Smart Orchestra

Introduction

Welcome to the Vienna Symphonic Library’s series of Synchron Instruments! Vienna Smart Orchestra and its Expansion Pack were created to provide you with a full-fledged symphony orchestra at an affordable price. They not only address newcomers who want to get to composing without having to adjust lots of parameters and load all the instruments separately, but can also be used for jotting down quick sketches or following an idea on the spur. Also, Vienna Smart Orchestra will certainly come in handy whenever you’re pressed for time and have to deliver a final score.

Vienna Smart Orchestra not only provides the strings, woodwinds, and brass of orchestra, but also mallets and the necessary percussion section. Apart from that, you it also offers you a choice selection of solo instruments.

About Presets

For the large Smart Orchestra Presets, there are 3 different Mixer Presets which you can find on the right side of the Mix Tab: Close, Ambient, and Distant. The effects Presets, on the other hand, mostly have their own dedicated tweaks which it is far better to hear than to describe. If you really want to find out what they do, just twiddle the controls!

About Patches

Patches can be used to build your own custom Presets and shape them according to your specific requirements. The Patches of Vienna Smart Orchestra were specifically adapted to the purpose of providing an entire orchestra without taxing your available RAM too much, and an eye to keeping it simple and playable.

If you want to create Presets of your own, please refer to the Synchron Player manual, which will be helpful in case you encounter any problems.

About Pitch

For designating pitch, the Vienna Symphonic Library uses International Pitch Notation (IPN), which was agreed upon internationally under the auspices of the Acoustical Society of America. In this system the international standard of A=440 Hz is called A4 and middle C is C4. All pitches are written as capital letters, their respective octave being indicated by a number next to it. The lowest C on the piano is C1 (the A below that is A0), etc.

The Synchron Player software allows you to set middle C to C3, C4, or C5 according to your preference. Selecting another setting than C4 will of course also change the play ranges and keyswitches accordingly.

Walkthrough Videos

Included Presets

Vienna Smart Orchestra offers three basic orchestral Presets comprising all instrument sections and a selection of solo instruments, as well as effects Presets in four major groups. The Expansion Pack has the same structure, with the new instruments added to it.

01 Smart Orchestra

There are three versions of the basic Smart Orchestra Preset: one with all instruments, one with a reduced set of bass instruments, and one without bass instruments. In this way you can employ your orchestra in different settings and together with separate bass sections.

Apart from that, each of the Presets are built up in the same way, and offer the full orchestra with and without mallets, as well as the individual strings, woodwinds, brass, and mallets/percussion sections. Moreover, there also are six full-range solo instruments: violins, flute, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, and horn. All instruments and articulations are activated by keyswitches. In the ensembles, the bass instruments (contrabass, contrabassoon, tubas) were transposed to the lower octave, and the high voices (1st violins and piccolo) to the upper octave, resulting in an effective play range from C1 to C8.

  • Preset keyswitches: C0–F#0.
  • Type keyswitches: A0–B0 Short notes, Long notes, Pad + solo.
  • Solo instrument keyswitches: F1–A#1 Violins, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Trumpet, Horn.

Percussion

The short and long notes Articulations of the three Smart Orchestra Presets are equipped with a percussion section mapped from D6 to C8.

Mapping

  • D6, E6: Bass drum, single hits (alternating)
  • D#6: Bass drum, roll
  • F6, G6: Snare drums a4, single hits
  • F#6: Snare drums a4, roll
  • G#6, B6: Piatti, single hits normal, slow
  • A6: Tam-tam, single hit
  • A#6: Tam-tam, roll
  • C7: Triangle, single hit
  • C#7: Triangle, roll
  • D7: Tambourine, single hit
  • D#7: Tambourine, roll
  • E7: Suspended cymbal, single hit
  • F7, G7: Snare drum, single hits
  • F#7: Snare drum, roll
  • G#7: Cymbal, roll
  • A7–C8: Concert toms 1–4

Orchestra, Orch. + Mallets

Short Notes

  • Short notes: staccato, and staccato with pizzicato strings.
  • Play Ranges: orchestra C2–C6; percussion D6–C8.
  • Articulation keyswitches: C1–C#1.

Long Notes

  • Sustained notes: normal, fortissimo, pianissimo, and tremolo. All except pianissimo also feature versions with marcato attack (see below).
  • Play Ranges: orchestra C2–C6; percussion D6–C8.
  • Articulation keyswitches: C1–F#1.

For the sustained notes’ marcato versions, you can add marcato attacks with the help of Dim.Ctrl/A (CC3).

Pad + Solo

The Pad + Solo section offers various ensemble articulations for accompaniment together with a dedicated solo instrument.

