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VSL Synchron Strings I Announced (Nov. Release)

I think they try to be more defensive after the marketing fail with the delayed Synchron Player: they don't make any promises to fix anything, but I think they are working on something (maybe an update by the time when they release SS II?).
 
There's nothing they could say. What are they supposed to do? Publicly admit that their product isn't any good just to give the complainers a moment of satisfaction? That would only draw out the pitchfork mob. Can't do that.

Say that you're working on improvements? Even if you are - there's so many opinions and expectations. Talking about it is setting yourself up for another backlash and even more disappointment.
 
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I think they try to be more defensive after the marketing fail with the delayed Synchron Player: they don't make any promises to fix anything, but I think they are working on something (maybe an update by the time when they release SS II?).

I really hope VSL can slam my face by doing that, a breathtaking Synchron Strings 2 and a big content upgrade for Synchron Strings 1.

As a library developer, if you screwed up for 1.0 version, it does not hurt to release version 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 updates for a product. I really hope they can do this, like other developers did. If it takes much time, I am happy to wait. It's even no bother to wait for one more year for that. However, we hear nothing about this. We do not know whether it's going to be updated or remained as the same.

Considering its brand value, VSL worth one more time of my patience. and I will see what's going to be released later for their Synchron Product Line. If Synchron Strings 2 sounds like the same way as of that SyS 1, I would simply just walk away.
 
They just should add a better mixer section to vipro, instead of developing a new sample player.

I still had not the time to write a little piece with SyS, so at the moment I can't say if they are bad (I like to form an opinion by myself).
But: I haven't heard any demos which sound good. Execept Guy Bacos' demos. But they don't count (as all manufacturer demos), they are taylor made and prevent to show the weaknesses of the lib.

But2:
How will VSL be able to sell "Synchron Brass" or "Synchron Woodwinds", when to forums are full of complaints about Synchron Strings?
 
There's nothing they could say. What are they supposed to do? Publicly admit that their product isn't any good just to give the complainers a moment of satisfaction? That would only draw out the pitchfork mob. Can't do that.

Say that you're working on improvements? Even if you are - there's so many opinions and expectations. Talking about it is setting yourself up for another backlash and even more disappointment.

Let's not forget that Synchron Strings I was VSL's first multi-mic Strings Library, it was in a way, an experimental library for them, obviously it doesn't sound great, and has multiple flaws, and issues. It is far from even being good, what VSL needs to do, is fix it, and that means re-developing most of it. I know that's not a small task, but if they want to be respected as a high-end sample library developer, that's what they need to do.

IMHO. A very general statement from VSL i.e. telling us that they will be improving Synchron Strings I in the near future is a very wise thing to do, this will calm, and please many unhappy customers, and they seriously should put the effort to re-develop most of it.
 
They just should add a better mixer section to vipro, instead of developing a new sample player.

I still had not the time to write a little piece with SyS, so at the moment I can't say if they are bad (I like to form an opinion by myself).
But: I haven't heard any demos which sound good. Execept Guy Bacos' demos. But they don't count (as all manufacturer demos), they are taylor made and prevent to show the weaknesses of the lib.

But2:
How will VSL be able to sell "Synchron Brass" or "Synchron Woodwinds", when to forums are full of complaints about Synchron Strings?

VSL did a good job on Yamaha CFX and FX Strings I, maybe they can do the same good job on Brass and Woodwinds. They just failed to handle Strings I this time, and they keep silent when the mob gathered in the forum to complain. :)
 
Talking about more bad deicisions, VSL went forward and released their Synchronized Chamber Strings, instead of improving Synchron Strings I.

They should first improve Synchron Strings I, then develop Synchron Chamber Strings instead of Syncrhonizing their original Chamber Strings. Which also did not get a warm reception from many users, many users prefer the original Chamber Strings over the Synchronized Chamber Strings.
 
Let's not forget that Synchron Strings I was VSL's first multi-mic Strings Library, it was in a way, an experimental library for them, obviously it doesn't sound great, and has multiple flaws, and issues. It is far from even being good, what VSL needs to do, is fix it, and that means re-developing most of it. I know that's not a small task, but if they want to be respected as a high-end sample library developer, that's what they need to do.

IMHO. A very general statement from VSL i.e. telling us that they will be improving Synchron Strings I in the near future is a very wise thing to do, this will calm, and please many unhappy customers, and they seriously should put the effort to re-develop most of it.

Exactly, Synchron Strings 1 failed to deliver what it's promised for us, it's a false advertisement, and IMHO, some parts of contents are seriously below the average of the market. I know this may sound harsh and somehow a little bit personally. But, hey, not only myself, not only one person, it's many people out there share the same feeling, so there must be something wrong with it.

When some people say SyS 1 is a product, I questioned myself, is that so? I would go back to check demos, and play the library by myself, however, the sound for some content parts, they are just synthy and fake to me. This fact is just being proved over and over again.

Only shorts articulations are excellent, everyone likes it. No complains.
 
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Talking about more bad deicisions, VSL went forward and released their Synchronized Chamber Strings, instead of improving Synchron Strings I.
I think they are working on multiple projects at the same time, just like other software companies do. And some projects are easier and faster then others. Who knows, maybe they are already hard-working on SS improvements but synch. Cham. Strings were faster?
 
I think they are working on multiple projects at the same time, just like other software companies do. And some projects are easier and faster then others. Who knows, maybe they are already hard-working on SS improvements but synch. Cham. Strings were faster?

Maybe, Maybe not. Only time will tell.

I still feel they have their priorities mixed up, and are not doing themselves any favors by ignoring all the complaints, and negative feedback, and comments from users.
 
