Thanks!

[winknotes]

that sounds great. I've learned a lot too from that thread and just reading and experimenting. It's possible I don't use as many extended techniques plus the fact that i've been working exclusively with the solo SE strings pretty much since I got VSL SE. I'm pretty much pleased with playback except that there are times when I'd rather have the performance samples and other times I'd rather have the standard samples. I don't know how to pick and choose other than create hidden expressions to override slurs and phrase markings.

I'm also a little disappointed with the "throbbing" viola. For some reason it's the only string that doesn't get to the core of it's sound very quickly on sustained and legato notes.

[bill]

May 31, 2012 17:35:09 GMT -5 David Gaines said:

Mostly I'm still having upredictability issues with my string orchestra piece, i.e. countless hours of tweaking, bending, adjusting, etc. - both Human Playback and Vienna Instruments parameters - and I still can't get the thing to play back error-free within Finale.

dg

Hi David, what sort of errors/upredictability are you having?

[David Gaines]

I'll post .MP3 and .MUS files to the listening room when I have a moment so you'll see what I'm talking about. I'm also now having this weird problem where the high D two ledger lines above the staff triggers the muted staccato patch in the violins. I have no idea why. I press that key on my MIDI controller over and over and actually watch the patch change from Sustain to Muted Staccato inside Vienna Instruments. I've tried a different MIDI controller (a Casio electronic piano, actually) and the same thing happens. It happens with playback inside Finale, too. In any event, I'll post the files soon.

dg

[David Gaines]

We now have ten members! Awesome! Now stop lurking and start posting! ;-)

[gigamuse]

Hi David,

Just after a little information.

I have used Finale from about the early 80's. Gigastudio joined me in the 90's, with GS3 being the last version I have. I write mainly for orchestra (and voices) and have established a true 'virtual orchestra' by playing 18 separate tracks through 18 independently powered speakers (JBL). I have looked at the Vienna Symphonic Library, which is of course the only option now.

But, can I simultaneously record 18 (or more) separate tracks using this software, and with what would I start?

With Gigastudio I hit the record button and then hit the play button in Finale(2012c). As I use RME Hammerfall-DSP Multiface, GS3 recognises 18 channels (9 stereo channels). I do not need reverb (the halls I play in have their own), nor do I want to change the sound of any instrument, but need absolute clarity with all the articulations available. With GS3 I have loaded about 65 instruments, tweaked the balance between all of them and have a reasonable sound. In Finale I tweak each instrument further using MIDI to control the articulations (switches).

I have spent a lot of time reading the VSL website but all is not clear. My apologies if this is standard information but I am keen to find out if VSL could offer similar or better results? From the demos I have heard, the results are brilliant. Finale's 8 ports each with 16 channels matches GS3 very well. Is this also the case in VSL?

Thank you very much in advance for looking at this.

gigamuse

[bill]

That's quite an unusual setup (playing through 18 speakers)! What software are you currently using to playback the wav files?

GS was unique in it's ability to do multi track recording of all it's outputs. No current sample player does this (that I'm aware of); you'd need a DAW like Cubase, Sonar, Reaper, etc.

VSL is not the only option, unless you mean Vienna Ensemble Pro.

[gigamuse]

I use Adobe Audition CS6 which allows me to play each track (in multitrack mode) through individual outs. I use MOTU828mk3 connected via optical to two TubeOpto8 giving me at least 24 analogue channels.

So to replace what GS does, I need Vienna Ensemble Pro (or a similar software [sampler] excelling in live recorded instrumental & vocal sounds) connected to a DAW, which would record all of it's outputs?

Then the question would be which DAW.

Thanks again.

[David Gaines]

Hi everyone, sorry to have been away for so long - all the usual personal reasons. :-)

I overlooked this the last time I browsed through this thread:

<< I have looked at the Vienna Symphonic Library, which is of course the only option now.
[...]
With Gigastudio I hit the record button and then hit the play button in Finale(2012c) >>

Most of us have had a hell of a time getting VSL instruments to export properly to .WAV files when playing back in Finale 2012 (even 2012c, which, if I remember right, Andi @ the VSL forums has said seems to have fixed the known bugs). Do you not use the Export To Audio function in Finale and instead record your playback elsewhere (i.e. a DAW or sequencer or analog tape or whatever)? The two biggest headaches for me (and others) regarding VSL and Finale are VSL's unpredictable inability to "play well with others" when it comes to Finale's Human Playback, and the bug I just mentioned whereby exporting to .WAV audio files is pointless with VSL instruments, even with 2012c. In fact, these headaches are why I created this forum.

At any rate, if you have any updates for us regarding your setup that would be instructional, please do share. :-) And thanks.

DG