  • Play ranges: ensemble articulations C2–B4; solo violins, flute C5–C8; oboe C5–F#7; clarinet D5–F#8; trumpet F#5–C8; horn C5–F7.
  • Keyswitches: ensemble articulations C1–E1; solo instruments F1–A#1.

Strings, Woodwinds, Brass

These Presets are constructed in the same way as the full orchestra ones, but feature the individual sections of the orchestra. Accordingly, there are no pizzicato Articulations in the woodwinds and brass Presets.

Mallets

This contains the orchestra’s mallets and percussion sections.

  • Play ranges: mallets C2–C6; percussion D6–C8.

Solo Full Range

Here you can find legato Patches of the six available solo instruments, covering their full range.

  • Play Ranges: violins G3–G7; flute C4–C7; oboe C4–F#6.; clarinet D3–F#6; trumpet F#3–C6; horn C2–F5.
  • Instrument keyswitches: F1–A#1.

11 Smart Orchestra XP

Users of the Smart Orchestra Expansion Pack get additional Presets which include the new instruments. Apart from that, they have the same structure as the original Smart Orchestra Preset.

The Expansion Pack provides several new solo instruments: Violas, Cellos, Harp, Celesta, Piccolo, English horn, Bass clarinet, Bassoon, and Timpani. In the ensembles, the bass instruments (Contrabass, Contrabassoon, Tubas) were transposed to the lower octave, and the high voices (1st violins and Piccolo) to the upper octave, resulting in an effective play range from C1 to C8.

  • Preset keyswitches: C0–F#0.
  • Type keyswitches: A0–B0 Short notes, Long notes, Pad + solo.
  • Articulation keyswitches: starting at C1, according to Preset/Instrument
  • Group selection for solo instruments: Dim.Ctrl/B (CC4) Strings+Celesta, Woodwinds, Brass
  • Solo instrument keyswitches: Strings F1–A1: Violins, Violas XP, Cellos XP, Harp XP, Celesta XP Woodwinds F1–B1: Piccolo XP, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, English horn XP, Bass clarinet XP, Bassoon XP Brass A1–A#1: Trumpet, Horn.

Orchestra, Orch. + Mallets

Short Notes

  • Short notes: staccato, and staccato with pizzicato strings.
  • Play Ranges: orchestra C2–C6; percussion D6–C8.
  • Articulation keyswitches: C1–C#1.

Long Notes

  • Sustained notes: normal, fortissimo, pianissimo, and tremolo. All except pianissimo also feature versions with marcato attack (see below).
  • Play Ranges: orchestra C2–C6; percussion D6–C8.
  • Articulation keyswitches: C1–F#1.

For the sustained notes’ marcato versions, you can add marcato attacks with the help of Dim.Ctrl/A (CC3).

Pad + Solo

The Pad + Solo section offers various ensemble articulations for accompaniment together with a dedicated solo instrument.

  • Play ranges: ensemble articulations C2–B4; solo instruments C5–C8 except oboe C5–F#7; clarinet D5–F#8; English horn E5–C8; trumpet F#5–C8; horn C5–F7.
  • Keyswitches: ensemble articulations C1–E1; solo instruments F1–B1.

Strings, Woodwinds, Brass

These Presets are constructed in the same way as the full orchestra ones, but feature the individual sections of the orchestra. Accordingly, there are no pizzicato Articulations in the woodwinds and brass Presets.

Percussion

This contains the orchestra’s mallets/timpani and percussion sections.

  • Play ranges: mallets C2–C6; timpani C2–B3 left hand, C4–C6 right hand; percussion D6–C8.

Solo Full Range

Here you can find legato Patches of the available solo instruments, covering their full range.

Play Ranges

"XP" marks instruments from the Smart Orchestra Expansion Pack.

  • Strings + Celesta

    • Violins: G3–G7
    • Violas XP: C3–E6
    • Cellos XP: C2–A5
    • Harp XP: C2–A7
    • Celesta XP: C3–F7

  • Woodwinds

    • Piccolo XP C5–C8
    • Flute C4–C7
    • Oboe C4–F#6
    • Clarinet D3–F#6
    • English horn XP E3–C6
    • Bass clarinet XP C2–F#5
    • Bassoon XP C2–D5

  • Brass

    • Trumpet F#3–C6
    • Horn C2–F5

  • Instrument keyswitches: F1–A#1

FX-Presets

The Smart Orchestra’s FX Presets section is subdivided into four categories: Pads, Plucks, Leads, and Processed Percussion. With the exception of the percussion, these normally consist of two or more layered instruments with effects (e.g., dedicated EQ settings and attack/decay parameters) applied to them:

The orchestral FX Presets generally have a play range from C2 to C6.

