VSL products are sampled virtual instruments and effects plugins. The Synchron Player, Vienna Instruments Pro, and the dedicated piano, harp, and organ players run as standalone applications or as AU, VST3, VST2, or AAX plugins inside any 64-bit DAW. Vienna Ensemble Pro is a multi-instrument host that runs alongside or networked to a DAW. MIR Pro 3D is a convolution-based virtual mixing and positioning environment.

Every registered VSL product can be redownloaded any number of times through Vienna Assistant. Sign in to Vienna Assistant on macOS or Windows and choose the product from your library.

Yes. Sample content can be copied between Mac and Windows over a network or external drive. After moving the content, point Vienna Assistant to the new location so it can connect to the libraries. For streaming reliability, use the modern filesystem for your OS: APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) on macOS, NTFS on Windows.

Yes. Current VSL software and samples run natively on Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4) and are officially supported on the current macOS release, including macOS Sequoia. Before upgrading to a new macOS, confirm that your audio interface drivers, controllers, third-party applications, and plugins are also supported.

Yes. A Vienna Hard Drive can be added to a library order as a physical delivery option, sidestepping a large download. The drive contains the install files only. It does not include licenses and is not intended for direct streaming. Registered products remain downloadable through Vienna Assistant regardless.

The Synchron Series was recorded in the Vienna Synchron Stage with a modern multi-mic setup similar to film score recordings. The Studio Series is the original recordings of VSL's classic VI Series, re-mastered, re-edited, and placed in the Synchron Stage with custom impulse responses for matched seating, reverb, and volume. Both run in the Synchron Player.

The smaller Starter Editions cover the same sound worlds at an accessible price: Synchron Prime Orchestra is a Synchron all-in-one orchestra; the Studio Special Editions are the successor to the classic Special Editions, pre-mixed onto the Synchron Stage; Synchron Smart Orchestra is built for sketching and live performance. Big Bang Orchestra is a Hollywood-style multi-mic library of tutti and section instruments, pre-mixed to fit alongside other Synchron products. A small number of older VSL libraries are not yet available as Studio versions.

Sign into Vienna Assistant and re-download any registered product. There is no limit on downloads.

Vienna Assistant tracks every installed VSL product and shows available updates whenever you sign in. Check periodically and run the updates.

VSL uses iLok copy protection. Licenses can be stored in the iLok Cloud (no physical key needed) or on a physical iLok USB key. The iLok account is free, and the iLok License Manager handles all activation. See the iLok section below for the full picture.

All VSL libraries include the required sample player at no additional cost. The Synchron Player runs the Synchron Series, Studio Series, Starter Editions, and Big Bang Orchestra. Dedicated player applications built on the same Synchron platform run Synchron Pianos, Studio Pianos, Synchron Harp, and the Vienna Organ. The classic VI Series runs in Vienna Instruments and the now-free Vienna Instruments Pro.

Vienna Assistant manages every installed VSL component: software, sample content, and MIR/MIRx rooms. Libraries are automatically connected to their respective players after installation.

Yes. Faster drives and faster connections yield better streaming performance. A SATA III or USB 3 SSD is sufficient for reliable streaming. USB-C, Thunderbolt, and NVMe drives reduce access times further.

The lossless compression format is now in place across most of the current catalog, including:

• Starter Editions: Synchron Prime Orchestra, Synchron Smart Orchestra 2.0, Duality Strings Essentials, Piano Essentials, Studio Special Edition Volumes 1 through 7, and the FREE Instruments.
• Big Bang Orchestra: BBO Tutti, Riffs, Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, and Choirs.
• Synchron Series: Synchron Duality Strings (Regular and Sordino), Synchron Solo Strings, Synchron Strings Pro, Synchron Elite Strings, Synchron Woodwinds, Synchron Special Woodwinds, Synchron Brass, Synchron Special Brass, Synchron Percussion I through III, Synchron World Percussion, Synchron Power Drums, and Synchron Pianos.
• Studio Series: Studio Orchestral Strings, Studio Brass, Studio Special Brass, Studio Concert Guitar, Studio Upright Bass, Studio Overdrive, Studio Pianos, and Studio Jazz Drums.

