Vienna Symphonic Library FAQ

General Pre-Sales Questions

Q: What is the Performance Tool?
A: The Performance Tool is a standalone tool that runs in addition to Giga, HALion, Kontakt and EXS24. It is a free download to all registered users who purchase any one of the Vienna Symphonic Library titles. The Performance Tool is a wonderful addition to the VSL that adds realism and expression to instruments that utilize its function by providing you with the ability to play authentically phrased passages. It does this by automatically triggering the proper transition samples based on your keyboard performance. This works for Legato Performances and Repetition Performances. For more information on the Performance Tool, please refer to this page.

Q: Is the library based on phrases or single note multisamples, or both?
A: The sample database also offers single note samples. What is generally called "phrases" has been extended to a performance system which allows you access to every single note of a phrase while keeping the connection with its predecessor. A Legato Performance thus offers you authentic legato sounds instead of successive starting notes and Performance Repetitions give you various Repetitions (staccato, portamento, legato) without the annoying machinegun effect.

Q: Can I make good music with the Orchestral Cube alone, or do I absolutely need the Performance Set? I know that this set is for good legato, but how good a legato can I get with the Orchestral Cube alone?
A: The Orchestral Cube consists of normal multisamples. Therefore, making something sound legato with the Cube is just as with other libraries. The same old tricks, with slight note overlaps etc. You will never achieve the same legato realism as with the Performance Set, though.

Q: What are the hardware requirements for playing full orchestral arrangements in real time with the VSL library? Do I really need more than one computer?
A: This mainly depends on what and how you compose. Naturally, it is quicker to work with more than one computer. But there's always the possibility of recording completed MIDI tracks, thus freeing GigaStudio or EXS24 for other instruments to work on. If you set up a piece loading only Basic Instruments, you will also be able to listen to the rough draft in real time and make the necessary corrections in the score before you start working on the finer details.

Q: What is the difference in capabilities between the VSL EXS and GigaStudio Editions?
A: Basically, the capabilities of the two platforms are quite similar:

· EXS24 mk II has more dimensions than GigaStudio2.5, allowing for larger Instruments (e.g., Legato Performances with multiple velocity layers).
· EXS24 patches can contain pre configured Toolsets for the Performance Tool.
· GigaStudio 2.x has release control implemented.
· GigaStudio3 however allows the usage of more dimensions. Many VSL patches will be updated with art-files, which registered users will be able to download from the VSL website.

Q: Is it possible to import the GigaStudio files into EXS24? I want to use the library both on the Mac and PC.
A: While it is possible to do so, it cannot be recommended. Apart from probably taking several weeks of work, there are some issues concerning the naming of files which would make it even harder to transfer the library (EXS24 on Mac OS only allows 31 characters in filenames). But you can always upgrade or sidegrade (with the Horizon Series for just 10% of the official price, online!).

Q: Is it possible to do a partial installation of the Performance Set, i.e., can I copy one part of the library to one computer (or hard disk) and the second to another one?
A: You can split the library and install parts of it on as many drives or computers as you like. However, we recommend that you keep the instruments together in their respective folders on one drive.

Q: I own the Performance Set only. The Performance Tool manual refers to a file named "00 VI-14_BASIC-SET", which I cannot find on my DVD's. Also, when I load "20 VI-14_PERF-LEGATO", I only get a BASIC COMBINATIONS instrument which doesn't contain samples.
A: There's nothing missing on your DVD's. The numbering of the Performance Set files begins with 20. The Orchestral Cube contains single-note samples with file numbers from 00 to 19, while the Performance Set contains Performance legato, repetitions, etc. The Performance Tool, however, in Alternation Mode can also be used with Orchestral Cube instruments, therefore the reference to a file you can't find in your set.

In answer to your second question, we inserted Description Instruments in our .gigs which don't contain any samples but simply make it easier to find your way around within the file.

Q: I am interested in purchasing the VSL, but have a question about the number of users authorized to work with it.
I have a writing partner with whom I co-compose and orchestrate. He and I generally share resources (mixers, software, etc) at my studio when we work on film projects. If we purchase a single VSL together, does that mean we can both use it in our work? Or must we purchase an additional license? Some of our work is credited as both names together, but some is credited to only one name if one of us is too busy to get involved.
A: Only the original buyer of the Vienna Symphonic Library is the licensee of the samples. So if two people are working on the same project, and the licensed user is doing the orchestration using the library, that's fine. It is not possible that two people share one library for working on different projects as it is not possible to sell one license to more than one person, or to a company. One license can only be sold to one individual person. Therefore, the question is not whether you are working on the same or on different projects, but the crucial point is that anyone who uses the sounds (the creative person) and who is not the original purchaser is doing so illegally.

