The most DETAILED string library EVER?

Want to know more? Then download our free Orchestral Programming Guide
thinkspaceeduc...
VSL Elite Strings is a new chamber strings library that re-writes the book on choice of articulations and realism. Guy Michelmore takes it for a spin, gives you a host of tips of programing sampled strings and gives you a live scoring demonstration with the library. So is this really the most detailed string library ever? Let's find out.
Check it out here:
www.vsl.co.at/...
Thanks to VSL for the review copy.

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Want to know more? Then download our free Orchestral Programming Guide thinkspaceeducation.com/signu...

[@paulysguitarjournal]

Hi Guy, goes to a 404 error for me.

[@mr_spoons]

Guy, you need to fix your link.

[@dallas-cole]

just add a p at the end to complete signu(p)

[@renekohen7251]

instablaster

[@AugustinLehfuss]

@@dallas-cole haha that shows that even masters are just humans

[@nedjohnson6510]

I want to thank you yet again for the effect you continue to have on my musical life. I NEVER come away from one of your videos without feeling utterly compelled to start using the new ideas and skills you have exposed me to. Your input has dramatically facilitated my reemergence into digital music after a 30+ year hiatus. With all the fabulous new tools and your input (among others), I am again feeling the joy that I used to live with in decades gone by. Only now, it is at a much higher level. Please, please keep it up. You have my undying gratitude and I'm sure I'm not alone.

[@ndavies8]

Agreed.

[@bonuebonue]

Mr. Ned Johnson, you words gave me deep emotion! I had the same and similar experience and thank Guy to give people such a degree of inspiration and all what you said. I am also always inspired to produce self my music after watching one of Guy Michelomer Videos. The content, the approach, the sympathy : Thank you Guy!! and thank you Ned for your testimony. :-) Let's make some music :-))))

[@ChimptopiaVideo]

I watch all your videos, and I just wanted to thank you. I had lost my love for making music, and your enthusiasm and positivity restored it. You've no idea how much good you're doing in the world!

[@ViennaSymphonicLibrary]

Thanks for this great demonstration, Guy! 💙

[@franbeck8]

Horrible legato sounds!!! The shorts are good but what happens with the legatos IN GENERAL with Synchron player? Before the legatos were the best of the market with VSL woodwinds for example. Why????

[@franbeck8]

The notes are not connecting, sounds midi

[@franbeck8]

On 2021 there are so many libraries doing this right, please!

[@SteveSensenig]

I double-checked my headphones on my ear, so I'm pretty sure it's not just on my end, but somehow the stereo image is reversed in this video. The celli starting at 7:23 was the first it jumped out at me as being heavily balanced to the left, even though the meters on the player onscreen showed the expected right side heavy.

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

AH...... My speakers were right but you are 100% correct the feed to the video is reversed

[@SteveSensenig]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation and my apologies for just writing a complaint. Your videos are amazing, and I LOVE the fun you obviously have making them. I watch every one almost as soon as I get the notification.

[@FLH3official]

We heard the same thing 😌 Actualy it was a test from Guy, before releasing other excellent videos he wanted to be sure we were not totaly deaf 😆

[@actuallyzulian]

MetroGnome got me 😂😂😂😂😂👏🏻

[@brettmarlar4154]

There's nothing better than a very stylishly groomed gnome!😜😂🤣

[@acikacika]

Guy, you are such a delight, a beacon of inspiration, a splash of fresh. Anyway, I was using key switch tracks for a while now and I have three points to make here. 1. Use parts with respectable ks notes within, color code them and then simply manipulate those throughout the arrangement. I find it visually precise and neat rather then double clicking the part every time and tackling those notes. 2. On some libraries there could be a problem with the latency of note triggering hence key switching tends to be late. Simply offset the timing of the whole KS midi channel rather than tweak every note position. 3. While working on particular part or a sequence, we all loop or replay the thing a gazzilion times, but the key switch stays on the latest position giving us the wrong mode until the actual ks kicks in. Instead of long notes for ks, I put 32s or 64s so it switches almost instantly. (Some daws act differently regarding notes triggering, so it may not be necessary) Have a good day Guy, you made one for me already.

[@cedriclies7366]

Has Guy forgotten his "HELLO EVERYBODY !" ? :)

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

NO! I did as well

[@FatNorthernBigot]

This is an incredible tool, and I'll never take this sort of thing for granted. Remember in the 80's where someone would play an Akai sampler, it would sound a bit like a string section, and we were all blown-away? Just one articulation, in fact, some of us didn't know what portamento was. 😨

[@sofsalvo9910]

I was having such a rough afternoon with my orchestration... and then this video came along

[@LindaMissad]

great sounding library --- if only money was unlimited :). Thanks, Guy. Have a great day

[@jwillis35]

Outstanding library. VSL did a great job with this. I think once you learn the Synchron Player then you're in good shape. Great sounding samples.

