Synchron Percussion II

Introduction

Welcome to the Vienna Symphonic Library's series of Synchron Instruments! The instruments were recorded at Stage A, the main hall of Vienna's revitalized Synchron Stage Vienna. The recordings were executed using an expansive, phase-controlled multi-microphone set-up, capturing string effects played in a scoring stage with exceptional acoustics, now ready to be used in your studio. This document will provide you with the information you need to use the Library with our Vienna Synchron Player.

Standard and Extended Library

All the instruments were recorded using 12 microphones, subdivided into 7 sections. The Standard Library includes 4 of these sections, allowing you to integrate instruments recorded with a stereo Decca tree into your projects using our new Synchron Player software. Adding the Extended Library and thus getting the Full Library expands your possibilities to 5.1 surround and Auro 3D 9.1.

Microphone positions

Standard Library

  1. Close Mic - Mono
  2. Mid Layer Mic - Stereo (L/R)
  3. Main/Room Mic - Decca Tree Stereo (L/R)
  4. Main/Room Mic - Decca Tree Mono (Center)

Extended Library

  1. Main Surround - Stereo (L/R)
  2. High Stereo (3D) - Stereo (L/R)
  3. High Surround (3D) - Stereo (L/R)

The instrument Presets also include different mixer presets. By default the classic room mixes are loaded which include the Standard Library microphone positions. These are balanced in the stereo field to represent the respective instrument's position in the Synchron Stage set-up.

Immersive Sound and Auro 3D

Auro 3D is an immersive audio technology that allows for three-dimensional sound perception. The Belgian company Auro Technologies developed this technology based on a special speaker configuration, adding four additional speakers to a 5.1 surround configuration. These speakers (so-called "Heights") are situated above the front and surround speakers and generate acoustic reflections that are perceived naturally due to the fact that sounds originate from around as well as from above the listener. Thanks to the comprehensive selection of discrete audio channels with the Full Library of Synchron Percussion I you may mix your instruments in Auro 3D as well as in Dolby Atmos.

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

01 SY Timpani

02 Timpani - Adams - Soft mallets

The same set of Adams timpani, played with soft mallets.

Single strokes

  • Play Range: C2-C6 (left hand C2-B3, right hand C4-C6)

Use Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1) to play with the tone ringing or muted after the key release.

Static rolls

  • Play range: C2-C4

Use Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1) to choose dynamic selection or velocity crossfading.

Dynamic rolls

  • Play range: C2-C4

Dynamic rolls, 2/4/6/8 seconds. Use Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1) to select length, and keyswitches A0/B0 to switch between crescendo and diminuendo.

Octaves

  • Play range: C2-C3

Two timpani tuned in octaves for an especially powerful sound.

00 Timpani - Adams - All m. (SP I-II)

Owners of both Synchron Percussion I and Synchron Percussion II can use this Preset which combines the medium and soft mallet articulations.

Important

Synchron Timpani I Library Update 01 must be installed to load this preset correctly.

Mallet keyswitches: C1/C#1.

Use Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1) to play with the tone ringing or secco resp. muted (medium/soft mallets).

02 SY Drums - Toms

02 Bass drum - Lefima 28

A Lefima 28" bass drum played with soft, medium, and hard beaters, soft and hard brushes, and for special effects.

Soft / medium / hard beater

Use Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1) to change between open and coperto articulations.

Soft beaters, open
  • Play range: A3-A#6

Soft beaters, coperto
  • Play range: C4-A#6

Medium/hard beaters, open
  • Play range: A3-A#6

Medium/hard, coperto
  • Play range: C4-A#6

Brushes soft / hard, effects

There are no further options to these articulations.

Soft brushes
  • Play range: C4-G5

Hard brushes
  • Play range: C4-G5

Effects
  • Play range: C4-C6

04 Roto toms

Roto toms with 6”, 8”, 10”, 12”, 14”, and 16” diameter, ranging over 2½ octaves, and played with sticks, hot rods, and mallets.