01 Pads

  • 01 Shimmering Promise

    • Patches: Strings long Pad pp, Woodwinds long Pad, Brass long Pad pp

  • 02 Sparkles & Bliss

    • Patches: Strings long pp, Brass long, Mallets

  • 03 Brooding Force

    • Patches: Strings long, Woodwinds long pp, Brass long pp

  • 04 Woodwind Memories

    • Patches: Strings long Pad, Woodwinds long Pad, Brass long Pad
    • Play range: C2–B4.

  • 05 Evolving Mystery

    • Patches: Strings long pp, Woodwinds long, Brass long

  • 06 The four elements

    • This comprises four different Presets corresponding with the four elements of old.
    • Patches
      • Air Pad: Strings long Pad, Woodwinds long Pad
      • Water Pad: Strings long ff, Brass long
      • Earth Pad: Brass long pp, Woodwinds long
      • Fire Pad: Strings Trem, Woodwinds long ff
    • Play range: Air Pad C2–B5, others C2–C6
    • Keyswitches: C1–D#1.

  • 07 Pluck-Pad

    • Patches: Woodwinds short ff, Brass long ff, Strings Pizz and long ff, Mallets

  • 08a Aftertouch beeswarm, 08b Modwheel beeswarm

    • Patches: Strings long, Woodwinds long, Brass short, Mallets
      The volume of Strings and Woodwinds can be controlled via aftertouch or modwheel, respectively.

  • 09 Dizzy Pads

    • The layout of the Dizzy Pads Preset is the same as that of Smart Orchestra, with various effects and EQ settings applied to the individual instruments.

  • 10 Ice Palace

    • Patches: Strings long pp, Woodwinds long, Brass long pp

02 Plucks

  • 01 Needles in the sky

    • Patches: Woodwinds short ff, Strings short normal and ff, Strings pizzicato, Mallets

  • 02 Rise of the mercenaries

    • Patches: Woodwinds short ff, Strings short normal and ff, Mallets

  • 03 Ping me

    • Patches: Woodwinds short ff, Strings short normal and ff, Strings pizzicato, Mallets

  • 04 Breathe and wait

    • Patches: Woodwinds short ff, Strings short normal and ff, Strings pizzicato, Mallets

  • 05 Gentle thoughts

    • Patches: Woodwinds short ff, Strings short normal and ff, Strings pizzicato, Mallets

  • 06 Blades & Spades MODFilter

    • Patches: Woodwinds short, Brass short ff.
      Use the modwheel (CC1) to change the filter effect.

  • 07 Jungle sign

    • Patches: Woodwinds long ff (low notes with shortened hold phase), Mallets (two slots with different AHDSR curves)
    • Play range: C2–B4

  • 08 Strumming along MODFilter

    • Patches: Woodwinds short, Strings short normal and ff, Strings pizzicato, Mallets.
      Use the modwheel (CC1) to change the filter effect.

03 Leads

These Presets for lead voices mostly are combinations of solo instruments.

  • 01 Hybrid Fluboe

    • Patches: Flute Legato NR, Oboe Legato NR
    • Play range: C4–C7

  • 02 Digital Hero

    • Patches: Oboe Legato NR, Horn Legato NR
    • Play range: C3–F6

  • 03 Wake up call

    • Patches: Trumpet Legato NR, Violins Legato NR
    • Play range: G3–C7

  • 04 Happy but weird

    • Patches: Oboe Legato NR, Flute Legato NR, Horn Legato NR
    • Play range: C3–F6

  • 05 Soaring

    • Patches: Violin Legato NR, Clarinet Legato NR
    • Play range: F3–F7

  • 06 Sandstorm

    • Patches: Woodwinds long ff and short, Strings long, Brass long ff, Horn Legato NR
    • Play range: C2–B4

04 Processed Percussion

The three Presets of this section have the same layout and feature different acoustic aspects of the percussion section.

01 Trailer Percussion, 02 Punchy Percussion, 03 Doomed Percussion

  • Play range: C6–C8

  • Mapping:

    • D6, E6 Bass drum, single hits (alternating)
    • D#6 Bass drum, roll
    • F6, G6 Snare drums a4, single hits
    • F#6 Snare drums a4, roll
    • G#6, B6 Piatti, single hits normal, slow
    • A6 Tam-tam, single hit
    • A#6 Tam-tam, roll
    • C7 Triangle, single hit
    • C#7 Triangle, roll
    • D7 Tambourine, single hit
    • D#7 Tambourine, roll
    • E7 Suspended cymbal, single hit
    • F7, G7 Snare drum, single hits
    • F#7 Snare drum, roll
    • G#7 Cymbal, roll
    • A7–C8 Concert toms 1–4

FX-Presets Vol.2

The library update from January, 2019 furnishes the original Smart Orchestra with an additional FX Presets section. Apart from the existing four categories, this new section also features the additional categories Pulses and Basses.