Registered owners of both Synchron Strings I and Synchron Strings Pro can download an Optimized Content version of Synchron Strings I that removes the articulations already covered by Pro. The Optimized Content uses roughly 50% less SSD space and includes every Synchron Strings I library update. It is available through Vienna Assistant.

A red slot points to a missing connection to the sample content. Confirm that the drive holding the library is connected, that the product is visible in Vienna Assistant, and run Vienna Assistant's Repair function if the connection is still missing.

No. The Synchron Player uses a new data format that VI Series libraries cannot be loaded into. The SYNCHRON-ized versions are re-edited specifically for the Synchron Player and are available at crossgrade pricing for owners of the corresponding VI Series collection.

Internet access is required only for managing licenses inside the iLok License Manager and for downloading software, sample content, or updates through Vienna Assistant. Once your licenses are on a physical iLok key, VSL products run fully offline. iLok Cloud sessions require a permanent internet connection.

The Synchron Player's CPU meter (the chip icon) turns red when the CPU or drive is overwhelmed. To restore headroom:

• Increase the audio driver's buffer size.
• Increase the Preload size in the Synchron Player Database settings.
• Switch off Velocity Crossfade (Vel.XF) when not needed.
• Reduce the number of active microphones in the Mixer tab.
• Lower the voice limit.
• For SYNCHRON-ized products, enable Use Light Convolution in the Engine settings.
• For multi-mic products, enable Multicore Processing in the Engine settings.

Yes. VSL software can be installed on every computer you personally use. Playback works on whichever computer holds the active license. With a physical iLok key, plug the key into the computer you want to use. With iLok Cloud, open the Cloud session on that computer; each iLok account allows one active Cloud session at a time, so signing in elsewhere ends a previous session. All VSL products ship with one license that is active on one computer at a time. For additional licenses, such as a multi-seat studio, contact ILIO.

On the new computer, install the latest iLok License Manager and Vienna Assistant. Connect your iLok key or open an iLok Cloud session. If the sample content is already on an external drive, copy it across and use Vienna Assistant's Add Existing Libraries to reconnect. Otherwise, download the sample content through Vienna Assistant. Always use Vienna Assistant to fetch the latest software builds and updates.

No. Re-downloads are unlimited. Newer libraries ship in lossless compression and install directly into the product folder without a separate installer. For older libraries that still rely on a separate installer, Vienna Assistant automatically deletes the installer files after installation unless "Keep downloaded data" is enabled in the Vienna Assistant preferences.

No. The installer files are identical between demo and full versions. After purchase, the permanent license sits alongside the demo license and the demo expires on its own.

For SYNCHRON-ized libraries, the Synchron Player is the current player. For the classic VI Series, Vienna Instruments and the now-free Vienna Instruments Pro remain the player. The two platforms coexist, and SYNCHRON-ized versions are available at crossgrade pricing for VI Series owners.

The fastest drive is wasted on a slow interface. A SATA III or USB 3 SSD is sufficient for reliable streaming. USB-C, Thunderbolt, and NVMe interfaces further reduce access times.

Use the modern standard filesystem for your operating system: APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) on macOS, NTFS on Windows. Format using Disk Utility on macOS or Disk Management on Windows. FAT32 and exFAT cannot stream reliably and are not allowed for Vienna Assistant installations.

Preload Size is the amount of each sample held in RAM to mask drive access time. The faster the drive, the lower the value can be set. The Synchron Player, Synchron Pianos Player, Synchron Harp Player, and Vienna Organ Player measure drive speed automatically and pick the best value per drive, overridable in the Preferences under Database. In Vienna Instruments and Vienna Instruments Pro, Preload is a manual setting in the Directory Manager.

VSL downloads normally run very fast. If a download is slow or stuck, confirm that antivirus is not blocking it, that your firewall is not in the way, and that no proxy server is interfering. University and corporate networks often block torrent-based downloads; ask the administrator for an exception, download from another network, or contact ILIO for an alternative download path.

Vienna Assistant can create a zip file containing your system information, installed products, and application logs. Open Vienna Assistant, choose Create Support File from the menu (Command or Control plus S on your keyboard), and wait for the zip to land on your desktop. Send it to ILIO as an email attachment when opening a support case.

Start by creating a VSL Support File through Vienna Assistant. Then add the situation-specific files.