  • Range: G2-B4 left hand, G5-B7 right hand.
  • Beater keyswitches: C1-D1.

Sticks

Single hits normal and rim, rolls, rimshots, and upward and downward glissandos.

  • Articulation keyswitches: F1-A#1.
  • Rolls range: G2-B4 long release, G5-B7 short release.
  • Glissando range: G2-G4.

Rods

Single hits normal and rim.

  • Articulation keyswitches: F1-F#1.

Mallets

Single hits normal and rim, rolls.

  • Articulation keyswitches: F1-G1.
  • Rolls range: G2-B4 long release, G5-B7 short release.

05 Taikos

10 taikos sized from 8" to 53", played with cudgels, tam beaters, and with various effects.

  • Diameter keys: C2-A#2 (lowest to highest, all)
  • Beater keys: C1-D1
Note

Make sure to check out the included MIDI-loops in the MIDI-loop player!

Single taikos

Cudgel

Tam beater

Effects

All taikos

Cudgel

Tam beater

03 SY Cymbals - Gongs

03 Tam-tam flat - 70cm

A 70 cm tam-tam, played with soft and hard beaters, and various special effects.

  • Beater switches: C1-D1

Beaters soft / hard
  • Play range: C4-A#6

Effects
  • Play range: C2-D#6

03 Tam-tams - All (SP I-II)

This Preset combines the tam-tams of Synchron Percussion I and Synchron Percussion II.

  • Size switches: A1-B1
  • Beater switches: C1-D1

04 Burma Gongs

These Burma gongs have an exeptionally big tonal range of four octaves. They are played with regular mallets, leather and metal beaters, and for special effects.

  • Range: C2-C6.
  • Beater switches: C1-D#1.

Regular

  • Articulation switches: F1-G#1
Single strokes

Use Dim-Ctrl/A (CC1, Modwheel) to switch between open, sizzle, and muted articulations.

Static rolls

Use Dim-Ctrl/A (CC1, Modwheel) to switch between long and short release.

Dynamic rolls

Light dynamics with 1/2/4 seconds, strong dynamics with 2/4/6 seconds.
Use Dim-Ctrl/A (CC1, Modwheel) to change duration.

  • Crescendo/diminuendo switches: A0/B0.

Leather beater

No further options.

Metal beater

Strokes and scratches.

  • Articulation switches: F1-F#1.

Effects

Effects with rod, brush, rasping stick, bow, and superball.

  • Articulation switches: F1-A1.

05 China Gongs

China gongs with single strokes, static and dynamic rolls.

  • Range: G3-G5.
  • Articulation switches: F1-G1.

Single strokes

Use Dim-Ctrl/A (CC1, Modwheel) to switch between open and muted variants.

Static rolls

Use Dim-Ctrl/A (CC1, Modwheel) to switch between long and short release.

Dynamic rolls

Crescendos and diminuendos with 2/4/6 seconds.
Use Dim-Ctrl/A (CC1, Modwheel) to change duration.

  • Crescendo/diminuendo switches: A0/B0.

04 SY Mallets

04 Vibraphone - Musser

A Musser vibraphone played with hard and soft mallets, bowed, and with a superball.

  • Beater switches: C1-D#1.
  • Play range: F3-F6.

Soft / hard mallets

Open and secco, harmonics, rolls ringing and muted, dynamic rolls, glissandos, played with the mallet handle, and pitch bend (an effect where the mallet is drawn with pressure over the sound bar).

  • Articulation switches: F1-D2
  • Motor on/off: A0/B0 (where applicable)

Dynamic rolls

Dynamic rolls, 1/3 seconds. Crescendo/diminuendo selection is controlled by keystroke velocity (Dim.Ctrl/B).

  • Duration switches: A0/B0

Glissandos

Glissandos up and down, slow and fast - full range, low, medium, and high octaves.

  • Range: C3-G#4

Bow

Articulations with and without motor, and pitch bend.

  • Motor/type switches: A0-B0.