[@bassManDavis1953]

Thanks Guy for such a great tuition and review, absolute brilliance

[@tboorer]

I’m one of those live musicians who sit in the orchestra, or at least I was before lockdown. As a trombonist who goes in with BBC Phil it’s been fascinating to see things from your angle. Your videos are incredible. It inspired me to have a go, although I seemed to have found out the hard way that less is more when mixing samples. I tried to mix them as I would a live recording at first, and got all sorts of phase issues and artefacts! I’ve made something on Spitfire Discovery and would love to share to get your input. Understand you’re a busy composer, but if there’s a way to do that I’d be grateful :-)

[@DanaVastman]

You're such a pleasure to listen to... Thanks Guy!

[@SteveSensenig]

Why did I never think of using my thumb on the mod wheel instead of my index finger? That feels SO much more controllable for some reason! Glad I noticed that little detail in your video.

[@pjdahmen]

thank you for this great introduce for the Sound Library.Keep up and well done .

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Thank you Paul

[@Dmitry_Perelekhov]

My Teacher. I`m your student №21978. I'm asking you to show few things, need video(s): 1. A journey through the structure of your disks, organization on PC - System, Projects, Samples&Libraries, other Data 2. All samples and libraries which you have VSL, for Kontakt and quick description-a couple of words about each 3. Do you use Master and Slave with VSL and several computers? Thank You

[@stellarstudio5495]

You didn't start the video off with hello everybody! My life feels incomplete now 🤣

[@tomhick5372]

Cool new video! Hey, do you ever think about doing an updated version of those videos you did about string/brass/woodwind libraries? I'd love to see the 2021 version!

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Yes!

[@tomhick5372]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation Great! I hope to see it at some point!

[@jimchik]

The thing I would love, though, is for key switches to be tracked like controller info. And this is a request for DAW developers, of course. In other words, to take this approach toward putting key switches on a parallel track (a great help for notation), but to be able to tell the DAW to remember the last KS played, just like the last CC value (if any)..

[@jonathanrexsaligan5684]

I have this library and wow.. This is really a very detailed library.. the senza vibrato soft attack soft release almost sounds like a flautando or harmonics.. you need to experience this one to believe it. and the legato agile molto vibrato plus marcato sfz attack ir really great for soaring runs..

[@dafingaz]

Great sound!

[@mrzold]

Have you ever done a review of the SWAM strings software? Searched your videos for SWAM and didn't see anything (surprised!). Would be very interesting to get your take on it.

[@BjornarFrantzen]

The cello legato is just beautiful

[@chaddonal4331]

Wow, what a sound!

[@paulmarriott7683]

Ooh I like this library, really detailed. Happy weekend!

[@MichaelGraybill]

This last year I finally got around to building expression maps for the older VSL Chamber Strings to make use of all those articulations, and it was like getting a new instrument altogether. Synchron layout looks great, the separated Attack column is a neat way to handle that sort of thing across sample groups.

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Express Maps dont work so well with VSL - too many articulations to fit!

[@MichaelGraybill]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation Yeah I didn't even bother trying until I was on a 4k screen just for it all to be legible 👍

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation aha

[@RobertRodriguezMusic]

I don’t know, I always use my nose on the mod wheel 😂

[@RobertRodriguezMusic]

But actually, can’t wait to check out this library!

[@JanTauchtAb]

Thank you for that wonderful presentation! It makes my next buying decision so much easier!

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

happy to help!

[@RoastedBattleSquirrL]

Guy shows it, i buys it, buy yeah he's right. This one is very very detailed, and at least also easy to use despite the complexityl. Love it!

[@MartinJG100]

I think we would all agree the Viola has a tough time squeezed between the sqealers and the crooners in no man's land. It can be such an enchanting instrument with those beautiful and heart rending woody vibes. This library seems to give them a chance to show off in that niche register. Nice review, Guy. PS - 3:42 Your step editing hot tip from a while back was a real breakthrough for me.

[@guitarbrad]

I played viola for years - I know what you mean.

[@MartinJG100]

@@guitarbrad :).

