Understanding VSL Libraries

There have been a lot of changes to Vienna Symphonic Library over the last few years. VSL has always been multifaceted and, at times, it’s difficult to grasp which is the best product for your customer. The addition of new and different products hasn’t made that task any easier. But today I’m hoping to clear up a few things for you. Rather than giving you a deep dive into using VSL, this overview should help you be able to understand which products your customers will most want and need, and what will work within their budget. This is less about understanding how to use the product and more about how to sell the products.

By the end of this module, you should be able to assist your customer in finding the correct VSL product to fit their requirements.

Let’s break things down by category. The easiest way to go about this is to divide VSL into two product families: Virtual Instruments and Software. This is the simplest way to go. If your customer needs Vienna Ensemble Pro, Vienna Suite, or MIR Pro and its IR libraries then it’s software. When it comes to what Virtual Instruments to choose, we have more choices and will need to work a bit to narrow down the right product for your customer. But with this overview that should be much easier.

The VSL Virtual Instruments (also called Vienna Libraries) can easily be broken down in two main categories, and within these, further subcategories. The main categories are the Vienna Synchron Series and the Studio Series. Both the Synchron Series and the Studio Series’ subcategories break down into professional level and starter level instruments. They do narrow down further, but we’ll get into that as we go.

Both the Synchron and the Studio Series cover all the standard orchestral instruments and beyond, each offering a wide variety of selections when it comes to your customer’s needs.

Let’s first go over the Studio Series.

The Studio products from the Vienna Symphonic Library (VSL) are a line of virtual instruments based on VSL’s original library recordings (the Vienna Silent Stage), but re-edited, re-mixed, and re-programmed to take full advantage of the Synchron Stage Vienna’s advanced acoustics and VSL’s cutting-edge Synchron Player software.

Here’s a breakdown of what sets Studio products apart:

Remastered Samples: The samples used in the Studio products come from VSL’s original recordings completed at their own Silent Stage, but are meticulously remastered. This process includes the addition of new velocity layers, seamless transitions between articulations, and more precise tuning and timing. These samples have an overall tighter, more controlled sound due to the Silent Stage’s purpose-built design.
Synchron Stage Acoustics: Utilizing VSL’s advanced convolution technology made famous in their MIR products, these remastered samples can be effectively treated with the acoustic characteristics of Vienna Synchron Stage, one of Europe’s most renowned scoring stages. This allows users to quickly place instruments in a realistic orchestral setting without extensive post-processing or effects. You can still adjust the reverb mix, spatial positioning, and room depth to match your creative vision. The reverb and spatial placement can also be shut off to provide more sonic control.
Synchron Player Integration: Studio libraries are designed for use with VSL’s Synchron Player, an advanced sample playback engine. It offers detailed control over articulations, dynamics, microphone positions, and advanced performance parameters, ensuring maximum flexibility and playability.
Ease of Use: Studio products are intuitive to use, offering out-of-the-box realism with less need for tweaking. This makes them accessible for both professionals and hobbyists looking for high-quality orchestral sounds with minimal setup.
Updated Articulations and Presets: The Studio instruments feature improved articulation management, allowing for smoother and more natural transitions between playing techniques. Additionally, the presets are designed to work effortlessly in different genres, making them a go-to choice for film scoring, classical, and contemporary productions.

With the Studio Series your customer can choose from the more professional level instruments (for those that need more detail and realism) or the Starter Instruments (when just the basics will do).

When it comes to the professional level of the Studio Series your customer can choose from Instrument Subsets, Instrument Collections, and Bundles.

Instrument Subsets include individual solo instruments and individual ensemble instruments, e.g., Studio Clarinet (Eb) or the Studio Clarinet Ensemble. These are perfect for a customer that needs “just that instrument.” This is an easy way to help your customer fill in that void they have with their current libraries and virtual instruments.

The next level is the Studio Collections. As the name suggests, these include multiple instruments or ensembles for an entire instrument family. Your customer can choose woodwinds, brass, percussion, and so on. When it comes to strings, each collection includes violins, violas, cellos, and double basses, however the different collections have varying numbers of string players in the collection. An example would be Studio Solo Strings (one per instrument) versus Studio Appassionata Strings with 20 violins. The collections are perfect for the customer that needs a specific grouping of instruments for a certain section of the orchestra, as each product’s name implies.

