VSL VI - So far so good

[Marcussen]

Posted this at the VSL website. But not all of you visit there, so I figured I would post here as well.
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just wanted to give my thoughts after playing around with the VI for some hours. First of all the new interface is relatively easy to learn considering its complexity - well thought out. The new patches are really nice - i'm sure many people will be very happy with the ponticello, harmonics, and the legato zigane (to mention some highlights)

I'm still trying to get my head around the enormous potential of this beast. One of the REALLY useful things is the ability to blend between patches. I used it for legato and legato portamento... crossfading bewteen these patches works wonders and really adds to the simplicity of play. Earlier you had to choose between crossfading velocities or patches. Now you can create a patch where you can crossfade velocities AND patches. Awesome!

Also all performance legati have been looped. I'm sure this will make quite a few Pro. Ed users very happy.

Now a few minor nags so far. The loading time of patches wasn't quite what I expected - its still faster than GS3, but it seemed instant in the tutorials (Herb says a little proram to optimize loading will be released soon). Then there is speed control. While a nice thing in theory, I doubt I'll be using it except maybe for changing between fast and slow legato. So those who are hoping that this will be the solution to end all might be disapointed.

But these are minor nags - so far the VI is really great, and acheivement in design/programming. Also I might be imagining things but it even sounds better (the 24bit might be audiable after all )

[Hermitage59]

Christian,
I'm sure many will read this with interest.
Have you tried loading multiple instances of the same instrument yet?

regards,

Alex.

[PaulR]

Doesn't Redmatica's tools make any difference to the loading times Christian?

[Marcussen]

Hi Paul, i'm not using Logic. PC+Cubase SX3

Redmatica is for Mac yes?

Alex - I just tried it after reading your post. No problem whatsoever - but I'm not sure how there could be a problem?

Its on two seperate midi channels, and work like two different instruments for all intents and purposes.

[PaulR]

Hi Paul, i'm not using Logic. PC+Cubase SX3
Redmatica is for Mac yes?


I'm not sure Christian - you may be right! :confused:

Anyway - time you got yourself a Mac.

[Hermitage59]

Hi Paul, i'm not using Logic. PC+Cubase SX3

Redmatica is for Mac yes?

Alex - I just tried it after reading your post. No problem whatsoever - but I'm not sure how there could be a problem?

Its on two seperate midi channels, and work like two different instruments for all intents and purposes.

I only ask, given the instruments will draw from the same sample pool.
Good to hear it's no problem, and useful to know you did it and gave an answer so quickly!
Probably too early to tell, but how improved, at this stage, does it seem in relation to your previous working practise?


Regards,

Alex.

[Marcussen]

That is too early to tell. Mostly because there are som many ways you could set up your instruments that you really need to use alot of time to set them up. However I can imagine that once thats done I'm sure my workflow will speed up.

Thing is, the advantage of 14 miditracsk per instrument is that you have a clear overview of the ariculations. With the new VI all that is hidden from you unless you open the VI's interface. Therfore you need to know each of your matrices fairly well and use the same setup for most instruments (I.e. switching to staccatos always uses the C1 keyswitch etc)

But i'm pretty exited about the posibilities. Also even if my workflow does not speed up, I'm sure I will make more interesting music. Earlier it was a pain to crossfade say sustains into tremelo, or regular legato to portamento - now its so easy that I think I will find myself doing these advanced tricks more often.

[Ashermusic]

I don't think it would affect loading times of the new VSL VI. It's designed to re-link EXS-24 files within Logic, and the new VSL VI has nothing to do with EXS-24.

Lee Blaske

This is correct. It links EXS24 instruments with the appropriate samples.

[geronimo001]

Did you try the fast legato? or is it legato zigane?

[Mike Greene]

Thanks for posting this Christian. I still haven't made a final decision, but you're tempting me! :)

- Mike Greene

[Will Roget]

What about per-instrument/channel effects with VI? Would you be able to do stuff like EQ / stereo imaging on the channels, or would you have to just bounce each channel seperately in order to do that?

[Daryl]

I've no idea about any other hosts than Nuendo, but in N3 the audio from a VSTi is routed to an output and you can apply effects and sends just the same way as you would with any other audio.