[@ryanknaggs]

I must say. I visited the VSL site and listened to their libraries. And OMG! I think there libraries absolutely sound the most realistic hands down! At least that is my opinion. I'm so glad you mentioned VSL it is the best kept secret for your DAW arsenal. It's like the secret recipe that you just discovered in Kentucky Fried Chicken. I also do love Spitfire, Eastwest and 8Dio too. But my next purchase will be the string libraries from VSL for sure, Humm maybe I'll just get the VSL "VI Super Package", there is other stuff that is also really really good too.

[@BellsCuriosityShop]

You've convinced me to buy it. I was hoping BBCSO Core would be at a sale price this month, but I'm having to bite the bullet and use this along side Discovery or Orchestral Tools Rise

[@BellsCuriosityShop]

I meant Orchestral Tools Layers

[@Jay-xb2sx]

Are you going to review Opus when it comes out? Id love to see your first impressions

[@M4T]

I am looking forward to it. I am an EW guy. Can't wait until April 20 ....

[@FLH3official]

Personnaly for the keyswitches, when I'm in the edition/piano roll page, I use the "articulation maps" in my DAW, it's far easier. It takes some time to set one for a particular library but when it's done you gain a lot of work; just set a particular note with a specific articulation & presto. I don't use Cubase but I certainly think this kind of feature exists in that major DAW. Regarding the line you composed, why don't you try D3 > C3 >Bb2>A2>C3 >Bb2 at the end of the 2nd run instead of repeating the same phrase? Something "brahmsy" 😏

[@encapsulatio]

What is the most DETAILED COMPLETE orchestral library?

[@officialTonestepa]

Thanks Guy for this. I’ve been looking to upgrade and there are so many libraries to choose from. This one seems to cover all the bases for me. I’ll have to save up my pennies now. £750 is not cheap at all but I think I will have to bite the bullet I guess. I’ve gotten as far as I think I’m able with what I have but as you rightly say, without enough transitions and articulations it’s almost impossible to get realistic results without them.

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

you can do many of this with Logic Pro ALONE, remember. Study the Daw, principally the sampler

[@MusicZeroOne]

It's 325 euro now for standard if you haven't yet bought it.

[@ΥπερδιαγαλαξιακόςΑστροπολεμιστ]

I bought East West Opus diamond and i ak still in shock.There is a looooot to discover.

[@nikkuthomasabraham3784]

Sir.... I’m a hardcore fan of urs. Waiting for ur videosssss

[@StevenVrancken]

Great video, thank you! Suggestion to mute your microphone when you play the samples, because your keyboard is making lot's of sound :-)

[@WhyJustWhy-oe9dz]

Love the video, Guy. Would love it if you could give us you opinion on Metropolis Ark 1

[@felixmarques]

This guy barely trims his videos but I just watched all 29 minutes of it.

[@elektronnoise729]

i got a nosebleed from your click. its the most digital and agressive click on youtube ☺

[@arsalino1116]

Love your content!

[@DannyCocke]

Love your cottage studio and all the nice natural light! Does it ever give you glare issues on your monitors? Thanks for all the great videos, Sir!

[@smithc9698]

I love this Man

[@sid9069]

I just woke up and went to KZbin and this title and thought the same thing. Thank you for saying it 😁

[@henrik5284]

Take a sip every time Guy says “Now!” 🙂

[@tylerleroux1425]

Hi Guy, thank you for all of your reviews, I really enjoy all of them. Are you going to review Hollywood Orchestra Opus and Hollywood Orchestrater?

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

We just noticed that so stay tuned

[@prttop-track2699]

Hi Guy, great video as ever. Not sure you see this question but if one were to be looking for a chamber strings library to sit alongside BBC Core would you recommend this one or Spitfires own Chamber Strings? I appreciate all three are recorded in quite different rooms.

[@nickellis9251]

Hi Guy, thanks for another very helpful video. Could you do something more about step input for other DAWs? I'm sure Cubase is great, but it's beyond my limited budget at the moment. Thanks.

[@brettmarlar4154]

Studio One allows you to add articulations just by re recording them on the same track without having to add the separate channel. Very cool VST!

[@alexwatson6082]

You can do that on most of the DAWs. A good reason for having the control track is if you need to export the MIDI to a score - you don't have all the key switch notes included.

[@brettmarlar4154]

@@alexwatson6082 I'm pretty sure Studio One just uses those key switches to insert the proper notation as a legato, staccato, trill, etc. unto the conductor score. I'll have to confirm that by looking at the score view. But I know that it doesn't sow up as a note on the editor but as an articulation beneath the velocity editor. (At least on Professional V. 5.2.) I don't work for Presonus, I just have a Sphere Account, one if their interfaces, and three of their mics.

