To give more Vienna Instruments series users the chance to check out the new HD Shorts with 9 velocity layers for the entire Symphonic Cube, we have added the Articulate Preset for the Trombone, containing the complete content of five full VSL libraries, to the comprehensive Articulate Presets Demo Content.

Thereby, the full-featured demo contains now four complete Articulate Presets: the Cello, the Dimension Violas, the Trombone and the Second Flute. Moreover it includes the complete integration into all supported Music Applications: Logic, Dorico, Cubase & Studio One.

Hello Gaute,

Articulate Presets are simply presets for VI pro and work with any Sequencer/DAW. If you can host VI pro in the Standalone VE on separate machines so far (i.e. the VI pro instances receive Midi from Pro Tools and the latter receives the audio), then this should definitely work. But to make sure you could just check it out with the demo presets.

All the best

Kai 

Hello Alex,

just to prevent any misunderstanding: Although the VSL team also still improves the VI series (e.g. with their recent VST3 version of VI pro), and hopefully will continue to do so in the future, this is not an official VSL product, but we are a third-party developer not affiliated with the VSL.

All the best

Kai

Hello Alex,

the underlying samples for these sounds are originally included in the repetition dynamics patches (e.g. perf-rep_cre9_por, ...). The latter are patches where whenever you trigger another repetition you get another dynamics level, so that you start with ppp and after the 9th repetition you end up with fff, or vice versa. The VSL made all the individual dynamic levels (from ppp to fff) individually available as separate patches in the Resource folder of (nearly) each library. We assembled these individual patches into matrices that are playable via velocity (or velocity X-fade) just like the standard portato, staccato and spiccato patches. We made sure that these HD Shorts behave very similarly to the standard versions: their minimum and maximum volumes as well as their velocity dependence are matched (i.e. you get about the same volume for the same Midi velocity), but their velocity resolution is higher (i.e. the gradual change of the sound with velocity is improved). Due to all this you can easily combine them with the standard patches. They generally have a distinct sound and thereby provide a clear alternative to vary the playback or even use both versions unisono. The HD Shorts do not offer automatic alternations (round-robins). Yet, being assembled from repetition (dynamics) samples they blend very well with the normal repetition patches and you can manually switch to them to even get nine distinct alternations.

The HD shorts are integrated into Articulate Presets, which are VI pro presets for each instrument that contain over hundred different matrices covering everything included in the corresponding VSL libraries. Each matrix covers another playing technique, yet these matrices do not consist of individual patches. Many offer "3D-control" and combine all available recorded versions for that playing technique and blend them to allow you to continuously change up to 3 different aspects of the sound.  

I hope all this makes it clearer. However, the simplest way to see what this is, how it works and if this is useful for you is simply to download the full-featured demo and play these sounds 😊. 

The demo package includes e.g. the "Cellos S" preset which covers all cello samples included in Solo and Chamber Strings 1 & 2. You can e.g. access all playing techniques (listed in the manual) by program change (PC) messages. Although you can surely also use them without this, to fully take advantage of the 3D-control you will need 3 physical controllers (knobs, faders, pedals, ...) that send Continuous Controller (CC) 2, 3 and 20, respectively. CC20 (Cell X-fade) generally always controls the "section size" (in this preset e.g. blending the Solo Cello and the Chamber Cellos). In the likewise included "Violins D" preset covering the Dimension Violas this controller dials the actual number of players and the auto-divisi feature automatically distributes the played notes among the different Dimension players. What the other two controllers do depends on the particular sound. It is likewise listed in the manual, but you can simply check it out what they control. E.g. for the first (sustained) playing technique CC2 controls the attack and CC3 the vibrato intensity. The new HD Shorts are accessed by PC 109-114 and offer the same continuous control as the corresponding SD matrices.

All the best

Kai

Originally Posted by: Cyril Blanc

Hello

Just a silly question, when you use Synchron ... instruments, do they use also have repetitions patches ?

Thanks

 

Cyril

Hello Cyril,

in the Synchron libraries there are no dedicated repetition patches, but all repetitions are directly included in the other patches (e.g. legato) and are played automatically, which simplifies the handling.

