Here we are dealing with one of the most delicate sectors of the boundless panorama of the Sample Libraries: the orchestral Ensemble, in this case from the Chamber. Versilian Studios, to rival the fierce competition, has focused on the scalability of the title (3 versions are available at an increasing organic and price), but above all on stylistic choices that are both classic and modern. Let's see in this new review if the experiment was successful.
Versilian Studios is a small company dedicated to the creation of sample library unique, well built and affordable for composers. The product line is mainly centered around orchestral instruments, but sometimes the proposed titles also concern ethnic, rare or experimental instruments.
The team's first artistic directive is: "Uncompromising on authenticity, for engaging playability." In fact, Versilian Studios is committed to creating instruments that are naturally a source of inspiration, while maintaining a strong respect for the appropriate techniques and heritage of the instrument.
With VSCO 2, Versilian Studios remains in the groove most usual for them, and offers us a title dedicated to Chamber Orchestral Ensembles.
The library is available in three versions:
- The STANDARD EDITION, which incorporates all the tools present in a classic chamber orchestra with the addition of some extra from a real one philharmonic orchestra;
- The PROFESSIONAL EDITION, which, although it still presents itself as one chamber orchestra, in essence, it has little to envy to a traditional canonical orchestra;
- The GO EDITION, which contains the same elements as the version Professional, but it has the advantage that it can be delivered directly to your office in a case Usb Flash 3.0.
In this review we deal with the Standard Edition.
The title consists of ben 9.254 audio files, distributed in 128 Individual Kontakt Instruments. To turn in yours Daw, requires a minimum version 5.5 of the Kontakt Player.
The library takes up more than 3 GB and is available via digital download on the Versilian Studios website for the price of dollars 99.
KIND OF THE LIBRARY
Preliminarily, it is necessary to carry out a quick survey on the historical development of the Chamber Orchestra, in order to better understand what was the ratio that determined the basic choices of Versilian Studios in the staging of VSCO 2.
Originally, the Chamber Ensemble they were hired to play in the houses of the public, with understandably reduced staff, hence the name “da camera”.
They were the exclusive prerogative of the noble public, who could afford a concert of instruments in their own home, and, of course, they were private performances.
These ensembles performed compositions for six, seven, eight, nine musical instruments and even more (up to 50, in this case a nice big hall was needed!), Variously combined, that is with the use of the canonical string instruments of instruments a wood breath (oboes, flutes, clarinets, bassoons, etc.), instruments a brass breath (horns, trumpets, trombones and flugelhorns of all tones), usually the piano, up to the introduction of rhythmic instruments and percussion (marimba, drums, triangle, bass drum, xylophone, etc.).
Vsco 2 Standard Edition offers us a rather rich sample of contents, and, already in this intermediate version, it covers the need for staff and decidedly vast stylistic solutions.
In addition to being richly equipped in the "obligatory" orchestral sections for chamber ensembles (Strings and Winds), the title gives us the opportunity to fish at will among Brass, Woodwind, Mallets, Percussions and also an interesting folder that includes well 4 section tools Keys (Church Organ, French Harpsichord, Grand Piano and Upright Piano), usually not present in Chamber Orchestras.
So, basically the title faithfully respects the chamber music tradition, but at the same time the stylistic cut and the editorial line proposed by Versilian Studios suggest a desire to mix Antique e modern which gives the bookcase a marked trait of originality.
CONTENT OVERVIEW
As mentioned above, for this review I decided to focus on the intermediate version, the Standard Edition.
The choice was mainly determined by two reasons: one linked to the desire to have a "lean" but at the same time well-equipped instrument, and the other due to a mere practical aspect: to be analyzed as they deserve, the contents of the Professional version they would have required an amount of time that unfortunately I did not have available.
