Vienna Symphony Library (Special Edition) First Impressions

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:56 am

Scope4live,

I Think you should hear this:

http://www.wnyc.org/music/articles/27256

The Ring and I: The Passion, The Myth, The Mania
WNYC Special Explores the Impact and Influence of Wagner's Ring Cycle on the Eve of the Metropolitan Opera's Presentation

Originally aired in March, 2004

It might seem hyperbole to claim, as many Wagnerites do, that The Ring Cycle is "The Greatest Work of Art Ever." But the grandeur and power of this monumental work have permeated our culture from Star Wars to Bugs Bunny to J.R.R. Tolkien.

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:37 am

Since I bought the VSL, I haven't been using it. I have instead been practicing the Yamaha WX5 Breath Controller because in my opinion, using a breath controller is the only natural way to play this instrument. I call most orchestral instruments such as woodwinds, brass and strings continuous controller instruments. If you stop exhaling, or moving your bow, there will be no sound and furthermore you can constantly and should be constantly controlling your breath or bow level. It controls timbre but primarily volume. Garritan got this right with the Mod Wheel, however a breath controller is a much more natural way of doing this. The VSL has no provision for such a control, furthermore they point out that Garritan adjusts the timbre using synthesis which they disdain as artificial and unnatural.One thing about Vienna Instruments is that are stubborn and will never listen to the voice of reason. Garritan has a more natural control while Vienna Instruments has a better sound quality. I finally figured out that in Cubase, I can map the breath control to the volume in the VSL thus giving me the necessary option to make it expressive with the WX5. The next step was to adjust the MIDI compression levels in Cubase. There is no timbre control until I make one with the Creamware modular but like I said, volume is the most important issue. I am now ready to make music but it is 3:30 AM and I'm tired now. My preliminary noodling has convinced me this will be a hell of a lot of fun.

The articulations are still really good though but I can not seem to get used to playing them in real time with key-switching or the mod wheel.

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 3:15 am

Years back I did my imatatiion of a blowfish with one of those and the TX816, mostly for brass.

I thinks it's a good idea to do that personally, but I will be using the strings and mapping my FP8 and foot pedals instead.

I already have the face of a FAT BASTARD and do not wish to accentuate it any further.

Let me know how things work out as I have started using VSL AS, but only for the romantic sounding strings w/ legato. I have a French Horn library that works well via velocity so hopefully I won't look silly anymore.

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:47 am

Foot pedals would be great with the WX5 for this. Now that I think about it, breath is excellent on the sustained samples but you can't get a really sharp attack so I will have to use both breath and keyboard.