Big Bang Orchestra: Andromeda

Introduction

Welcome to the Vienna Symphonic Library’s series of Synchron Instruments! As the name says, Big Bang Orchestra furnishes you with a selection of full-orchestra articulations, at the same time allowing you (if you haven’t done so already) to explore our powerful Synchron Player software. If you're looking for that extra dramatic effect or want to highlight a passage in your composition, this bonus library could be the solution, or at least point you in the right direction.

Big Bang Orchestra: Andromeda explores the concept further, and not only gives you a wider range of articulations, but also offers Presets with and without the extra touch of a piccolo flute, as well as marcato control via modwheel (CC1) or by keystroke velocity.

About Presets

Big Bang Orchestra makes use of our Synchron Player's unique features, and offers several Mixer Presets in five categories: Room Mix, Stereo Decca Tree, Surround to Stereo, Surround, and Processed. The Mixer Presets in each category are Close (Dry in the Room Mix), Classic, Wide, Distant, and Ambient. The Processed section offers "Big" versions of these Presets.

BBO Andromeda also provides you with a "Wet" Mixer Preset in each category, as well as more choice in the Processed section. The additional Mixer Presets are named Vintage Tape, War Fanfare, String Is King, Massive, Lush, and Bouncy.

About Patches

Patches can be used to build your own custom Presets and shape them according to your specific requirements. Big Bang Orchestra does not contain so many Patches, so the possibilities are somewhat limited. Still, if you want to get into creating 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

Reduction and Score

You can download the score here.

Included Presets

BBO Andromeda offers a regular Preset, where marcato articulations are controlled with the modwheel (CC1), and another one marked "VelXF", where keystroke velocity controls the marcato intensity. Within these Presets, you can use the keyswitches A0/B0 to make a basic choice between articulations with and without piccolo flute.

Articulation categories are selected with the keyswitches from C1 to F1.

Short notes

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Nothing more to be said here...

Long notes

Choose between non-marcato and marcato with the keyswitches G1 and A1.

Non marcato

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The keyswitches from C7 to F7 select different types of expression:

  • C7 Normal
  • C#7 Soft low Brass
  • D7 Espressivo
  • D#7 Soft swell
  • E7 Sforzato
  • F7 Sforzatissimo

Marcato

The marcato option allows you to add marcato attacks with the help of the modwheel (MIDI CC1) or by keystroke velocity when you use the VelXF Preset. This also applies to all subsequent Articulations. Type keyswitches as above.

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Dynamics

Short and long swells, with marcato option.

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Tremolo + Trills

Tremolo sustained, half and whole tone trills. With marcato option.

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Falls half tone

Half tone falls, with marcato option.

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Fast repetitions

Fast repetitions at 120, 140, and 160 BPM. With marcato option.

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Con Sordino (Expansion)

This expansion to BBO Andromeda provides you with a full orchestra playing soft to mezzo dynamics where the string sections play con sordino. Like other Big Bang Orchestra collections, it offers a regular Preset, where marcato attacks are controlled with the modwheel (CC1), and another one marked “VelXF”, where keystroke velocity controls the marcato intensity. Articulation categories are selected with the keyswitches from C1 to D#1.

  • Range: C2 to D6.
  • Type keyswitches: starting at C7 (white keys if only two choices).

Short notes

There are no other options to this articulation.

Long notes

Choose between non-marcato and marcato with the keyswitches G1 and A1.

Non marcato

Sustained, normal and espressivo.

Marcato

The marcato option allows you to add marcato attacks with the help of the modwheel (MIDI CC1) or by keystroke velocity when you use the VelXF Preset. This also applies to all subsequent articulations.

Soft swell

Soft swells, with marcato option.

Non marcato

Marcato

Tremolo + Trills

Tremolo images/bbo-a, half and whole tone trills. With marcato option.

Non marcato

Marcato