to your 2003 demo in Orchestral Strings I. That's beautiful. Much more realistic and balanced. The Synchron version sounds like a synth. No comparison.
VSL, you have messed it up.

I am not a pro, so could be wrong here. But the Synchron lib sounds to thin, almost like a chamber. Appassionata sounds fuller to me. Perhaps Synchron lib was played in in a very precise way with not enough  variation?

The general sound of the Synchron lib has potenial, I am not deniying it. But at the moment it does not set a new standard. It just a normal lib not worth buying if you already own the popular ones out there. That is why we are dissapointed and frusted, especially after the hype VSL made.

(It would be good to hear other demos) 

 

Sorry, only got the standard one.

I have held back so far, giving VSL a chance to produce something they actually advertised. 

After having tested the new player i must say that i am disappointed. I initially liked the clear and detailed sound but it defintely does NOT  "set a new standard in sound, playability and realism".

- The sound is good for some parts, BUT the 1st violins sound muddy (I used the 2nd instead), the highs sound to sharp and it should sound fuller for an ensemble of that size.

- The playability might have improved over VI (time will tell), BUT its far off setting a new standard. Its just a pretty rearanging of existing functions. It can't beat Cinematic Studio Strings.

- The realism might be getting better with a lot of fine-tuning, BUT i would have expected that Synchron Strings blows us away...it doesn't. Claiming to "re-invent" legato is close to FRAUD (this was one of the reasons I bought the lib). Legato-blur is just a sad attempt to cover up its failure. Don't call legato inventive unless you can beat Cinematic Studio Strings. 

I would have wished to include this lib in my works, but its just not good enough. I would have expected much more, based on the hype VSL made about the Synchron Strings...3/10

(Dear VSL, I happy to receive a Synchon Strings product that lives up to the hype you made around it, a refund or exchange for another library)