PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

Recently there was an update to the GPO which got me interested in making some orchestral music but then I wanted a better sound. I was going to get the NI East West Symphonic Orchestra but I checked out the Vienna Symphony Library Special Edition and it is much nicer.

To see what I mean, you need to check out the tutorial videos:

http://vsl.co.at/en/68/375/381/456.vsl

The NI modules simply are not this advanced in terms of control over nuances and ways you can create patches for this. The downside is that it is a lot more complicated to program but it also offers a "Universal Mode" which has a few articulations programmed for you. This is what most people use.

One of the many great features is the "Learn" and "optimize" function which allows you to eliminated all samples not used thus freeing a huge amount of RAM.

vsl is too darn expensive, but it sounds so good.

The special edition is not expensive it is only $425 at Sweetwater.

Spend an extra 175 USD for the String library if you really want an expressive instrument.

The special is most likely a very good deal, but I don't think it has an upgrade path when you grow weary of it.

Stay away from the Horizon series stuff though, it is overbloated, and weak sounding at best.

Apassionato Strings are some of the best available IMHO.

Yes it does have upgrade paths.

Go for it, and welcome to world of VSL.

If you like that, I would suggest Garritans Steinway which should be out by weeks end.

His work w/ this this was sanctioned by Steinway, and will actually have all of the performance features of a real piano finally.

The sostenuto pedal ( una corde ) allows chosen notes to be sustained separately from the sustain, and soft pedals. After years of pianos being emulated through samplers, and physocal modelling combinations, this looks to be the real deal.

I have many libraries for different uses as I believe using Gigastudio and Kontackt offers a wider range of content. If you ever need help in making decisions about performance features, and authenticity, feel free to contact me. As I have wasted thousands by buying many over hyped products, the benefit being, I know which ones are usuable, and which ones were programmed by less talented " developers."

I might save you a buck or two.

The VSL has "Universal Mode" which has articulations already programmed in. I also like that it does not use the very annoying and intrusive DRM that NI uses. I can use VSL on any computer easily because they went with the syncrosoft dongle system. I don't consider it to be very much more expensive than the other systems and all the prices seem to be dropping now. If I spend more money, it will probably be on the VSL expansion.

Well, I only had GPO a few days ago so that'll keep me good for a while.
I reckon it'll take me a long long time before I find it has limitations.

I made my choice though based on cost (it's not too expensive) and having heard a lot of the demos on the garritan demo page - the standard and quality there was more than good enough for my bits of hobbying.

Both of those developers are top shelf.

I still have Garritan's GigaHarp for Gigasampler ( 1999 ). I used the DX7 for that cool sounding FM Harp, but this CD had glissandos in minor,major,whole tone, diminished, etc. I would sometimes fake the gliss by waving my hand up and down the keyboatd,...a real Ham.

The GPO sounds great. I just think that the VSL has a much more advanced technology. I will post examples in the Music section next week. Since I will have 30 days to use the expansion sounds, I want to use this a lot and hopefully create something good. It sucks that you can not delete the expansion pack after the 30 days and you are forced to install it. It is 54 gigs on your hard drive!

Special Edition Subscription
Now you can download the Standard Library of the Vienna Special Edition as well as expansions in small steps.
Starting at EUR 9.50 per month!

I found this link which I'm sure you'll all enjoy

http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/sho ... hp?t=43057

the most stunning for me was that there are scenes where it's just plain wrong - music doesn't match the picture, in particular the soundspace
as if turned 90 degree and put a few meters above the scenery.
The physical movements of the musicians are perfectly in sync with the sound and 4 different (quality) reverbs were used, and an enormous effort in editing.
As streaming soundquality isn't the greatest anyway this would have been the last I had expected - truely irritating.

Great work for an 18 year old boy, slightly cheesy and pathetic - it was about film scoring, wasn't it ?

cheers, Tom