Q: I have questions about the bass instruments in Opus 1 (bass clarinet, contrabassoon, bass trombone, etc.): It looks as though the bass instruments are contained within the same .gig files as the main instruments. Are they separate programs, just like different articulations, or are they different parts of the keyboard, or what?
A: That’s right, some of the Opus 1 brass and woodwinds bass instruments were mapped together with the "tenor" instruments. As a rule, the higher instrument (clarinet in Bb, bassoon, trombone, tuba) has its full range, the bass or contrabass instrument starting immediately below that note. Naturally, the bass instrument thus can't have its full range, but we thought it more important that the higher instrument is complete.

Q: I am thinking of buying a package of the Horizon Series in addition to my existing library. Do I have to authorize the Performance Tool for this again, or does it work with the old one?
A: The Horizon Series’ Legato mappings are different from the First and Pro Editions. Please register your new products at Vienna’s User Area to get access to the Download pages. GigaStudio users will have to activate the new Legatos at the VSL website (if you don't have the newest version of the Performance Tool, please download it). EXS24 users can download the Performance Tool (labeled First & Pro Edition & Horizon Series or “All Editions”) and re-install them over their existing one. For the Horizon Series Guitar titles (Vienna Concert Guitar and Overdrive), there is a dedicated GUIT-LEGATO option in the Performance Tool. All other titles use HORIZ-LEGATO, while First and Pro Edition remain with normal LEGATO.

Q: What is the difference between RS (release sample), RT (release trigger), and RC (release control)?
A: RS: Let's take, e.g., Vi-14_sus and VI-14_sus+RS: The difference is that after releasing the key on your keyboard, the Vi-14_sus program is faded out (about 300ms or something like it). If you've loaded the Vi-14_sus+RS program, after releasing the key, a release sample is triggered (about 1–1,5 s long) and you hear the original fade out of the played note.
RT: Release triggers work the same way for Legato programs as the +RS programs do. After releasing the key on your keyboard (without playing another note within the "legato threshold" time), a release sample is triggered. (This is also demonstrated in Vienna’s Video Tutorials.)
RC: After releasing the key on your keyboard you're able to control the release time via the modwheel (0 = short, 127 = long). This is very helpful with percussion instruments like gongs, that fade out very long.

Programming and Performing Support

Q: What's the difference between glissando and portamento? I used to think they were the same.
A: A portamento should be thought of as a "slide" while a glissando consists of individual notes being sounded out however quickly the glissando occurs. Obviously, the musical effect of either one depends on the instrument (a piano and pitched mallet instruments are not capable of performing portamento), range of pitch and of course time.

Q: When is grace note playing used with the flute? And does it make sense to play the FL2_grace.gig on its own – would it sound realistic from a flutist's point of view?
A: There are two grace categories in our library: first, the "normal" grace notes, here you have the original starting notes, which is the "authentic" played version. Second, the Performance grace instruments. Here the starting notes were removed (like for normal performance legato) so you have to use these with the Performance Tool's Legato mode. They can be used for very fast legato lines.

Q: There is only one tempo sampled for the violin runs. I can switch between up and down runs with the mod wheel, but aside from that I can’t find any other variations. Is this correct? I'd love to be able to achieve different tempos with the runs.
A: The approach for the runs was to record fast scales to get typical "random" effects in timing and intonation. You can use them like "multiple graces" or mix them with performance legato played lines. If you find the right volume balance, you can use the runs for different speeds, too. Basically, they should just add randomness to your real played passages.

Q: I was wondering something about the HARP. Are all enharmonics sampled, and if so (or if not), how would one go about writing enharmonic tremolos (i.e. E#/F, Cb/B, etc.), glissandos, and harmonics (artificial and natural)?
A: The single notes of the harp were sampled in a chromatic scale. We chose those keys (enharmonic choices) where the instrument sounds best and most homogeneous through all keys.

Q: The glissandi are sampled in 3 speeds, in three ranges (one octave, 3 octaves, full range), up and down, and there is an extra patch with superfast ff glissandi / one octave range, and cross glissandi.
A: The Horizon Series also features a Harp containing the Pro Edition harp and a second harp with single notes.

Q: The First Edition offers all major and minor sharp scales, the Pro Edition all 4 key scales, and pentatonic scale. The Symphonic Cube will focus on 6 key scales.
A: Of course you can program your own glissando scales with the multisamples. However, it depends on the orchestration whether these "fake" glissandi will work.

Q: Do the brass samples also have muted versions? That is for sustains, portatos and staccato articulations with mutes for solo instrument and ensembles? Will the French Horn solo and ensemble samples have stopped articulations? Also, do the brass ensembles have samples for 2, 3 and 4 french horns in unison, 2–3 trumpets in unison and 2–3 trombones unison?
A: With the First and Pro Editions, there is no muted or stopped brass because we naturally had to take care of the "open" articulations first. The brass groups for both editions are 4 horns, 3 trumpets and 3 tenor trombones. What you want will be contained in the Symphonic Cube, and we're also recording groups with different numbers of players.