All the best

Kai

Dear William,

you obviously did not even spend the 5 minutes to download the demo, load a preset and simply play these sounds, otherwise you would not write something about a "proprietary player". As the name suggests, Articulate Presets are simply presets/matrices for VI pro (which is indeed a perfect software, otherwise we would and could not have done this, so there at least seems to be something we can agree on 😊)

I clearly wrote (even in the title) what we mean with the term "HD": "high definition with 9 velocity layers", which explains that we are referring to the dynamic resolution. In the case of digital video that you quote high definition refers to a larger number of pixels. When it comes to a sampled instrument there are obviously no pixels. Instead the two basic parameters that you can control on your keyboard are the pitch and velocity. While VSLs sounds are already chromatically sampled, a larger number of velocity layers - and correspondingly a finer resolution / higher definition - can be beneficial, as the VSL demonstrated with their pianos (in particular their Vienna Imperial with even up to 128 velocity layers). Providing playable matrices with an increased velocity resolution e.g. for the spiccato from 2 or 3 to 9, we found it appropriate to use the short term "HD" for these sounds. To distinguish them from the standard portato, staccato and spiccato, we used the term "SD", but did not suggest that these are in any way inferior. Quite the opposite, we made sure by painstaking volume matching that our matrices behave otherwise similarly and can be combined with the great standard potato, staccato and spiccato patches for even more variation and realism. 

I only posted here since Andreas from the VSL team encouraged me to do so. We are very open to any constructive criticism and suggestions. We have worked very hard to realize these over 100 new matrices with 9 velocity layers (as well as all the other features Articulate Presets offer). We did this because we love the Vienna Instruments libraries and the VI pro player. Our demo package includes several full-featured presets and matrices as well as all software integrations so that users can without restrictions check out every aspect before they make a purchase. We include all 5 independent in-depth manuals (one for the presets and one for each software integration) that explain every feature in detail. Our presets inherently do not implement any copy protection and everything is completely open, so our users can even easily adapt the presets and matrices to their needs. If you don't need any of this that's perfectly fine. But to suggest that this would be "proprietary" or we would be "trying to fool people in order to get sales" could not be further away from the truth.

Anyway, I wish you a nice day

Hello William,

sorry to disappoint you, but this "person/company/whatever" did not hijack an orchestra and break into the VSL Silent Stage to perform new recordings 😊. The samples for these new sounds were always there as part of the Symphonic Cube ... merely extremely well hidden (somewhere in the "Resource" folder). The HD sounds are assembled out of thousands of patches that include the 9 individual dynamic levels of the repetition dynamics. Yet, these new HD matrices are fully playable just like the standard definition (SD) patches, and therefore they go far beyond the rather limited original purpose of these amazing samples. Their levels are meticulously matched so that they can easily supplement the SD patches for even more variation and realism. They do not share any samples with the SD patches so they can be combined even in unisono without phasing. 

Why don't you simply download our full-featured demo package and check it out yourself? It includes e.g. the full Articulate Preset for the Cello giving you instant access to everything included in these vast libraries as well as the new HD shorts on matrices 109-115. Then you will immediately see what this is, how we did it and whether this is useful for you.

Best regards

Kai

Hello Cyril,

thanks 😊!

There are separate versions of the presets for standard and full VSL libraries. Many Articulate Presets cover several libraries but they work also if you only have some of them. For instance if you have the Orchestral but not the Chamber Strings the Section Controller won't work, but everything else will. Similarly if you have Solo Strings 1 but not Solo Strings 2 you simply cannot use the matrices covering the muted playing techniques. However, the new HD Shorts require the VSL full libraries, since the standard versions (which the VSL has discontinued by now anyway) do not include the used samples.

Yes, you can integrate this into existing projects, but depending on your software you might have to re-assign playing techniques. For instance in Dorico merely by re-applying the Playback Template everything works automatically in existing scores, In Logic all playing techniques can be stored in the Articulation IDs of the notes and it is easy to assign/change them in Logics editors afterwards, by selecting them from a menu. (If you also want the next-generation key-switching and the automatic encoding of playing techniques into Articulation IDs, you would have to import an environment into your existing project.)

