Vienna Symphonic Library
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The Vienna Symphonic Library (VSL) is a producer of samples of orchestral instruments renowned for their lifelike performance and high quality. For recording the samples, VSL uses the Silent Stage, a recording studio specially constructed for the purpose. The number of recorded samples currently is about 1.75 million. The outstanding feature of VSL’s products are true legato and repetition articulations, which before were impossible to realize in computer-based compositions.
VSL’s Vienna Instruments Symphonic Cube contains a full orchestra made up of ten collections that can also be acquired separately: solo strings, chamber strings, two collections of orchestral strings, harps, two collections of woodwinds, two collections of brass (one of which includes Wagner tuba), and percussion. Of each collection there are Standard and Extended versions available: the Extended library provides additional articulations for every instrument. The Symphonic Cube (and its separate collections) are powered by a proprietary sample player, the Vienna Instrument, which uses Syncrosoft protection keys against data piracy.
The sample libraries are available in stand-alone versions as well as versions for Gigastudio and Kontakt. Under Mac OS X, the stand-alone version uses Audio Units, so the VSL can be used seamlessly from programs that use Audio Units, like Digital Performer.
The Symphonic Cube is the offspring of the Orchestral Cube, which was released in 2003 and with which it shares many samples, although reprocessed and in 24-bit format. The Orchestral Cube comes in different sample player formats: GigaStudio, EXS24, HALion and Kontakt. The Orchestral Cube is split into two editions, one of which contains single note articulations like staccato, sustained, etc., and the other features performance elements like legato, repetitions, octave runs, etc.
The Horizon Series offers separate editions, some of which provide additional material for the Orchestral Cube, while others cater to specific requirements. The Horizon Series focuses on single instruments or instrument groups, e.g., Solo Strings (the Orchestral Cube has solo violin and cello, the Horizon edition also contains viola and double bass), Epic Horns, which contains articulations of an ensemble of eight horns, but also distorted electric guitar and classical guitar. The Horizon Series’ Opus I and II provide a concise yet fully equipped orchestral library with solo instruments and ensembles.
Among other prizes, VSL was awarded the Electronic Musician's 2007 Editor's Choice Award for the Symphonic Cube, the Future Music Platinum Award 2006, and the TEC Award 2006.
[edit] Criticism
Press for Vienna has complained that the installation process could be easier. "When you have instructions in three different locations, and each is a little different from the other, which one do you follow?", asks a reviewer for SonicControl.com [1]. The installer crashes very often, even on systems that supposedly meet the system requirements. If the installer encounters a problem, it deletes everything it has installed and quits; there is no way provided to install only a portion of the collection (e.g., if a user wants the trombones from a brass collection but doesn't want the Wagner tuba).