D

[Will Roget]

I've no idea about any other hosts than Nuendo, but in N3 the audio from a VSTi is routed to an output and you can apply effects and sends just the same way as you would with any other audio.
Yeah in Sonar you have VSTs on an audio track too, and can apply effects/sends the same way as well. But I'm just wondering is if you have control over effects on a channel by channel basis, like you do in Kontakt (or to a lesser extent, Kompakt players). With the VI as a VST on an audio track, you can apply effects to it as a whole, but not necessarily to the individual instruments/articulations within it.

So I guess I'm just asking if it has onboard effects, with a specific interest in EQ and stereo imaging. The classic VSL problem for me is that the samples are all over the place, and need some stereo narrowing (or even mono..ing) so that they occupy a reasonable space for panning/positioning. That would need to be done on an instrument-by-instrument basis though, so if it can't do this within the VI itself, and there's no easy way to bounce each channel to a different audio track, it'd be really sticky situation.

[Hermitage59]

Yeah in Sonar you have VSTs on an audio track too, and can apply effects/sends the same way as well. But I'm just wondering is if you have control over effects on a channel by channel basis, like you do in Kontakt (or to a lesser extent, Kompakt players). With the VI as a VST on an audio track, you can apply effects to it as a whole, but not necessarily to the individual instruments/articulations within it.

So I guess I'm just asking if it has onboard effects, with a specific interest in EQ and stereo imaging. The classic VSL problem for me is that the samples are all over the place, and need some stereo narrowing (or even mono..ing) so that they occupy a reasonable space for panning/positioning. That would need to be done on an instrument-by-instrument basis though, so if it can't do this within the VI itself, and there's no easy way to bounce each channel to a different audio track, it'd be really sticky situation.

My kind of muso talking about mono like that. Wonderful Stuff.

Will, as far i've read, and going on the little info available, I think Mir will play a big part in this. I get the distinct impression there's a complete picture being built over at VSL.

Regards,

Alex.

[Will Roget]

Yeah.... I kinda remember hearing some "faked" MIR demos coming from there, which sounded interesting but I have to admit I just wasn't too thrilled by the result. I just didn't get the sense of 3D space, and I'm pretty sure that's because of the stereo spread being so wack.

But we'll see, it wasn't real MIR so I shouldn't pass judgment so early I guess.

[Marcussen]

Regarding that demo I beleive it only used some MIR impulses, but they were used just like common conv. verb.

MIR will be something else entirely - But we have yet to hear if it will sound as good as I hope and think.

[tabbu]

I would love to know that how many performances and instruments can I use in one dedicated sampler computer? Let's say can I load chamber strings sections and soolo strings with most of the slow/fast legatos, the new legatos, staccato, spiccato, tremolos etc, while having 2Gb of ram?

I liked the VSL videos about universalmode and all the possible patch variations, but can I really use all these features with for example for 6-8 instruments? I would imagine that RAM fills up pretty fast. I really hope that VI updates to 64bit soon.

Also mixing was very straight forward with Gigastudio. I really like the Gigapulse and somehow I feel that even the upcoming MIR doesn't give anything more to impulse reverbs. Even if it does, I think that I stick with Gigapulse. It has very detailed and personal sound in it and I like it. I hope that I come up some easy solution to route all Vienna instruments thru Gigapulse.

But anyways I think I have to buy these VIs someday.

[Daryl]

The current tests show 300 stereo voices and 24 instances (with quite a few patches) on a fastish, 2GB machine. For more info have a look at the VSL forum.

D

[Marcussen]

[QUOTE=tabbu] I hope that I come up some easy solution to route all Vienna instruments thru Gigapulse.
[QUOTE]

Joseph Burrell showed me this product...

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/2049.html

Might do the job...

If someone tries it, please let me know

[Drew Buchan]

I tried the demo version of Joseph's suggestion, and whilst Cubase and Gigastudio were both happy to play with this vst plug-in (no crashes), I couldn't get it work.

[Marcussen]

grrr... Bummer -

[PaulR]

What are the loading times Like Christian?

[Marcussen]

I commented on them inmy first post - But they are maybe 20% faster than GS3. But they will be faster after VSL releases a management program soon.