Sarah Mancuso
Esselfortium
BBCSO might not be the perfect choice either, but I've yet to hear a VSL demo that sounds like a recording instead of like a bunch of mono close-mic midi tracks panned around with bad reverb.
BBCSO might not be the perfect choice either, but I've yet to hear a VSL demo that sounds like a recording instead of like a bunch of mono close-mic midi tracks panned around with bad reverb.
My point exactly! Comparing VSL with BBCSO makes little sense. They both have their justification, I personally tend a little more towards VSL, but it depends on what I want to achieve.I started in this thread owning some various VSL (and basic player) and BBC. I now have Cube full and Pro Player and still BBC.
I spent last part of December with Pro player and it has changed my view drastically. I love it and the content I bought. I still also love BBC and nothing has changed that. They are both great.
I keep reading the comments of a "modern sound" used when comparing though. Did these newer libraries use only new violins, new mics and new hall... or is it maybe the demo content plays modern type trailer music vs VSL more classical style. Either way, I'm not a huge fan of modern scores so I'll stick with these dusty old samples and BBC SO for my ventures.
There's no wrong choice if you like the sound and enjoy them. Both these tick my boxes.
Similarly, high-classical works that call for great and virtuosic precision are probably going to sound much, much better on VSL that on SSO, which might sound kind of ... maybe not lifeless, but maybe kind of vague, lacking the vibrant precision of the VSL
About two years ago I became enamored with Alexander Schiborr's tracks, including one called "Polychordal Deep Space" wherein he shared the track as he developed it as a case study on Redbanned, and ultimately, with me, the MIDI file (he's generous that way). The track doesn't seem to be on SoundCloud any more (due to their recent size restrictions perhaps), but anyway can be found here:A litmus test might be to take all the spitfire demos, and mock them up with the VSL and then all the VSL demos and mock them up with the SSO.
Why not be allowed to find both good?
BBCSO might not be the perfect choice either, but I've yet to hear a VSL demo that sounds like a recording instead of like a bunch of mono close-mic midi tracks panned around with bad reverb.
If anyone is interested in A-B'ing the Spitfire and the VSL, let me know and I will dredge them up. Since I have the MIDI, I know the notes are virtually identical, and Alexander hewed pretty closely to standard orchestral practice wrt. his MIDI tracks.
To be honest, this sounds worse than I remembered when I made my post above. In addition to the lack of any sense of space, the performances all sound very flat and robotic to me. Most libraries would probably struggle with that Mozart piece, but all the other VSL demos I've heard (on the linked page and elsewhere) feel similarly cheap and artificial to my ears.Listen to the first few... not bad. Eine kleine Nachtmusik by Beat is worthy of a listen. Maybe a bit dull and lifeless but he's got promise.
CHAMBER STRINGS I - Vienna Symphonic Library
Vienna's Chamber Strings I exude their flair for intimate arrangements in chamber music compositions or in divided string groups. Large string ensembles combined with the Chamber Strings I are enhanced by additional nuances and a wealth of variations.www.vsl.co.at
To be honest, this sounds worse than I remembered when I made my post above. In addition to the lack of any sense of space, the performances all sound very flat and robotic to me. Most libraries would probably struggle with that Mozart piece, but all the other VSL demos I've heard (on the linked page and elsewhere) feel similarly cheap and artificial to my ears.
I should have been more specific - I used Alexander's MIDI file to insure that the notes I was transcribing into Sibelius were the same pitches/durations as he had used originally. The MIDI stream being sent over to VEP/VSL from Sibelius was entirely a different MIDI stream. I think anyone who perceived the VSL rendering as more 'sterile' could justifiably argue that I should tweak it to improve its 'filmic' qualities. (And indeed I'm not saying the results are identical). However, I am simply suggesting this is a counterexample - i.e. VSL doesn't do too bad as a simple rendition within Sibelius. Partially I suppose this is because there is a lot of musical activity in the piece and it doesn't just linger on long gorgeous sounds - so this sort of comparison is material-dependent. I should go listen to the difference myself a bit more before I wax on any further.The problem is, you can't simply use an identical MIDI file for different libraries. Each one responds differently to MIDI data and needs to be programmed specifically for a specific library. Otherwise, one (or more) comparisons will inevitable sound weak.
Exactly, yes. VSL has always sounded very neutral to me. Having personally tasted a few of their libs now, that is very much how I'm finding them. They take more work to sound musical.It's not a stylistic thing, it's just about an innate musicality and feeling of intent.
It will never stop! Sad... you guys have no clue. VSL is not mono and too close. Stop talking about things you don‘t understand. As I said, these are recordings in a small scoring stage, it‘s more like a mid microphone without a long tail. This is actual a normal engineering approach you‘re not accustomed to.BBCSO might not be the perfect choice either, but I've yet to hear a VSL demo that sounds like a recording instead of like a bunch of mono close-mic midi tracks panned around with bad reverb.
There has to be a winner. Just seems to be the way.
Take a look at the dimension series. This is another level. These libraries can achieve complex orchestrations and divisi no other library can.