Vienna Symphonic Library

[dystonia_ek]

Any users of any of the VSL packages here?

I have a film score to compose and arrange this winter, and I need an orchestral library. VSL is very expensive, but seems to be far more complete and flexible than GPO, for example. The producers of the film I'm scoring are willing to spring for Vienna, but before I do I wanted to see whether there are other packages that could do a similar job for less.

Thanks in advance.

[DevonB]

I have the full percussion package of VSL. Amazing! For scoring purposes, do NOT overlook having a HUGE variety of percussion at your fingertips.

Pair it with Opus 1 if you want to go a little bit more affordable. Still, it's all about mixing and matching libraries though, as EVERY library has its weaknesses. GPO is great, but it's not VSL, two different worlds.

Devon

[Squids]

I've seen VSL sell for over $3,500. Just kidding. It's really good. I have the whole thing. If you are composing music for film this is totally worth getting and like Devon said I think picking up a few different orchestral libraries is a good idea too. Relative to the cost of recording an orchestra it's nothing. It could save a composer time hearing arrangements before they record a real orchestra or in some cases if there is a budget to fit into it can be used instead of an orchestra. To successfully do that musically there is a bit of expertise with sequencing performance for orchestral instruments required. VSL offers some tricks to learn to get some more realism and if you invest some time in that it could pay off.

[dystonia_ek]

I've seen VSL sell for over $3,500. Just kidding. It's really good. I have the whole thing. If you are composing music for film this is totally worth getting and like Devon said I think picking up a few different orchestral libraries is a good idea too. Relative to the cost of recording an orchestra it's nothing. It could save a composer time hearing arrangements before they record a real orchestra or in some cases if there is a budget to fit into it can be used instead of an orchestra. To successfully do that musically there is a bit of expertise with sequencing performance for orchestral instruments required. VSL offers some tricks to learn to get some more realism and if you invest some time in that it could pay off.

In this case the final score will be produced electronically (no budget for an orchestra ).
Thanks very much for the info, Squids.

[René]

I own the full Orchestral Cube package (Strings, Woodwinds and Brass, Percussion, Performance Set), and most of the orchestral Horizon Series (Solo Strings, French Oboe, Epic Horns, Concert Guitar).

VSL is just the biggest sampling project all over the world. You get consistence in the recordings, players instruments together with superb quality recordings.

Their Legato Tool allows for never-seen-in-anything-else playability of orchestral instruments. I think the Legato Tool together with the legato-prepared libraries are THE sampling achievement of the last couple of years.

It's hell expensive. But they have lower-budget products which you better consider.

-René

[Ivan_C]

Eastwest Orchestra Silver is a good one. It's more flexible than GPO and sounds well. And it's not too expensive...

[DevonB]

Eastwest Orchestra Silver is a good one. It's more flexible than GPO and sounds well. And it's not too expensive...

It's more flexible? How? Burned in hall ambience in Silver is MORE fliexble than dry? Multiple solo instruments so you can build your own sections without phasing problems with GPO is less flexible than Silver, which does not offer this feature? Burned in seating position for the instruments in Silver is more flexible than GPO?

Devon

[Lawnmower Of The Damned]

In that price and quality range, the only two products I'm aware of are Vienna Symphonic Library and East West Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Platinum. From everything I've heard VSL sounds better, but it's twice the price of EWQLSO Platinum.

The differences aren't massive, but they are certainly there (EWQLSO Platinum won't have that wonderful legato mode, amongst other things) but both products are still very capable, in my opinion.

For me, I'll be going with EWQLSO Platinum because I can get 50% off as a student. So that's $1,500 for EWQLSO versus $6,000 for VSL. In addition, my music style is industrial rock/metal, so the realism isn't quite as important to me as it will be for you.

Garritan Personal Orchestra, on the other hand, can't hold a candle to VSL, and no one should be offended by that. Garritan didn't make it to compete with a $6,000 library, they made it as a $250 package for kids and hobbists. It's great for that purpose, but you would never get away with using GPO for an all orchestral sound track for a big budget movie. In my opinion, at least.