On macOS, a crash produces a Crash Report in Console.app; attach it. For a hang or freeze, capture a Process Sample: in Activity Monitor, select the hung process, press the "i" button, and click Sample.

On Windows, most VSL standalone applications display a pop-up at the moment of a crash that submits the report directly; note the System ID it displays. When the crash occurs inside a host application, the host generates a crash dump. Common locations include the CrashDumps subfolder under the host's AppData (Ableton Live, Bitwig, Cakewalk, Dorico, FL Studio, Notion, Reaper, Reason, Samplitude), the CrashDumps folder under Documents/Steinberg (Cubase, Nuendo), and the Crashlog folder under AppData/Local/Avid/Logs (Pro Tools). For a hang or freeze, capture a Minidump using Microsoft's free Process Explorer: select the hung process, right-click, and choose Create Minidump from the Create Dump submenu.

Always send diagnostic files as attachments, never pasted into the email body.

Three components dictate a sample-streaming system's performance:

• Drive. Only the very first portion of each sample is loaded into RAM; the rest is streamed from disk. A faster drive means less RAM is required and faster session loading. An SSD is strongly recommended.
• RAM. Holds the preloaded portion of each loaded sample. More RAM means more samples ready to play.
• CPU. VSL's multithreading is effective across cores, so additional cores translate directly to additional headroom for instruments and plug-ins.

Include reproduction steps, the expected result, and the actual result. For example: "Launch application. Insert Bus channel. Press Mute on the inserted Bus channel. Expected: Bus channel is muted. Actual: application crashes." Attach the relevant log or crash report as an email attachment.

All current and future VSL software and library products are iLok-protected. Every permanent VSL eLicenser license is converted to an iLok license free of charge. Software development for VSL products continues only on the iLok-protected versions. eLicenser-protected software and libraries continue to work on existing systems, but moving eLicenser licenses or activating new eLicenser activation codes is no longer possible. Vienna Assistant handles the transition on your computers.

Yes. The iLok-protected sample content for each of your licensed products must be downloaded once. Vienna Assistant manages the downloads.

iLok Cloud removes the need for a physical key. License management is centralized in the iLok License Manager, with batch activation of multiple licenses at once. iLok-protected sample content carries updated presets and integrated library updates. Vienna Assistant improves content management, and iLok positions the catalog for continued updates, expansions, and upgrades going forward.

VSL no longer sells eLicenser licenses. Existing eLicenser licenses continue to work on existing systems and software. The Vienna Protection Plan is no longer available. The eLicenser license server will not be available forever; once it is retired, activating or moving eLicenser licenses will no longer be possible. You have to choose between eLicenser and iLok protection per product, since both versions of the same software cannot run on the same computer.

The standalone MIR Pro Plug-in (the version integrated in Vienna Ensemble Pro continues; the existing eLicenser MIR Pro Plug-in still runs), Vienna Ensemble Pro 3, 4, 5, and 6, and the legacy Numerical Sound FORTI/SERTI and ISP:IR products (both discontinued in 2014). Licenses on lost, stolen, or broken keys without a Vienna Protection Plan are only replaced in emergencies; switching the affected products to iLok is the recommended path. For complex cases, contact ILIO for a custom solution.

Create a free iLok account at iLok.com if you don't already have one. Sign into your VSL account and register your iLok User ID with VSL. Click the green DEPOSIT button to transfer all your licenses to your iLok account. Install the latest iLok License Manager and activate the licenses on a physical iLok key or in the iLok Cloud. Free products such as the Big Bang Orchestra can also be activated directly on your computer. Then install Vienna Assistant and download the iLok-protected sample content from the Not Installed tab. An internet connection is required throughout.

Start Vienna Assistant and download the iLok-protected sample content. The existing eLicenser-protected sample content can be safely erased; Vienna Assistant can also remove eLicenser-protected libraries cleanly. Remember that you have to choose between eLicenser and iLok per product, since both versions of the same software cannot run on the same computer.

iLok Cloud lets VSL products run without a physical USB key, using your iLok account as the license container. A permanent internet connection is required during use. Your license follows you: signing into another computer ends a previous Cloud session, so you can move between machines without juggling keys. Open a Cloud session from the File menu of the iLok License Manager and drag licenses from your account onto the session.