There is no dedicated Logic video, but instead of us showing you what we want you to see, it should be much better that you can simply check out everything yourself 😊. We offer a full-featured demo that includes the complete Articulate Presets for the Solo Cello (showcasing the new HD Shorts), the Dimension Violas (showcasing the convenient auto-divisi) and the Second Flute. Moreover they include the complete software integrations into all supported audio applications - without any restrictions.

In Logic you merely have to run the installer, load one of the included templates (matching the control hardware you have - as explained in the Setup section of the manual), load a patch in Logic's patch browser and can start checking things out. Once you load a patch everything is set up automatically and there is in principle no need to even open VI pro. Playing techniques can be selected by key-switches or program change (PC) messages and continuous controllers 2, 3 & 20 continuously control various aspects of the sound via Articulate Presets signature 3D-control. The new HD Shorts can e.g. be accessed by PC 109-115 (or key switches). You get a complete directory of all the available sounds and how to access them directly in (the Smart Controls panel of) Logic's main window and for each playing technique you see what exactly all the different controllers do. Once set up all this should be completely self-explanatory.

All the best

Kai

Great libraries don't get old - they get even better!

We are very happy to introduce the High Definition (HD) Shorts to the VSL community. These are new portato, staccato and spiccato articulations with 9(!) velocity layers in both normal and muted versions. Just in time for their big anniversary these over hundred brand-new sounds extend the time-tested Symphonic Cube libraries for their next decade. They are included in the Articulate Presets for the entire Symphonic Cube (strings, woodwinds & brass).

Articulate Presets give you full access to most of the vast Vienna Instruments Super Package. They are complete, consistent across the entire orchestra and give you full control over the sound via their unique 3D-control. Moreover, they simplify the use of the comprehensive Dimension libraries with their convenient auto-divisi feature. Last but not least, they are seamlessly integrated into the major Music Applications; Logic, Dorico, Cubase and Studio One.

Simply download the full-featured demo and check out Articulate Presets, the new HD Shorts and the various software integrations yourself.

Hello Michael,

yes, it is correct that while the Synchron Player seems fine, the new iLok version of VI pro does not work correctly in Dorico on Mac, yet. Present (VST2) VI pro instances in existing scores are not correctly converted to the iLok version and just open empty. VSL support confirmed this bug and they promised that they will look into this.

In addition there is now also an iLok VST3 version of VI pro. This is good news since VST2 is not supported by Steinberg anymore, but this new version wasn't clearly announced and in Dorico there is not even a way to distinguish the two versions. Unfortunately, so far the iLok VST3 version still lacks some features (e.g. support of program change messages, ...) that the eLicenser VST2 version offered. The VSL team plans to re-introduce these features, but since this will apparently take some time, we are currently updating the Articulate Map so that it also works with the current VST3 version.

All the best

Kai

Hello mikeyggg,

I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulties setting up Articulate Presets.

You are right that the manual is weighty, since the presets have many features 😊, but it is not necessary to read all of it to start. There is a setup section in the manual and the installation of the presets is generally rather quick (and it seems this worked already).

With Articulate Presets you can access the entire content of VSL Vienna Instruments libraries with program change messages and a few controllers (CC2,3,4 & 20) that continuously change various aspect of these sounds. Program change messages are generally the quickest and easiest way to access a large number of different sounds/playing techniques on a keyboard and the presets work fine with program change messages. But it could be that it is harder to set up your keyboard to send these program change messages as well as the continuous controllers, and you will have to check the documentation that came with your keyboard for details how this is done. There are 100s of different hardware controllers on the market and how these are set up is unfortunately different for each of them. Therefore, it would be impossible to releasee a quick start guide or a video that could explain how this is done in all cases.

However, in case you use a tablet, you could download the VSL VI pro tablet app and control everything conveniently this way. 