The next is Studio Bundles. These are for the customers that need everything in the family (e.g., Studio Dimension Strings Bundle), or just everything (Studio Package). This gets you everything you need at a discount. Of course, if your customer already owns a portion of the bundle, they will be entitled to discounts on that bundle which you can provide to them through the Vienna Dealer Interface. If you do not have access to the VDI, you can contact your software buyer and they can let you know your customer’s price.

Also, cross-grade pricing is available for customers that already own the original Vienna Instrument library of the same title. Cross-grade prices for your customer are also found in the VDI.

Starter Instruments for the Studio Series include the Studio Special Editions (SSE). The Studio Special Editions include the same samples as the professional level Studio Subsets, Collections, and Bundles, but with fewer velocity layers, round robins, and available articulations. This may be limiting for customers that need to create realistic, ultra-detailed, and truly convincing MIDI orchestrations. However, the Studio Special Editions are perfect for beginners and producers that need orchestral elements in the background, television composers that need to work quicly, or composers creating MIDI-mockups where a live orchestra will ultimately perform their work.

There are seven volumes to the SSE, each specializing in specific instruments and ensembles. These are perfect for those that are on a budget, need to work quickly and create orchestral beds or themes for quick turn-around projects, pop producers, and notation users. When the MIDI orchestration is the end game, your customers will want everything the professional level has to offer. However, you will find that for many of your customers the SSE will suit their needs, for a fraction of the cost.

Reasons a customer may choose the Studio Series of instruments:

Sonic Flexibility: Customers can easily turn off and on the ambience of the Synchron Stage allowing them to use the samples as they were recorded in the very dry, controlled environment of the Vienna Silent Stage. This allows your customer to utilize whatever reverb and spatial placement they desire for the instruments.
Familiarity: Customers that own the Vienna Instruments collections already know the samples’ strengths and limitations. They can now work faster in the Synchron engine utilizing the samples they have known and loved for years when they cross grade to the Studio Series.
Pricing: Studio Series Instruments are generally lower in price than the Synchron Series. This is especially true for the customer that is cross-grading from the VI Series.
Ease of Purchase: The Studio Series only has one option when purchasing the product (no Standard or Full Library to choose from). This ability to purchase what the library has to offer without any FOMO about, “What if I only purchase this and not this too,” makes the Studio Series perfect for this type of customer.
Sonic Palette: The customer is always right regarding taste. Some customers will just prefer the sound of the Studio Series samples over the Synchron Series samples. It may be a particular articulation, or they feel there are more realistic transitions in the legatos; it is their opinion, which they are entitled to. As long as you have helped them find the right purchase for their needs, they’ve made the correct purchase.

Let us now dive into the Synchron Series of Vienna Instruments. The Synchron Libraries from VSL are their flagship series of orchestral instrument collections recorded at Synchron Stage Vienna, one of the world’s most renowned scoring stages. These libraries are designed to deliver ultra-realistic orchestral performances, offering detailed control over sound and placement within a highly customizable, state-of-the-art environment.

Here’s an overview of what makes the Synchron Libraries unique:

Recorded at Synchron Stage Vienna

Synchron Libraries are recorded at Vienna Synchron Stage, a world-class scoring stage used for major film and media productions. The venue's acoustics are meticulously captured to deliver a natural, spacious sound, offering the realism of a live concert hall or scoring stage for film and TV. The stage's distinct sound gives the Synchron Libraries their signature depth, making them ideal for large-scale orchestral works and cinematic compositions.

Multi-Microphone Setup

Each Synchron Library instrument is recorded with multiple microphone positions, ranging from close mics to distant room mics. This gives users the flexibility to blend different microphone signals and customize the spatial depth and width of the sound. The libraries typically come with a variety of microphone options, such as:

Close Mics for intimate detail
Mid Mics for a balanced, room-filling sound
Decca Tree for a wide stereo image
Surround Mics for enveloping, immersive experiences

These options allow users to create anything from focused, dry mixes to expansive, cinematic environments.

Advanced Synchron Player Integration

Synchron Libraries are powered by VSL’s Synchron Player, an advanced sample playback engine tailored for this specific product line. The player offers detailed control over articulations, dynamics, microphone positioning, and other performance parameters. Key features of the Synchron Player include:

Articulation control with easy switching between legato, staccato, spiccato, and more
Real-time dynamic control, including velocity crossfades and expression curves
Microphone mixing, allowing users to blend and adjust different mic positions
Room reverb and positioning tools to place instruments in any part of the virtual stage

Realistic Articulations and Detailed Sampling

Synchron Libraries are known for their depth of sampling. Each instrument or ensemble is captured with a variety of articulations and playing techniques. Articulations include:

Sustains, Legato, and Portamento
Staccato, Spiccato, and Pizzicato
Dynamics, such as Crescendos and Diminuendos
Extended techniques, such as Harmonics, Tremolos, and Col legno

The extensive range of articulations ensures that every nuance of orchestral performance is available, making it possible to achieve an authentic and expressive sound.