Superball

  • Motor off/on: A0/B0.

05 Crotales - Bergerault

A set of crotales by Bergerault, played with metal and plastic beaters, and bowed. The bowed articulation has no further options.
The "88 keys” transposing option allows you to play the instrument on a regular keyboard, while "loco” goes up to C8.

  • 88 keys/loco switches: A0/B0.
  • Range: C5-C7 (88 keys), C6-C8 (loco).

Metal/plastic beater

Single strokes, static and dynamic rolls, and glissandos.

  • Articulation switches: F1-G#1.
Single strokes

Use Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1, Modwheel) to change between open, open with mute RS, and muted variants.

Rolls

Use Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1, Modwheel) to change between open and muted variants.

Dynamic rolls

Use Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1, Modwheel) to change duration. The selection of crescendo/diminuendo is controlled by keystroke velocity (Dim.Ctrl/B).

Glissando

Glissandos up and down, slow and fast - full range, low and high range.

  • Range
    • C5-D#6 (88 keys)
    • C6-C#7 (loco)

05 SY Bells

02 Plate bells

Plate bells ranging 5 octaves, played with hammer and metal beater, and bowed. Hammer offers ringing and stopped single notes as well as rolls with regular and short release. Metal beater has only ringing and stopped articulations, while bowed has no further options.

  • Beater/bow switches: C1-D1
  • Articulation switches: F1-G#1 (hammer), F1-F#1 (metal beater)
  • Range: C2-C7

03 Temple bells

Temple bells, hit with soft, hard, and triangle beaters, rubbed with clappers, and bowed. You can select between open and secco sounds with the beaters, motion and bowed have no further options.

  • Beater/bow switches: C1-E1.
  • Open/secco: A0/B0.
  • Range: A4-D5, A5-D6.

SY Percussion

05 Thundersheets

Medium and large thundersheets with single hits, shakes, bowed, superball, and tremolo variations. There are no further options for these slots.

  • Size switches: C2/D2.
  • Play range: C4-D#7.

06 Windmachine

A wind machine, clean and with additional rumble, with steady loops, crescendo and diminuendo variations, and free performances.
Use Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1, Modwheel) to crossfade clean and rumble sounds.

  • Play range: C3-A#6.

07 Rainmaker

A rainmaker with very slow, slow, and fast variations.

  • Play range: C3-D#5.

08 Ratchets

Large, medium, and small ratchets with single strokes, and short and long slow and fast turns.

  • Size switches: C2-D#2.
  • Play range: C3-B5 all, C4-B4 single.

All ratchets

Single

09 Vibraslaps

Large and small vibraslaps with stopped and open stroke variations.

  • Size switches: C2-D2.
  • Play range
    • C4-G#5 all
    • C4-G#4 single

Both vibraslaps

Single

10 Slapsticks

Slapsticks with single strokes, and short and long slow and fast turns.

  • Size switches: C2-D#2
  • Play range: C3-D#5 all, C4-D#4 single

All slapsticks

Single

11 Lion's Roar

Lion's roar with short, medium, and long variations as well as stuttering and squeaky stuttering.

  • Play range: C4-D#6

12 Waldteufel

Large and small waldteufels short, medium, and long tones, swirls, and medium and long glissandos.

  • Size switches: C2/D2.
  • Play range: C3-D#5.

13 Log drum

Log drums played with soft and hard mallets. Left and right hand single notes, and rolls with and without velocity crossfading option.

  • Mallet switches: C1/D1.
  • Play range: C3-F6.

14 Anvils

Anvils with unpitched multi articulations, and chromatic strokes and rolls.

  • Articulation switches: F1-G1.

Unpitched multi

  • Play range: C4-G#7.

Strokes / rolls chromatic

Use Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1, Modwheel) to switch between open and muted articulations.

  • Strokes mapping

    • C4-A#5 left hand
    • C6-A#7 right hand
  • Rolls mapping

    • C4-A#5 velocity selection
    • C6-A#7 velocity crossfading