[Squids]

GPO has some good stuff, some sounds better than others within its collection. But Garritan's string library is considered to be very good (even if it is not done to the same degree as VSL, the sound is different). VSL is an incredible undertaking. It's very usable and as long as you have HD space to spare you can get a lot of mileage from it. The Sonic Implants string library is very nice as well (haven't heard the brass one). I'm also working on an orchestral library of epic proportions as well. For me, I am into different flavors of sound and not just "that takes care of that" with one sound. While VSL is great it is still only certain players recorded in a certain place at a certain time. The whole silent sound stage and detail in gigs of recordings IS great. But that doesn't mean that it does every sound from an orchestra a composer would ever want. That is why a cross-section of libraries is even better for a composer. Then you can pick through the flavors to see what YOU would use for a sad scene or an action scene or...

That's the "spec" that isn't on paper. Which one is good for THIS mood or THAT mood. This is also highly subjective too. I know it isn't all cheap but, again, composing for a real orchestra isn't cheap either! Films themselves aren't cheap too! But, if the film producers don't have the budget to hire a real orchestra but they'll spring for VSL and whatever else then go for it!

[fitch]

i have the VSL pro ed.. and i think it's amazing.. truly amazing..


it gets used for all my scores.. all the articulation nuances are gorgeous ..

i love the strings.. i think they are really rich sounding ..


the wind are great.. particularly the solo clarinet and flute..

yep.. highly recommended if you are scoring for film or games.. i'm sure your cheque will cover the cost... which is way lower than getting a whole orchestra into a studio..

make sure you have yourself a fab reverb though.. it's a dry library..

i use altiverb and it shines .. perfectly

[tee boy]

Iv tried VSL, and it is very very good. The strings are bold, and sound authentic through out the ranges. Also, there are shit loads of articulations so its possible to get some realistic sound arrangments going on. Miroslav is ok, but quite different. The lower ranges are good but the Violin and Viola sound like ass. Not tried any Gartian stuff yet, but i hear this is very good and a far bit cheaper than VSL.

If i were you I'd be pitching Vienna against East West, cuz my mate has has EW and i sounds great. He does ambient / filmscore type stuff and it worked a treat.

[TrekStar]

for me this sounds as this is your first bigger orchestra project. when this should be the case (if not please forgive me ) I would not start with vsl. vsl sure sounds the best but is also not easy in the usage to get convincing results. and it is giga.

I would recommend one of the 3 versions of the quantum leap orchestra: silver, gold or platinum

[DevonB]

for me this sounds as this is your first bigger orchestra project. when this should be the case (if not please forgive me ) I would not start with vsl. vsl sure sounds the best but is also not easy in the usage to get convincing results. and it is giga.

I would recommend one of the 3 versions of the quantum leap orchestra: silver, gold or platinum

Chag seems to be pretty happy with Gold. Least you get the release triggers that Silver lacks, and you save a grip of cash over Platinum. At least if you decide you want all 3 stage positions, you can 'upgrade' up to Platinum, which is a very nice touch. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bagging EWQLSO at all. Each library has its place and its focus. If you want easy mixing, and ONLY want to use the hall ambience with everyone in position, QLSO is your library. Most of the others give a bit more flexibility.

[dystonia_ek]

for me this sounds as this is your first bigger orchestra project. when this should be the case (if not please forgive me ) I would not start with vsl. vsl sure sounds the best but is also not easy in the usage to get convincing results. and it is giga.

Not my first orchestral project, no. First feature film score, yes. What I'm looking for is as close to total control over the nuances as possible - particularly in the strings, brass and percussion. The Legato tool is what has more or less sold me on VSL - need those nuances. price isn't an obstacle since it's on the producer's tab and they're willing to pay.
Will be using my hardware reverbs, so no trouble there. The anechoic samples were another thing I was looking for.

Thanks for all the helpful comments! Looking forward to test driving this monster.

[DevonB]

Not my first orchestral project, no. First feature film score, yes. What I'm looking for is as close to total control over the nuances as possible - particularly in the strings, brass and percussion. The Legato tool is what has more or less sold me on VSL - need those nuances. price isn't an obstacle since it's on the producer's tab and they're willing to pay.
Will be using my hardware reverbs, so no trouble there. The anechoic samples were another thing I was looking for.

Thanks for all the helpful comments! Looking forward to test driving this monster.

With all that in mind, sounds like VSL is exactly what you need. You might also want to look into Project Sam stuff as well if the brass isn't going to do it for you too. Cheap, and really the best brass library out there. www.projectsam.com

Devon