High-End Orchestral Instruments and Ensembles

The Synchron Libraries cover an extensive range of orchestral instruments and ensembles.

Each collection is available as a Full Library with all mic positions or as a Standard Library (fewer mics but full instruments) for users who want a more affordable option.

Performance Optimizations and Workflow

Synchron Libraries are designed to be easy to use out of the box while offering deep customization for those who want it. Whether you’re working on a small project or a complex film score, the workflow is optimized to ensure that users can create realistic performances without extensive programming or manual intervention.

Immersive Sound (5.1, 9.1, and Dolby Atmos)

In addition to standard stereo setups, the Synchron Libraries are designed for immersive sound formats such as 5.1, 9.1, and even Dolby Atmos. This makes them ideal for multimedia productions that require surround or spatial audio.

As with the Studio Series, the Synchron Series allows your customer to choose from the more professional level instruments (for those that need more detail and realism) or the Starter Instruments that are more affordable though still very realistic, and will appeal to a broader range of customers.

When it comes to the professional level of the Synchron Series your customer can decide from Instrument Subsets, Instrument Collections, and Bundles. Each category offers both a Standard Library and a Full Library. With either category, your customer gets the same number of instruments with the same number of articulations available to them. The difference is that with the Standard Library you get fewer microphone mix options to choose from. The Standard Library allows you to choose from four mic placements, whereas with the Full Library offers seven mic placements. Should your customer purchase the Standard Library for an instrument, they can always come back to you to purchase the Upgrade to the Full Library at any time. Both Standard and Full Libraries are ready to be mixed in Surround Sound, however, if you customer is mixing in Immersive formats, they will need the Full Library. Although the Full Library is needed for Immersive, the wide variety of mic options provides plenty of compelling options for stereo mixing.

Instrument Subsets include individual solo instruments and individual ensemble instruments, e.g., Synchron Solo Violin Standard Library or the Synchron Mallets Full Library. These are perfect for a customer that needs “just that instrument.” This is an easy way to help your customer fill in that void they have with their current libraries and virtual instruments.

At the next level are the Synchron Collections. As the name suggests, these include multiple instruments or ensembles for an entire instrument family. Your customer can choose woodwinds, brass, percussion, and so on. When it comes to strings each collection includes violins, violas, cellos, and double basses, however the different collections have unique properties that provide a variety of options. For example, the Synchron Strings Pro has fourteen 1st Violins while the Synchron Strings Elite only has six 1st Violins, making them a brighter, sharper ensemble. By contrast, the Duality Strings Family includes one large and one smaller ensemble recorded simultaneously in two rooms, the large Synchron Scoring Stage and in the smaller Studio B. This dual-recording technique provides both a large, lush, sound and a close, intimate texture for unprecedented flexibility in mixing and acoustics.

The next category is the Synchron Bundles. These are for the customers that need everything in a particular family e.g., Synchron Strings Bundle, or just everything as in the Synchron Package, which includes the entire Synchron collection at a discount. Of course, if your customer already owns a portion of the bundle, they will be entitled to discounts on that bundle, which you can provide to them through the Vienna Dealer Interface. If you do not have access to the VDI, you can contact your software buyer, and they can let you know your customer’s price.

When it comes to the Synchron Starter Instruments there are three different options to consider. Each one is tailored with a specific usage and customer in mind, all using the same samples recorded for the Synchron’s professional instruments.

The first one to discuss is Synchron Prime. This product is simple to remember since it is the only product in its category. What this does is gets your customer a complete orchestra in a single, affordable purchase. It has fewer articulations, velocity layers, and round robins than the professional level but with the same amazing samples. Plus, Synchron Prime comes with the ability to use Flow View. Flow View is a more streamlined view of the Synchron player. It lays out everything easily for the user to find the instruments they need and makes keyswitching and creating compositions a breeze. And honestly, the look and layout simplify the GUI and make it more palatable to customers that may have been intimidated by Vienna’s Synchron Player. And what is great about Flow View, is when a customer needs to create the fine details in their track, they can switch back to Precision View on the fly and utilize all the power of the Synchron Player.