01 Pads

  • 01 Down Memory Lane

    • Patches: Strings Long Pad (normal and octave up), Flute Legato
    • Play Range: C1–B7
    • CC1: Filter

  • 02 Gentle Strings

    • Patches: Strings Long Pad pp, Violins Legato
    • Play Range: C2–C8
    • CC1: Filter

  • 03 Sins

    • Patches: Strings Trem Pad, Woodwinds Long Pad, Brass Long Pad
    • Play Range: C2–B4
    • CC1: Return 2 volume

  • 04 Stutter Pad

    • Patches: Strings Long pp, Woodwinds Long pp, Brass Long pp
    • Play Range: C2–C6
    • CC1: Send 2

02 Plucks

  • 01 Down to Earth

    • Patches: Brass Long ff
    • Play Range: C2–C6
    • CC1: Send 1

  • 02 Finity

    • Patches: Mallets, Strings Short, Woodwinds Short
    • Play Range: C2– C6
    • CC1: Return 2 volume

  • 03 Bold

    • Patches: Strings Short ff, Strings pizz, Woodwinds Short ff, Brass Short ff (normal and octave up)
    • Play Range: C2–C4
    • CC1: Send 1

  • 04 Cluster

    • Patches: Strings Short ff, Woodwinds Short ff, Brass Short ff Play Range: C2–C6
    • CC1: Send 1

  • 05 Pluckiat

    • Patches: Strings Short ff, Strings pizz, Brass Short ff
    • Play Range: C2–C6
    • CC1: Return 2 volume

  • 06 Ringing Pizz

    • Patches: Strings pizz (different spatial instances)
    • Play Range: C2–C6
    • CC1: Filter

  • 07 Phone Blip

    • Patches: Mallets
    • Play Range: C1–C7
    • CC1: Filter

  • 08 Glimmer Mallets

    • Patches: Mallets
    • Play Range: F1–F6
    • CC1: Filter

03 Leads

  • 01 Solista

    • Patches: Violins Legato NR, Oboe Legato NR, Trumpet Legato NR
    • Play Range: G3–G6
    • CC1: Return 2 volume

  • 02 Solista Wood

    • Patches: Clarinet Legato NR, Flute Legato NR, Oboe Legato NR
    • Play Range: C4–C7
    • CC1: Return 2 volume

  • 03 Wooden

    • Patches: Strings trem, Woodwinds Long, Brass Long
    • Play Range: C2–C6
    • CC1: Return 2 volume

  • 04 Bellows

    • Patches: Clarinet Legato NR, Trumpet Legato NR
    • Play Range: C3–F#6
    • CC1: Send 1

  • 05 Balcony Horns

    • Patches: Horn Legato NR (normal and octave up)
    • Play Range: C3–F6
    • CC1: Filter

  • 06 Bright Fanfare

    • Patches: Brass Short, Brass Long, Horn Legato NR, Trumpet Legato NR
    • Play Range: C3–F6
    • CC1: Humanize/Tuning

04 Processed Percussion

  • 01 Crushed Drums Vol.2

    • Patches: Percussion (bass drum and snare drum)
    • Play Range: C2/D2 fast, C3/D3 medium, C4/D4 slow delay
    • CC1: Return 1 volume

  • 02 Processed Percussion Vol.2

    • Patches: Percussion (taiko, snare drum 1/2, cymbals &c.)
    • Play Range: C6–F#7
    • CC1: Filter

05 Pulses

  • 01 Mysteries

    • Patches: Strings Short Pad, Strings Long Pad, Mallets Pad
    • Play Range: C2–B4
    • CC1: Return 2 volume

  • 02 Space Violin

    • Patches: Violins Legato NR
    • Play Range: G3–G7
    • CC1: Send 1

  • 03 Tremolo Waves

    • Patches: Strings Long Pad, Strings Trem, Strings Trem Pad
    • Play Range: C2–B4
    • CC1: Filter value

  • 04 Piper

    • Patches: Strings Long ff, Woodwinds Short ff, Woodwinds Long pp
    • Play Range: C2–C6
    • CC1: Return 2 volume

  • 05 Rise and Fall

    • Patches: Strings Long, Strings Pizz, Strings Trem
    • Play Range: C2–C6
    • CC1: Velocity XF

  • 06 Dark Brass Swells

    • Patches: Brass Long ff, Brass Long
    • Play Range: C2–C6
    • CC1: Send 1

06 Basses

  • 01 Galvanizing Subbass
    • Patches: Strings Pizz Pad
    • Play Range: C1–B2
    • CC1: Send 1
  • 02 Menacing Bells
  • Patches: Mallets
  • Play Range: C2–C3
  • CC1: Filter value