Here is the review of the vast contents and the main features of the library:
- 6 tools dedicated to the section Brass (Bass Trombone Only, French Horn I Only, French Horn III Only, Tenor Trombone Only, Trumpet I Only, Tuba I Only)
- 4 tools dedicated to the section Percussion (Bass Drum, Percussion Ensemble, Small Percussion Ensemble, Timpani), plus 4 further folders (Cymbals & Gongs, Small Percussion, Solo Snares, Toms) which, individually, contain various other individual instruments
- 8 folders dedicated to the section Bows for a totality of 47 individual instruments (Cello Section, Harp, Solo Cello, Solo Contrabass I, Solo Viola, Solo Violin, Viola Section, Violin Section)
- 7 folders dedicated to the section Wood, which in turn contain dozens of individual Kontakt Instruments (Solo Basson I, Solo Clarinet I, Solo English Horn I, Solo Flute I, Solo Flute III, Solo Oboe I, Solo Piccolo)
- 4 folders dedicated to the section Keys, For a total of 7 several Kontakt Instruments (Church Organ, French Harpsichord, Grand Piano and Upright Piano)
- 3 Kontakt Instruments dedicated to the section Mallets (Glockenspiel, Tubular Bells, Xylophone)
- Until 4 configurations Round Robin for each articulation of the instruments and up to 8 for percussion
- Articulations of tremolo, legate, trill, staccato, pizzicato and more
- Dynamic modulation crossfading available on all Patches that support it (Kontakt only)
- Faux Legato on all instruments that support it (Kontakt only)
TECHNICAL AND AESTHETIC ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS
First of all, it must be said that all the instruments in the library are equipped with a very well equipped adjustment and effects compartment.
The types of controls change according to the type of instrument used, therefore we will find all (or almost) the indispensable tools to guarantee excellent playability and to render the playing practice and essential articulations of a given instrument in an extremely realistic way.
At the top of the control panel there are a series of adjustments common to all instrumental sections, very useful and sensitive, and include:
- Main Volume
- Stereo Width
- Stereo Pan
- High pass filter
- Low pass filter
- Delay
- Room
- Attack
In the lower part, however, we find the adjustments and the distinctive articulations of the individual instrument that we have loaded.
As far as the sound quality of the samples is concerned, VSCO 2 boasts defined and extremely clear and expressive sounds. If we are not at the top of the range we are very close.
The joints of bound, staccato e tremolo degli Archi are really excellent, the pinched of the harps sounds celestial, lo strained very realistic brass and the trill dei Woodni always very bright.
The percussion features an excellent natural reverb and marked attacks and supports, both in the case of the Large Percussion and that of the Small.
The most innovative section for a Sample Library dedicated to a Chamber Orchestra deserves a separate mention, that of the Keys.
The Organs, the Harpsichord and the Pianos included in this department host sounds that, due to the high quality level and the multiplicity of tones and color nuances, can almost represent a library in the library ...
This is truly one of those libraries you never want to stop playing. When I finished composing the Audio Demo that accompanies the review, I wanted to get back to work with VSCO 2 right away!
RECOMMENDED USES AND DESTINATIONS
The title has as its preferred use the use in the composition of orchestral mockups.
The library will guarantee an extremely fast and optimized workflow, thanks to its practicality and compactness.
It will be perfect for voicing trailers and commercials, especially when delivery times are tight.
However, even with the Standard version, it is certainly possible to devote oneself to more demanding works such as soundtracks and chamber or symphonic compositions, although for these types of use the Professional version is certainly more appropriate.
In short, the uses lend themselves to different solutions, depending on the needs of musicians and composers.
PROJECTED IMPACT.
Let's clear the field of doubts, Vsco 2 undoubtedly rests on solid qualitative foundations.
The instruments of each section are sampled in a very convincing way, capable of faithfully reproducing the character and expressiveness of each instrument.
I must also say that, having over time also had the opportunity to view other much more famous orchestral libraries, Vsco 2 is not afraid of comparisons.
The articulations available are varied and all valid, and the multiple configurations of Round Robin and Velocity Layers guarantee state-of-the-art execution and playability.
And let's remember that this is the Standard Edition: if it gives me so much, the Professional version could get close to something close to the sublime.
And all this at a price that, when compared to the competition, becomes almost surprising, if not laughable.
So, to take up the question posed in the introduction, I would say that the experiment was perfectly successful.
At the risk of sounding biased, I definitely recommend buying it.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Producer: Versilian Studios
Distributor: Online
Title: Chamber Orchestra 2 - Standard edition
Price: 99 + VAT $