Customers for Synchron Prime come from any level and background. The ability to have a full orchestra in one package for an affordable price is perfect for aspiring composers needing to “up” their sonic palette. But songwriters, producers, and professional composers that need to work quickly will find that Synchron Prime gets them what they need and quickly. And those using notation software will want Synchron Prime’s sound and easy-to-use templates for all major notation software.

The next Starter Instrument in the Synchron Series is the Synchron Smart Orchestra. This one is also simple in that it is one product. What sets this apart from Synchron Prime is that it is intended to be a sketch tool. You have all main instruments within the orchestra, but it is all laid out across the keyboard putting the entire orchestra at your fingertips. You can either utilize the Synchron Smart Orchestra to lay down an entire sketch or you can adjust the settings and have the orchestra playing a pad in the left hand and the instrument section of your choice playing the melody in the right hand. All instruments are laid out to play only in the registers the actual instruments play, so if your string part goes lower than the range of a violin, your violins will cut out.

This is the perfect instrument for the customer that needs to work fast. If they need to send an idea to a director for a scene, Synchron Smart Orchestra is what they need. Need to play live? This is the VSL product for them. Need some realistic orchestral pads in the back of a song? This does the job and then some.

The last in the Synchron Series of starter instruments is the Big Bang Orchestra series. The Big Bang Orchestra (BBO) is a series of orchestral libraries that provide users with large, powerful orchestral sounds recorded in the renowned Synchron Stage Vienna. Unlike VSL’s traditional orchestral libraries, which focus on individual instrument sections, BBO features pre-orchestrated sections and full ensemble performances, making it ideal for epic, cinematic music production.

Here’s a detailed look at what the Big Bang Orchestra offers:

Epic, Cinematic Sound

The Big Bang Orchestra is specifically tailored for big, bold orchestral music, often used in film trailers, action scenes, and dramatic scores. The pre-orchestrated nature of the recordings allows users to instantly achieve a massive orchestral sound without the need for detailed instrument programming. It’s an excellent choice for composers working in film, TV, or video games who need to produce impactful music quickly. BBO products can be used to create what you need or to enhance a more traditional composition when a bigger sound is needed.

Pre-Orchestrated Sections and Ensembles

BBO offers various collections that focus on different sections of the orchestra, but with the key feature being that these sections are pre-orchestrated. This means that instead of loading individual instruments (like violins or trumpets), you load a full ensemble that has already been recorded playing together. This provides a cohesive, powerful sound right out of the box. Many BBO libraries combine sections into full orchestral ensembles, offering both synchronized tutti performances(where all sections play together) and sectional performances (where strings, brass, or woodwinds play separately).

Recorded at Synchron Stage Vienna

As with other VSL Synchron products, the Big Bang Orchestra was recorded at the Synchron Stage Vienna, known for its world-class acoustics. This gives the BBO libraries a rich, expansive sound that can be easily blended into large-scale compositions. The recordings benefit from the natural reverb of the stage, and users can control the depth of the sound by adjusting the microphone positions, such as:

Close mics for a detailed, direct sound
Mid-range mics for a balance of proximity and room reverb
Room and surround mics for creating a grand, cinematic space

This flexibility allows users to shape the sound based on the needs of the project, whether they want something intimate or something with an epic, expansive feel.

Fast and Easy Scoring

One of the standout features of the Big Bang Orchestra is its ability to deliver powerful orchestral sounds quickly and efficiently. Since the sections are pre-orchestrated, users can easily load a patch, play a chord or melody, and immediately get a full, cohesive orchestral sound. This is particularly useful for film trailers or any media project where tight deadlines require fast, impactful results without having to manually orchestrate every part. The simplicity of the "plug and play" nature of BBO makes it accessible to both professionals and beginners, providing instant orchestral grandeur with minimal programming effort.

Articulations and Playing Styles

Although the Big Bang Orchestra focuses on fast, dramatic results, it offers a range of articulations that allow for expressive and dynamic control. These articulations provide the necessary tools to create varied and expressive compositions, ranging from quiet tension-building moments to explosive orchestral impacts.

Series Expansions and Modules

The Big Bang Orchestra series includes several expansions, each focusing on different instrument sections, orchestrations, or effects. Each expansion adds a different layer of capability to the series, allowing composers to explore a wide range of orchestral textures and effects.

