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