VSL SPECIAL EDITION VOL.1: ALMOST HEAVEN?

**9-6-23:   Uploaded a final--and best- version on VSL SYNCHRON-IZED SE V.1.     Worked out the bugs.  You need to be diligent in mixing voices/master mix as well as score dynamics.  With Garritan's auto HP functions off, a lot of the nuts and bolts for a good performance are left to you.

   That said, I think the sound is clearly superior--the cello and piano are EXCELLENT--THE D-274 LITE is crystal clear, and the cello can be quite raspy and gutsy with the close mix sample (given below), and in softer sections, the viola and violin have some stunning samples.  This will work well in a quartet, with the homogenous voices being easier to blend/mix.

  I'm very happy.    The overall texture is thinner and mor eairy than Garritan, and seems more realistic overall.  The clarity has allowed me to hear the score better-  and make changes/corrections.

  I also learned a ton about keyswitches and human playback on Finale in general.

***9-4-23   : SOLVED MOST OF THE INTEGRATION AND PLAYBACK ISSUES.  The main theme is to ruthlessly de-select most HUMAN PALYBACK settings in Finale and let the score and samples do the work.   With these fixes, the strings work and sound very good.

Broke down and purchased th entry level VSL library (Synchron-IZED special edition VOL.1).   

   While not a exceptional as orchestral Tools, the support was better and I can GET IT TO PLAY (mostly) properly.  Tremolo, trills, pizz., double stops...

  In addition, the synchron player is a nice interface that gives you a good amoutn of control, and when you buy other VSL libraries, can integrate quickly.

     Also-  a slightly stripped down Steinway D-274 sample is included, and as GOOD AS THE GARRITAN STEINWAY WAS--this is much better--much more crisp and lively.

    In a quartet setting, the strings would shine.

   The Synchron samples have a sampling of articulations at different dynamic levels, and this gives a truer rendering of sound, vs. just increasing volume.  that said, balancing sound is a lot more difficult than with Garritan.  Some has to do with feautes of VSL, others simply with 3rd party libraries, I think.

THAT SAID-- I had to do some tweeking beyond what I was hoping.  You will hear a few distortions in play back at the beginning due to cross fade between dynamics., also  one weird section of two meaures where the D-274 just plays dynamics as it pleases--pp then f?   

  I've had about 6 hours with it, so I think I can mitigate these issues.   CORRECTED FLUTTER IN DYNAMICS;  FINALE HUMAN LAYBACK INTERPETATION INTERFERENCE.

ALSO TONED DOWN REVERB FOR STRINGS, REBALANCED. 

** CORRECTED THE 2 MEASURE ISSUE WITH THE D-274-- A WEIRD ARTIFACT I NFINALE--DELETED AND REENTERED NOTES--FIXED.

  You can hop between Garritan and VSL fairly easily, save presets, save emsembles, etc..

CUSTOMER SUPPORT IS VERY GOOD.  

 ALL SOFTWARE YOU PURCHASE CAN BE REDOWNLOADED FROM A REPOSITORY OF YOUR PURCHASES--so new machines are no issue.

  I'v

                                              What do you think?

DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM:

   You need to enable the HP setting "Interpret: "Hairpins and Dynamics".

    Then VSL SYNCHRON runs like Garritan.

  My issue:   I appears my 8 GB RAM COMPUTER is just not getting it done.   8gb is the MINIMUM listed on VSLs page for the product.  

        Also,my Pentium Gold is fast at 4 ghz, but only has 2 cores.  4 to 8 are normal these days.    

   My 250 GB drive has only 20gb left, so I see what is coming...  Access to other VSL libraries THAT PLAY CORRECTLY will be worth it.

  I include this MP3 that show where my computer chokes, about 5% of thE time on datA- intensE segments----hairpins, ritards with expression markings and ALL VOICES SOUDNIG, ETC...

  The piano NEVER HAS A PROBLEM-- the sustaining tone instruments are creating the load.

AT LEAST IT IS SOLVED.  cONTACTING ANDI AT VSL TO CONFIRM

  Get at least 16 GB RAM and 4 cores if you use VSL!