Immersive Surround Sound

The Big Bang Orchestra supports surround sound formats like 5.1, 9.1, and even Dolby Atmos, making it ideal for film and game composers who work in immersive audio formats. The ability to adjust microphone positions for surround sound ensures that the orchestra can fill a room with an enveloping sonic experience, perfect for high-end media productions.

Summary of BBO Key Features:

Pre-orchestrated ensembles for fast, powerful orchestral scoring
Recorded at Synchron Stage Vienna for rich, natural sound
Multi-microphone setup for flexible sound shaping
Multiple articulations including sustains, shorts, swells, effects, and more
Perfect for film, TV, and game scoring, especially for epic and cinematic projects
Synchron Player integration for easy articulation control and sound customization
Available expansions for specific sections, effects, and orchestrations
Support for surround sound and immersive formats like Dolby Atmos

The Big Bang Orchestra is a powerful, easy-to-use tool for composers who need epic orchestral sounds with minimal setup. It provides a broad, cinematic sound that’s perfect for fast-paced projects like film trailers, action scenes, or any situation where impactful orchestral music is required. With its pre-orchestrated sections, flexible microphone options, and comprehensive articulations, BBO offers both speed and quality for professional scoring.

Conclusion

Reasons a customer would want the VSL Synchron Series of Instruments.

Sonic flexibility: Customers can easily mix the different microphones available to get a larger-than-life ambience or dial it in with the close mics to bring out the character of that instrument. Utilizing the mixer in the Synchron Player gives your customer the sonic flexibility to make the Synchron Instruments sit perfectly in their mix.
Precision: VSL has always been THE finishing tool for sample libraries. Their attention to detail, depth of sampling, and pristine sound makes the Synchron Series the ideal choice for the professional that demands only the best orchestral virtual instruments to make their compositions realistically come to life. With the Synchron Series VSL has taken sampling to its furthest extreme, giving musicians more options, the best tools, and the pinnacle of sound, where a mock-up can sound just as good as real players.
For the TRUE professionals: Many of you have very high-end clients. Many of your clients have their music scored at a live scoring stage. And some of you have clients that utilize the Synchron Stage Vienna to record their scores. For your clients of this caliber, it makes sense for them to use the sample library that will sound the closest to the realized score in the end. Furthermore, the engineers and producers at the Synchron Stage Vienna are ready to utilize the Synchron Series libraries to enhance performances recorded in the studios. This will help your clients work faster and create a richer musical experience, all while saving money.
A Deep Toolbox: With the professional series and the starter editions of the Synchron Series, your customer can find the right tools for their project. Often your customer will create a sketch with the Synchron Smart Orchestra, do a mock-up with Synchron Prime, fine tune specific parts and melodic lines with a particular instrument collection, and then sonically enhance the composition with elements of the BBO. All these tools have the sonic cohesiveness to make your customer’s compositions truly realistic and larger than life.
Always expanding: Vienna is always moving forward adding new instrument collections and bundles to the Synchron Library. Whether they add new collections of instruments or come up with innovative sample libraries like Synchron Duality Strings, they are continually recording and producing new products.
Sonic Palette: Just as with the Studio Series, customers may simply prefer the sound of the Synchron Series samples. It may be a particular articulation, or they feel there are more realistic transitions in the legatos, and so on; it is their opinion, which they are entitled to. So long as you have helped them find the right purchase for their needs, they’ve made the correct purchase.

This has been an overview of everything Vienna Symphonic Library has to offer. This should help you assist your customers in finding the right product for them. For an effective shortcut, we have developed the VSL Product Finder. This quick and elegant web tool will help you narrow down your search to specific products based on your customer’s needs and budget. You can find the VSL Product Finder here (link) on Club ILIO.

Here is a summary of each sample library category of the Vienna Symphonic Library:

Studio Series – Relatively dry samples recorded in VSL’s Silent Stage, suitable for adding your own custom ambience.
Synchron Series – Natural Room Ambience of Synchron Hall, with ever expanding collections.
Studio Special Editions – Full orchestra with all the essential instruments and articulations using samples from the Studio Series
Synchron Prime Edition – Full orchestra with all the essential instruments and articulations using samples from the Synchron Series.
Synchron Smart Orchestra – Full orchestra laid out as a single ensemble across the keyboard using samples from the Synchron Series. Can also be utilized for melodic sketches with orchestral pads in the left hand and a solo instrument in the right hand.
Big Bang Orchestra Series – Full orchestral and ensemble effects and phrases using samples from the Synchron Series, offered as multiple individual products.