AlexanderSchiborr
Senior Member
You know there was this gazillion long pages thread during the release time of the synchron strings last year where people having long debates about the pros and cons and I pointed out my own thoughts about the synchron strings too, heck I also tried to be fair because there is something to like about the synchron strings, but overall I decided not to get the library. I listened to a lot of demos there, I even spoke (in private) with a few people, incl. some who are close to the company working for their demo department in order to give them my honest thoughts and what they should consider changing or re-doing for SS because I was asked what the library is missing.
In a nutshell, even the best demos for the library worked out e.g. by Guy Bacos (which I respect a lot) creating very thoughtful music here, I wasn´t convinced about the result, yet the music is beautiful, unfortunately the result ended up sounding very dated and midi-sh for a 2018 major workhorse string library which I was surprised by quite a lot, considering that VSL has done great libraries back then.
For me personally the library lacks of what I call the mojo and liveliness. Probably for some people might think that libraries like CSS has a bit of too much of that: For instance CSS has like a romantic expressivo long note articulation and a fine legato which creates a lot of lively sound and expression as the same I can say of Berlin Strings (which I use for many years). For me the SS sound very flat because it lacks of that quite a lot for all the long articulations and legatos. To mention something what I like, I think the short articulation department in this library is done in a good fashion and it sounds great. Also the sense of room is nice and it gives a very balanced projection. Thats one of VSL strenghts.
Having said that: I would (and I have) recommend to them recording more expressivo long note material, authentic fast runs and articulated legato agile patches because there is a lot what they missed imo to make that library a workhorse for serious composers these days. Now..when you write modern filmmusic, I think even SS will do its job, but do write something else, you know like classic soundtrack where you need a lot of more expression with fluid melodic lines..then I am afraid with SS it will end up sounding not quite what a VSL next generation String library in 2018 should be capable of. Sure its still samples and a string libray, but I have seen amazing results with competitors products which just sound so much better and I am afraid that VSL has missed a big opportunity with this one. And then there are these new policies with them which annoys quite a bunch of people which also scares me a bit away investing into them knowing that I am dependent on such imo outdated "no consumer friendly" policies eating up more money from my pocket when my dongle stops working.
In the end I think VSL had the best intentions with SS wanting to create a very ambitious library but it sounds to me like a very incomplete product. Also there is a point that SS is a pretty hungry library eating up over 500 GB with a full installation of the full library which sounds impressive reading the description but doesn´t sound impressive at all after listening to many examples posted back then.
Just for the sake of information purpose for those who are interested in reading all the 100+ pages old thread:
https://vi-control.net/community/threads/vsl-synchron-strings-i-announced-nov-release.65555/
PS: I have no grudge or even hate against VSL, I appreciate VSL quite a lot, yet they should listen to the many people voiced their opinions and the problems
In a nutshell, even the best demos for the library worked out e.g. by Guy Bacos (which I respect a lot) creating very thoughtful music here, I wasn´t convinced about the result, yet the music is beautiful, unfortunately the result ended up sounding very dated and midi-sh for a 2018 major workhorse string library which I was surprised by quite a lot, considering that VSL has done great libraries back then.
For me personally the library lacks of what I call the mojo and liveliness. Probably for some people might think that libraries like CSS has a bit of too much of that: For instance CSS has like a romantic expressivo long note articulation and a fine legato which creates a lot of lively sound and expression as the same I can say of Berlin Strings (which I use for many years). For me the SS sound very flat because it lacks of that quite a lot for all the long articulations and legatos. To mention something what I like, I think the short articulation department in this library is done in a good fashion and it sounds great. Also the sense of room is nice and it gives a very balanced projection. Thats one of VSL strenghts.
Having said that: I would (and I have) recommend to them recording more expressivo long note material, authentic fast runs and articulated legato agile patches because there is a lot what they missed imo to make that library a workhorse for serious composers these days. Now..when you write modern filmmusic, I think even SS will do its job, but do write something else, you know like classic soundtrack where you need a lot of more expression with fluid melodic lines..then I am afraid with SS it will end up sounding not quite what a VSL next generation String library in 2018 should be capable of. Sure its still samples and a string libray, but I have seen amazing results with competitors products which just sound so much better and I am afraid that VSL has missed a big opportunity with this one. And then there are these new policies with them which annoys quite a bunch of people which also scares me a bit away investing into them knowing that I am dependent on such imo outdated "no consumer friendly" policies eating up more money from my pocket when my dongle stops working.
In the end I think VSL had the best intentions with SS wanting to create a very ambitious library but it sounds to me like a very incomplete product. Also there is a point that SS is a pretty hungry library eating up over 500 GB with a full installation of the full library which sounds impressive reading the description but doesn´t sound impressive at all after listening to many examples posted back then.
Just for the sake of information purpose for those who are interested in reading all the 100+ pages old thread:
https://vi-control.net/community/threads/vsl-synchron-strings-i-announced-nov-release.65555/
PS: I have no grudge or even hate against VSL, I appreciate VSL quite a lot, yet they should listen to the many people voiced their opinions and the problems
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