SYNCHRON-ized Solo Strings

Introduction

Welcome to the Vienna Symphonic Library's series of Synchron Instruments! This solo instruments collection of two violins, one viola, two cellos and one double bass is based on our extremely successful Collections VI Solo Strings I, Solo Violin 2 and Solo Cello 2, offering a completely overhauled sample database optimized for the Vienna Synchron Player. Our goal was to improve each instrument's playability and realism even more, which we achieved by enhancing the sample recordings as well as by utilizing the Synchron Player's unique features.

For creating SYNCHRON-ized Solo Strings, our sound editors went back to the raw, unprocessed sample data of the original recordings, which were completely re-edited and re-mastered in order to achieve an all-new, modern string sound that excels in terms of aesthetics, playability and realism, and that is optimized for use alongside the Synchron Series instruments.

Mixer Presets

For SYNCHRON-ized Solo Strings, our software developers added a specifically designed convolution reverb derived from Vienna MIR Pro to the Synchron Player, featuring the outstanding and unique ambience of the 540 m2 (5,813 sq.ft.) main hall of Synchron Stage Vienna. The perfectly engineered reverberation and placement presets combine customized impulse responses with expertly crafted reverb settings for each group of the ensemble. By adding the ambience of Synchron Stage Vienna's Stage A to the dry samples in real-time, SYNCHRON-ized Solo Strings perfectly blend with any other product of our Synchron Series.

For each player, there are several Mixer Presets for solo and orchestral performances that depict different recording situations: Close, Classic, Distant, as well as settings without convolution but short and long reverb. In the solo Mixer Presets, you can also select the position of your players (left, center, right).

About Presets

Each instrument offers basic and full Presets. The basic Presets take up less RAM and are a bit easier to navigate because of their simplified structure with a maximum of three dimensions, while the full Presets encompass up to seven dimensions and give you access to the instruments' entire wealth of articulations. If you would opt for using the basic Preset but find that you cannot do without certain Articulations not included therein, you will find empty "Custom" slots available into which you can load your desired Patches.

Velocity XFade Presets

Apart from the regular Presets, your player's browser window will also show dedicated Velocity Crossfade Presets. These contain the same Articulations; however, with the difference that Velocity XF is activated.

The Velocity XF Presets allow you to crossfade between velocities with the modwheel (MIDI CC1), while keystroke velocity affects the amount of marcato where applicable.

About Patches

Patches can be used to build your own custom Presets and thus adapt the Library to your specific requirements. For more information on how to do this, please refer to the Vienna Synchron Player software manual.

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 Video

Basic Presets

The Patches of the basic Presets are organized according to basic playing style or Articulation, e.g., short notes or dynamics. These slots may again contain subtypes (spiccato, staccato, …), with further options if available.

Articulations are disabled by default. Enabling an Articulation means that all the Types contained will be activated, too, so if you happen to be short of RAM it is advisable only to activate what you really need (you can always add more Types later).

Keyswitches and controllers

By default the keyswitches for Articulations are mapped starting with C1 (for Middle C = C4) for violin, viola, and cello, and C5 to G#5 for double bass. For the available Types, the keyswitches start from C2 for violin and viola, and from C7 for cello and bass.

Additional options within Articulations or Types are offered by the Dimension Controllers. The controller function is indicated by the respective caption, as of course it may take on different tasks as needed.

Ranges

The maximum play ranges of the instruments are:

Violin 1 G3–A#7
Violin 2 G3–G7
Viola C3–G#6
Violoncello 1 C2–F6
Violoncello 2 C2–D6
Double bass B0–G4

These may be less depending on articulation (e.g., harmonics).

Violin 1, Viola, Violoncello 1, Double bass

Short notes

Spiccato, staccato, short détaché, long détaché with vibrato, and legato repetitive notes.

Long notes

Sustained notes without and with normal, progressive, and decreasing vibrato.

Vibrato XFade control: Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1, modwheel).

Legato

Performance legato and marcato regular and fast with auto-speed option, legato with progressive vibrato, and portamento.

Auto-speed control: Dim.Ctrl/C (playing speed).

Dynamics

Sforzato, fortepiano, and sforzatissimo.

Tremolo and Trills

Tremolo regular and with sustain crossfading option, half and whole tone trills.

Sustain/tremolo XFade control: Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1, modwheel).

Pizzicato and col legno

Pizzicato, snap pizzicato, and col legno.

Harmonics

Harmonics, staccato and sustained.

Sul ponticello

Ponticello staccato, legato, sforzato, and tremolo.

Sul tasto

Sul tasto staccato, legato, sforzato, and tremolo.