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VSL Synchron Pianos advice

pryan

Member
Hi, forum newbie here who's just dipped a toe into VSL with the recent BF promos.
Blown away by the quality of the libraries compared to anything I've tried before - and that's just the Synchronized SE1 and VSO!

Anyway, as a dabbling (non-classically trained) piano player, the thing that I'm enjoying most is the D-274 Light version in SSE1.
I'm very tempted to pick up a full version of either Steinway or the CFX, or the standard version of the bundle, with the current voucher offer.

I've listed to demos over and over, I *think* I like the Steinway more, though this might be because I can get my fingers on the Light version.

I realise the full libraries offer far more mic options (particularly like the ribbon mic and maybe the tube?) but I can't work out if the added value of these offset the variety that the bundle offers. I like the Light Steinway with the close mic only , aswell as with the room mix (reverb off!). Just playing for the love of it - I'll not be producing any recordings any time soon! I definitely can't afford the full bundle.

TL;DR - So, really grateful for a steer - for a player (not producer), the CFX full, D-274 full, or the standard bundle?

Many thanks!
 
I went for the standard Steinway and I'm very happy I did... surely my best piano v.i. so far. The additional two mics really give a rounder, more 3d sound. It took me a couple weeks to begin to understand the instrument though.
 
I went through the same thing, and I've ended up with the full version of the D274, which I like very much indeed. But you're kind of asking us to recommend something that is quite a personal choice.

The only thing I can say is that VSL offer a 30 day refund so If you feel you've made a mistake it isn't a disaster. Personally, I'd contact their sales department via email and I'm sure they could figure out a way to help you make the right choice.

I went for the full D-274 full whilst it was still on sale so that helped me make up my mind.

But it's my goto piano now - (it used to be the Ivory II American Concert D.)
 
here's a little classical example, (not my own playing, midi from Yamaha e-competition). Close, Mid and Main mics. Just a bit of compression and reverb:
 

Attachments

  • Frank.mp3
    4.7 MB · Views: 189
Same boat here (completing my setup this month). Incredible libraries.

Things you probably know but might skip over:
-VSL is very reasonable about upgrading standard->full or instrument->bundle, so piecemeal acquisition shouldn't cause any regret.
-You can use vouchers during the next sale to get a really good deal.
-Full mics help you avoid synthetic reverb, but if you're not recording maybe that doesn't matter at all. Standard mics sound really good.
 
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-Full mics help you avoid synthetic reverb, but if you're not recording maybe that doesn't matter at all. Standard mics sound really good.
true, still I like to use some external reverb even when recording a real piano :)
 
Thanks for this, folks, what a helpful place this is :)
So far it sounds like the Steinway is the latest and greatest! Rob, the mp3 sounds fantastic!
I think I am being tempted by the bundle pricing but I guess I could start small then wait for another sale as Buz suggests- are upgrades usually discounted during sales, or is it new purchases only.
Last question for now (!) - are bundle licences single elicenser assets, or multiple?
Thinking my pc might only manage one at a time!!
Cheers :)
 
I owned the Steinway, you really want the full version so you get the tube mic. Mixing that in takes away the metallic sound that can happen in the C5-C6 octaves. At the time I was working with that library I didn’t know enough about velocity curves in my keyboard controller, wish I had before I returned the library. I’m sure it’d be my favorite now but I’ve already committed to Garritan CFX, R275 and Noire. The low octaves on the VSL Steinway are probably best in class. Work with it, there are so many things you can tweak in the VSL player it’s crazy.
 
There's one sort of undocumented feature, that is finding the right delay values between mics. This can change the tone dramatically, as the various mics kinda get in phase...
 
I personally went with the CFX. There's a certain timbre to loud lower notes, especially in octaves, that is harmonically a bit more aggressive, and I really like that tone color. Originally I was very uncomfortable about it being recorded off-center. It's actually not much of a problem other than some initial awkward panning games to get it centered again.

@Rob I think I found the e-competition online but have no idea which piece it is.

I can try to get an mp3 example from the same MIDI for the CFX
 
Example attached.

Note carefully, full disclosure for comparison purposes. My settings were not really meant for a concert piano style. The CFX can actually be far brighter and more dynamic than what I've set it to be - I'm using reduced MIDI sensitivity and reduced dynamic range settings - for my own piano music, this was my way of (a) getting more range of note velocities to have a softer muffled tone, and (b) squeezing more timbre difference within the same dynamic range. So you can imagine those things don't quite work for a concert piano sound... So, in order to compensate for this, I did stretch and shift note velocities on the original MIDI being used.

My mix uses room/close/mid/main and high-surround. So technically it requires full library. But a similar sound can likely be achieved with the standard only. No additional reverb, I turned *off* the one in the plugin.
 

Attachments

  • franck-cfx.mp3
    4 MB · Views: 131
oh and another full disclosure important point - I had also made some changes to volume and dynamic range settings per-note. The CFX high notes actually quite weak and I didn't like that. So I ramped up velocities on the upper keyboard range, and reduced dynamic range, too. It took a few days of tweaking but I felt it was worth it.
 
I’m a classical concert pianist and I feel the Steinway is the closest thing to a real concert piano I’ve seen so far. I’m quite happy with the standard edition but I don’t do virtual production. Didn’t try the Yamaha.
 
Thanks again all, I’ll line those mp3s up in the daw later, but even listening less critically there is an appreciable difference in the two pianos - realise all the caveats about mics used, mic delays in the mixer (even in the light version I was surprised as the differenc that made) dynamic adjustments, and per-note tweaks for your CFX Shawn. Still sounds like 2 different pianos in the hall - these VSL guys (and their users) know their craft!
 
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