And if you use one of the supported Music Applications (Logic, Studio One, Cubase or Dorico) selecting playing techniques is even easier and you don't have to use program change messages. These comprehensive implementations are likewise included in the demo package and there are separate manuals that explain each of them (as well as the setup) in detail.

If you have more detailed questions, please contact us directly at:

I hope this helps.

All the best

Kai

I agree that there are lots of ways to improve the playback and that more such dedicated samples could clearly add realism :). Yet, I think the automatic selection you are asking for would be hard to completely implement in a sample player, since as you write a human player looks ahead and knows that a particular note is a breve, but the sample player (Synchron or Vienna Instruments pro) inherently cannot. Something like this would have to be implemented in the DAW or Notation Software, which knows how long a given note is and in which context it appears. E.g. Steinberg's Dorico already allows to automatically choose the playback depending on the note length. I am not entirely sure about Synchron libraries, but full Vienna Instruments series libraries actually already offer up to four different legato versions (slow, medium, fast and the performance trill at the highest speeds) as well as a progressive vibrato legato version you mentioned, that can be used for such very long notes.

In case you are a user of Vienna Instruments series libraries, we have implemented a similar automatic selection you are suggesting in Articulate Presets (based on VI pro's speed control, which is all that can be done at the sample player level and which uses the previous notes to predict following notes). The Cello, in particular, is included in our free demo package, so if you are by chance a user of the VI Symphonic Cube or the VI Solo Strings library, you can simply download it and check out if this is similar to what you are looking for (Articulate Presets are large and the corresponding speed-controlled legato is matrix #24, whereas the legato with progressive vibrato is #14). The automatic selection based on the note length is likewise already implemented in the Articulate Map for Dorico, which uses the current maximum of 5 versions for different note lengths, but even Dorico's selection mechanism does not allow developers to define a dedicated playback for a breve so far ... hopefully this will improve soon.

Originally Posted by: Seventh Sam

Originally Posted by: symphonic riot

Hello Sam,

actually "timbre control" is available in VI pro when using Articulate Presets:

Unfortunately, it's not.  I'm specifically talking about "Timbre Adjust", which is a feature VSL recently introduced to the Synchron Player (coinciding with the release of Synchron Brass).  It's a proprietary intelligent filter control that behaves like a multiband expression fader, scaling different frequency ranges at different intensities (or maybe there's something else going on under the hood...?).  The result is a CC the pros of both Expression and Filter into one control, and (on woodwinds and brass), it sounds quite convincing.  Alongside VelXF, it can be used to "massage" through the VelXF layers to mask the phase-y shift that can occur, esp. in solo instruments.  Hence, why I think it's so useful for solo woodwinds!  At this point, only the Synchron Player has this feature.

That said, those articulate presets look mighty interesting!  I'll definitely take a look, thanks!

Oh sorry, I completely overlooked this new feature in the Synchron Player so far. This sound indeed very nice and I have to check out how this works. Thanks so much for the explanation!

Originally Posted by: Seventh Sam

Alternatively, adding Timbre Adjust to VIPro would be amazing.  Wishful thinking, but just throwing it out there.

Hello Sam,

actually "timbre control" is available in VI pro when using Articulate Presets:

There is even "3D control", which allows you to control up to 3 sound parameters simultaneously via continuous controllers (e.g. attack, vibrato and section size). And there are no omissions/restrictions: all articulations included in the full VI libraries (e.g. various short and long note variations, legato variations, dynamics, phrases, APP Sequencer matrices, ...) are instantly accessible. In addition to the obvious advantage that you can conveniently use any MIRx venue instead of merely the Synchron Stage, they use other unique features that only VI pro offers, like the convenient auto-divisi for Dimension libraries. 

All orchestral VI libraries are supported, so if you are interested simply download the demo and check it out.

Hello Andi,

VSL surely does not have to provide support for Articulate Presets, we provide support to our users ourselves .

I agree that Cubase and Dorico Expression Maps are (unfortunately) indeed quite different (Dorico Maps being by now the more powerful ones) and we also had to create completely distinct Maps for each software from scratch in order to take advantage of their particular possibilities.

All the best

Kai