Q: The xylophone alternating tremolos (Xyl_2er_trem) seem very slow – 16ths at 87 BPM. How exactly are these to be used? Are they intended for the Performance Tool?
A: No, you don't need a Tool. The samples are intended to be used for interval tremolos. You simply have to play two (or more) keys with a very little pause in between (half the time of the played tremolo speed) and hold the keys of course, so you’ll hear the left and the right hand of the original player at once.

Q: In the Pro Edition, there are names like "VC-8L_oV_sus" as opposed to "VC-8_oV_2s". I couldn't find out what the "L" means.
A: The "L" stands for a Looped Instrument. Ensemble strings and brass sustains are looped in the Pro Edition, the solo instruments have looped and unlooped versions, and a dedicated LOOPED section.

General Support Topics

Q: How do I install and use the Performance Tool?
A: We have guides available for download that will walk you through the installation process for Giga, HALion, Kontakt and EXS24. If you want detailed tutorials on how to get the most out of the Performance Tool and the Vienna Symphonic Library, a DVD tutorial is available. Visit the Performance Tool page for more information.

Q: Why doesn't the Performance Tool show up in the XSKey manager when I try to authorize it?
A: This problem seems to occur only with the white Logic 7 dongles. To see and authorize the Performance Tool, please download and run this file.

Q: I get the message "EXS24: Not enough memory to load all samples of instrument "Strings_sus_EN.exs". What's wrong?
A: Streaming may not be enabled on your MAC. Visit the "option" menu next to the "edit" button in your EXS main window (it is the last entry in this popup menu). First, set the VSM (virtual sample memory) to "Active". Then, set "drive speed" to "medium" or "slow" and "Hard Disk Recording activity" to "extensive", even if there is no HD recording on the HD you're running the VSL samples from. After this, go to the "audio hardware and drivers" page and set the entry "process buffer" to "jumbo". For OS9 only: As EXS takes its memory from the system RAM, the less RAM you allocate to Logic the more you have for EXS. Allocating about 180 MB to Logic should set you up just fine.

Q: Why am I getting "Core Audio" errors in Logic's EXS?
A: The first thing to do is to open the EXS, then select "Options" from the top right of the EXS interface. Select "Virtual Memory" at the bottom of the drop-down menu.

• Make sure "Virtual Memory" is active.
• Try setting "Drive Speed" to "Slow"
• Try setting "Hard Disk Recording Activity" to "Less"
• Go to the "Audio" menu at the top and select "System Performance" to open the System I/O monitor window. This will help detect if there are any problems with the disk streaming or processing power.
• Another thing to try is go to the top menu of Logic and select "Logic Pro" + "Preferences" + "Audio". Then in the "Drivers" tab, increase the Core Audio buffer size. Close Logic, restart.

Q: The Performance Set is all I have installed. The Performance Tool manual refers to a file named "00 VI-14_BASIC-SET", which I cannot find on my DVD's.
A: There's nothing missing on your DVD's. The numbering of the Performance Set files begins with 20. The Orchestral Cube contains single-note samples with file numbers from 00 to 19, while the Performance Set contains Performance legato, repetitions, etc. The Performance Tool, however, in Alternation Mode can also be used with Orchestral Cube instruments, hence the reference to a file you can't find in your set.

Q: when I load "20 VI-14_PERF-LEGATO", I only get a BASIC COMBINATIONS instrument which doesn't contain samples.
A: Vienna inserted Description Instruments in their .gigs files which don't contain any samples but simply make it easier to find your way around within the file.

Q: When I install the Pro Edition for EXS, Disk 3: Viola Part 2 says it's "corrupt".
A: StuffIt is used on the MAC to decompress the files onto your hard drive. There seems to be a problem with some versions of StuffIt. Versions 6.0.1 and 6.5.1 seem to work fine. If you're experiencing problems, try downloading the freeware program UnrarX. If that doesn't work, there are a couple of other options. If you have an old original OS 9 system (not classic emulation on OS X), you can extract the folder using Stuffit 6.5 for OS 9. If you still have problems with Stuffit, you could also open the file on a Windows PC. If you have access to a PC or if you can run Virtual PC on your Mac, please extract the Viola Part 2 folder and transfer the data to your Mac's hard disk. It is always a good idea to try transferring the archive to the computer's hard drive and try unStuffing it there if you can't get it to unStuff from DVD.

Q: Which Horizon Series titles (or portions of titles) is not duplicated in the Complete Pro edition?
A: You'll find a complete overview at this page: http://www.ilio.com/vienna/horizon/overview.html

Q: The Horizon Series is available for Halion & Kontakt. What about the VSL Complete (or it's components)? What about Mach-5?
A: The First and Pro Edition are currently available in Giga and EXS24 formats. No decision about further formats has been made. As to MOTU's MachFive, VSL will have to wait until further improvements and developments of this sampler and decide then if the Horizon Series can be made available in a fifth format.

For more support and FAQ, feel free to visit Vienna's website.