I just completed a few projects using the Synchron libraries extensively. The Strings shorts are a pleasure to work with. I managed beautiful textures with FX Strings, and the CFX is also a joy to use. I effortlessly achieved clear and defined mixes where everything blends and glues well.

There is so much potential for the Synchron line.
 
VSL sold you a product that is failed to deliver what it's promised with flawed contents, and now they are selling you another product
I just completed a few projects using the Synchron libraries extensively. The Strings shorts are a pleasure to work with. I managed beautiful textures with FX Strings, and the CFX is also a joy to use. I effortlessly achieved clear and defined mixes where everything blends and glues well.

There is so much potential for the Synchron line.

Yes, these are bright sides for the Synchron line. That's why we wish VSL can fix bad parts of Synchron Strings I. Otherwise, it's crippled forever.
 
Well, I was curious to know what VSL Synchron Player's Tree Structure offers that is an improvement over the Matrix System of VI-Pro 2 ? I personally don't see any specific improvement/s except that the Synchron Patches have full names, and are easier to find/organize in the tree. But that could have easily been done in a Matrix System.

What are your thoughts on this ?

I think the tree system is a bad idea. Instead of the fixed 3-D (matrix/X/Y) of VI Pro you now have arbitrary and varying depth trees. One way to think about it is: every articulation has an address. In VIPro that's always M.X.Y, in syn player it's a.b.c.d...N Now you assign 5-6 CCs or whatever to the different depths. Where will you be when you change the 'b' CC? In the matrix system you could see in advance where you'll end up (if within the same matrix). What if you're on an articulation that uses a.b.c and move to one that uses a.b.c.d.e - where did you leave e? Fancy rules for what happens are hard to predict/remember and impossible to see.

I guess they are emphasizing some potential fluidity for live playing but that will require a) extensive tree design and controller mapping and b) lots of experience to gain the muscle memory to be fluid. And even if you can do that, what do you end up with in your DAW? A ton of CC's and no hope in correlating them to sounds, and an editing nightmare. Never mind trying to enter CC/switches directly into the DAW. Perhaps they presume everyone using a DAW directly just sets things up in the UI and then triggers the UI's send-MIDI? It still makes a mess.

In fact, the 3-D system of VI Pro is already a challenge for DAW use. I wish the player had a 1-D mode, just named slots in a (sometimes long) list triggered by a single CC or program change. A second dimension, if any, would only be something automatic like speed/velocity. This would be more in line with Spitfire's UACC, and, even if not universal, would be a lot easier to manage in a DAW when editing directly or assigning to articulation/expression maps. For most of their instruments, a majority of the articulations would fit in one list.

As it stands, multi-dimensional articulation addressing adds complexity everywhere down the line - editing, articulation systems (Logic's can't yet send multi CC) etc.

VSL already has so many great samples and tools, which I value highly. Some of them present real challenges for ease-of-use (tons of articulations) but are part of what makes them great. If they want to become more approachable while still delivering on their core value propositions (dry samples, MIR) I think they should consider:

  • Include some flavor of MIR/x so it's not an additional thing without which everyone struggles.
  • Add a 1-D mode to the VIPro player, with lots of well-considered and uniform presets for their existing libs.
  • Extensively embrace and support the articulation systems of every major DAW/Notation program that has one.
Synchron concerns me. Does VSL think dry samples are over? I don't.
 
Does VSL think dry samples are over? I don't.
They said there will be more dry libraries. And they are still working on MIR Pro.

I think they chose the tree structure for the complex crossfades over multiple stages. This can't be done with VI.
But if you are not using them the 2d matix is better to handle imo.

Hopefully they add some of the performance improvements from the synchron Player to VI Pro, or add all missing functionalities of VI and a matrix mode to it + compatibility with old libraries.
 
Exactly, Synchron Strings 1 failed to deliver what it's promised for us, it's a false advertisement, and IMHO, some parts of contents are seriously below the average of the market. I know this may sound harsh and somehow a little bit personally. But, hey, not only myself, not only one person, it's many people out there share the same feeling, so there must be something wrong with it.

When some people say SyS 1 is a product, I questioned myself, is that so? I would go back to check demos, and play the library by myself, however, the sound for some content parts, they are just synthy and fake to me. This fact is just being proved over and over again.

Only shorts articulations are excellent, everyone likes it. No complains.

Agreed.

I am still royally ******* off that i wasted money on this as their advertisment of it was nothing short of completely false.


"With Synchron Strings I, we have achieved the ultimate in realism and expressiveness, while providing a new level of ease-of-use."

"Performance Legato Re-invented

Bringing together new recording techniques and innovative algorithms tailored to recordings on a scoring stage, Vienna’s revolutionary Legato Performances excel with a newly heightened realism."


Both of those claims are demonstrably false.

The library has been met with universal criticism, yet they just stay silent and do nothing or say anything about it.
 
I completely skip this synchron series. I knew that with Dimension series they achieved maximum with sampling. I think that synchron series is for beginners that do not want or do not know how to work with very complex articulation matrices. I just think they selling less and less in recent years because more people want to do music just with one click.

I try to do my own classical composition that has 20 minutes using VSL and this took mi one year of work from scratch to mastering. Incredible time consuming process. Who has time to do this?

But I just dont think that simplified synchron series is right way for VSL.
 
To me VSL is absolute control. Stray from that design philosophy in favor of ease of use and you lose the primary reason for choosing VSL over other companies. Part of that absolute control means having dry samples. If they go the spitfire route and start focussing on recording in their concert hall, then they tread on someone else's turf and it won't play out well for them, I reckon.
 
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