An overview and the full iLok License Manager manual are available at iLok.com.

Online: projects with eLicenser copy protection are converted to iLok automatically in the background when VSL's servers can be reached. Offline: conversion is possible but requires the existing eLicenser key and corresponding licenses connected, the latest iLok-protected VSL software and sample content installed, and the latest eLicenser Control Center installed. Re-save converted projects under a new name or with a version suffix.

Yes, unless you use iLok Cloud. iLok 1 keys cannot store VSL iLok licenses. Theft & Loss Coverage (combined with Zero Downtime) is also only available on iLok 2 and 3 keys.

No. Once your iLok account is linked to your VSL account, converted iLok licenses appear in your iLok account automatically. You then choose whether to store each license in the iLok Cloud or on a physical iLok key.

You receive one iLok license per permanent eLicenser license on your account, which keeps your products independently transferable and activatable. All converted iLok licenses arrive at once and can be activated in a single batch. This includes both Vienna Instruments collections and their SYNCHRON-ized counterparts when you own both.

A single-computer setup needs one VE Pro 8 license, on an iLok key or in the iLok Cloud. A two-computer setup with two VE Pro servers needs at least one iLok key.

iLok 3 keys are available in both USB-A and USB-C form factors.

Open a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) ticket directly with iLok. With Zero Downtime coverage, you have continuous access to your licenses through the replacement process; Theft & Loss Coverage (iLok 2 and 3 keys only, included with Zero Downtime at no extra cost) extends protection further. Without Zero Downtime coverage, the replacement process takes longer and there are no temporary replacement licenses. Replacement licenses on lost or stolen keys without Zero Downtime cost 25% of the full product price, with a 50 EUR minimum.

Yes. The iLok key is a physical container separate from the licenses it holds. In the iLok License Manager, right-click the empty key in your account and choose "Remove iLok from your account." The empty key can then be sold or transferred. Transferring the licenses themselves is a separate process (see the Licenses section).

Yes. VSL offers demo licenses for specific products at certain times. Subscribe to the VSL newsletter and follow VSL on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, or join the VSL forum, for access to demos and special offers.

The instrument sections of the Vienna Instruments Special Editions Volume 1 and 2 (Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion) were originally sold separately. That option is discontinued, and owners of any of those sections receive a free upgrade to the corresponding full Volume. This is also a natural moment to look at the Studio Special Editions for the new instruments and features inside.

License surrenders are handled inside the iLok License Manager. For an upgrade from a Standard to a Full library, the surrender step can be nuanced; VSL provides a video walkthrough with Paul Kopf for upgrading a Vienna iLok license.

Yes. All current VSL software is iLok-protected and available through Vienna Assistant on macOS and Windows.

Yes. Vienna Instruments Pro is the standard sample player for every VI Series user and no longer requires a license. Because no license is needed, none is transferred and the iLok status for VI Pro in My Products stays red.

No. Per product, you must choose one copy protection. When adding a new Synchron product to an existing Synchron collection still running on eLicenser, the existing Synchron products must be converted to iLok to run alongside the new purchase.

No. The current state of the eLicenser-protected VSL software is the final state.

In Vienna Assistant v1.0.129 and later, open Preferences and choose the VST2 plugin folder by clicking the folder icon. Users coming from Vienna Assistant v1.0.126 or earlier should know that the chosen VST2 location was ignored in those versions and a previously used default location was set instead; for most users that default matches the VST2 path used by their DAW or notation software. If not, open the General section of Vienna Assistant Preferences, set the correct path, then uninstall and reinstall each VSL Sample Player and Software item via the three-dot menu so the plugins go into the right folder. Installed library content is not affected. Make sure your hosts know about the new VST2 location.

After your purchase is processed, your iLok licenses are added to your linked iLok account automatically. Open the iLok License Manager to activate them on a physical iLok key or in an iLok Cloud session.

Regular product licenses and demo licenses can be activated either in an iLok Cloud session (no physical key required) or on a physical iLok key.

Click the Complete button when prompted. The surrender step removes the upgradeable license and replaces it with the new upgrade license. If the old license is still active in your iLok Cloud session or on a physical key, right-click and deactivate it. When purchasing several products that include an upgrade license, you are asked to surrender the upgradeable license as the first step.

One license per product, active on one computer at a time.

The iLok License Manager is not installed yet. Install it and the message will not return.

For additional licenses, such as a multi-seat studio, contact ILIO. Reduced pricing is available on additional licenses for the more extensive collections.

One license is enough on a standalone computer. In a networked setup, each computer that runs a Vienna Ensemble Pro server needs its own license; additional licenses for network use are available at reduced pricing. The DAW computer does not need a license unless it also runs a server. The Vienna Ensemble Pro plug-in that connects the DAW to remote servers does not require a license.

The replacement process is handled directly by iLok's parent company, PACE. Open an RMA ticket with PACE; outcome depends on your situation and your iLok coverage. The iLok website maintains a full walkthrough of the procedure.

Zero Downtime (ZDT) is optional iLok insurance that provides continuous access to your licenses if your iLok USB key is defective, lost, or stolen. Theft & Loss Coverage extends that protection and is included in a ZDT subscription at no extra cost.

Yes, with VSL's involvement and approval. VSL charges a 10% handling fee on the product's list price, with a 50 EUR minimum, and any upgrade or earlier discount granted on the license must be refunded to VSL. The seller emails the buyer's name and email address from the seller's registered email address to sales@vsl.co.at. Once approved, VSL's sales team walks both parties through revoking the licenses from the seller's accounts and adding them to the buyer's iLok and VSL accounts. The legal buyer of a transferred VSL license has full access to VSL support, software updates, sample downloads, and future upgrade discounts. Resale through the VSL forum or third-party platforms such as eBay is not permitted; the buyer must be found privately. If your iLok license has a corresponding eLicenser license, the eLicenser license is removed from your account during a transfer, since eLicenser licenses can no longer be transferred on their own.

Most new VSL users start with one of the Starter Editions. Synchron Prime Orchestra is a complete orchestral package in a single product. Studio Special Edition Volume 1 is the modern successor to the classic Special Edition and a complete starting orchestra in itself. Synchron Smart Orchestra is built for sketching and live performance. The free Hello Vienna instruments are a low-commitment way to hear VSL's sound. For specific recommendations, contact ILIO through the Contact page.

Yes. VSL offers a 30% EDU discount year-round on qualifying products, and some EDU offers can be combined with other discounts. Contact ILIO to verify eligibility and apply EDU pricing to your order.

Many VSL libraries share content with larger products or have a SYNCHRON-ized counterpart, and several upgrade, crossgrade, and bundle paths can yield significant savings. Upgrade and crossgrade pricing applies based on the products registered in your VSL account, regardless of where they were originally purchased. For pricing on a specific upgrade or crossgrade, contact ILIO with your VSL account email and the products you already own.

Once your ILIO order is processed, your iLok licenses are deposited in your linked iLok account and the sample content becomes available in Vienna Assistant. An order confirmation email with installation instructions is sent at the time of purchase. Check the spam folder before contacting support.

ILIO is your single point of contact for everything related to your VSL purchase: pre-sales questions, post-sales support, technical support, installation, authorization, and registration. Contact ILIO through the Contact page. For any technical issue, create a VSL Support File from Vienna Assistant first and attach it to your message. ILIO will route to VSL engineering when needed. License transfers between owners are processed by VSL directly (see the Licenses section).

As long as the eLicenser Control Center and the latest eLicenser-protected VSL software still run on your operating system. If the eLicenser license server is retired at some point in the future, transferring or replacing eLicenser licenses will no longer be possible.

Yes. You have to choose between eLicenser and iLok per product, since both versions of the same software cannot run on the same computer.

No. The eLicenser and iLok licenses for the same product are always tandem licenses and cannot be transferred or sold individually.

No. All new purchases are delivered as iLok licenses exclusively.

No. With the switch to iLok, VSL stopped selling Vienna Protection Plans and all existing plans have expired. Zero Downtime coverage on iLok licenses is the modern equivalent.

No. Vienna Protection Plans only applied to eLicenser licenses and ViennaKeys. For iLok, the protection options are Zero Downtime and Theft & Loss Coverage.

The affected products can be switched to iLok free of charge. eLicenser licenses on broken, lost, or stolen keys are not replaced.

Yes. VSL converts your eLicenser licenses to iLok licenses even if the key that contained them is no longer in your possession.