[@laynehoward2870]

What will be nice is when one of these sound library companies comes up with a way to easily assign the desired articulation to each note as it entered in set input. Maybe they already do but I'm not seeing it.

[@acidhendrix]

Can do that in most daws with use of "expression mapping." At least I think that's a similar/same functionality you're referring to

[@infamousDynaset]

Guy that bass line was sweet

[@DarkSideofSynth]

Thumbs up if you want Metrognome to have his own channel

[@hengonn]

Hi Guy and thanks a lot for your "joie de vivre" ! I would like to tell you a question. I visited the VSL site and I saw that two versions are available. the standard and the full version. The difference deal with the number of microphones and of course the price. Could you tell me, at your mind, if the full version is imperative ? does these posibilities take a decisive plus in term of quality - sound? I have to explain to you that I just began in this business and I have already bought a number of library and of course, the issue of the cost is important.

[@tosvus]

Guy, Do you feel there is a lot of benefit in going for the full version?

[@nachorondan2703]

Hey Guy have you checked out 8dio las solo strings libraries? Those are really detailed.... I believe that are most detailed strings i hear till now.

[@jackweaver7055]

What's up with the stereo channels being reversed in this video?

[@jaketanner109]

nice video as always...but your pan is reversed on video...assuming that you are using traditional panning. I noticed this on others as well, but being this was so exposed, it was a bit weird hearing all the bass on the left..and I can't flip my headphones, in case anyone would suggest that.

[@lahattec]

"Get your pencil and paper out." How about a video or three on doing just that? "Great idea!", says Guy. Time for a kitten.

[@RodrigoCanchola]

I don't meet to watch the entire video to automatically give it a thumbs up

[@DarqIce]

I love this motif. May I use it to develop it further?

[@JoshuaAucker]

I would love to hear your opinion on Audio Bro's Modern Scoring Strings! :) I am really new looking for an orchestral library and I can't decide which one to invest in and I am drawn to MSS for some reason. but I have looked at them all... It is overwhelming lol

[@mikec2660]

it might have a lot of articulations but the sound is weak !!

[@macmd28]

Hey Guy, I am just starting out and am looking at what professional libraries I should save up for to buy first. Which would you recommend and could you possibly make a video on that?

[@johnhawkinshawkins1284]

In the end, it just sounds like a quality sample library with lots of unnecessary frilly bells and whistles. Nothing I hear particularly make me want to buy it. But I like your unbridled enthusiasm Guy! And when you consider 99% of people don't even notice the soundtrack, what is the point?

[@joselain5659]

Guy what string library would you recommend for pop music? What's the best in your opinion?

[@dekatran]

Very interesting and informative presentation. I would like to ask a question about the controller on your left. What company is it? I've never seen it. Could you give me some information about it?

[@VadimKupriyanov]

at 4:51 the step-inputted notes are sound as unquantized - is the humanize settings for note starts = 0 during this example? Usually, VSL instruments have ideal timing, but in this example, I'm starting to worry..

[@malcolmfrancis4543]

Why aren’t you using expression maps guy? Cubase gold.

[@KevboKev]

Someone get this fabulous man a Swiffer duster!

[@chrismassa5891]

So will this over shadow your love for the other chamber strings?

[@sbaugh]

Guy - if you were forced to choose between this and Spitfire Chamber Strings - which would you? :)

[@diegoguadalupi7836]

Hi, Thamks for the video. Is it a stand alone software or plug ins I can use with Logic X?

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Which VSL Synchron should I get as my foundation to start off with?

[@MusicZeroOne]

Depends on your style. For larger sections go with Synchron Strings Pro or smaller detailed Elite Strings. The standard package also is fine, the extra mics are good but certainly not essential imo.

[@jj99996]

How does this compare to Dimensino strings for creating small ensemble?

[@praveenchaddha]

Hello Guy, can we change the key switches to our desired key locations... or is it always fixed for each library by the makers of it???

[@dolvaran]

BBCSO certainly lets you change it to whatever you want, so I would be surprised if VSL didn't.

[@genesisopera]

Yes- you may change key switches to any location.

[@MBynum]

Any recommendations on some good inexpensive reverb or compression plugins other than TDR Nova that would be useful for strings?

[@imflashman5557]

What’s your “go to” for string samples out there

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Im getting a lot more broad in my taste - often Spitfire chamber or Berlin, I love Bern Osterhouse's stuff and I will definitely use this library as well

[@DanielaTocan]

I recomend to buy a book first. But be careful with my comment. My level is hobby for sounds just. Far below down under. I use first the very old book from Purlitzer Price Walter Piston "Orchestration" to understand each instrument i use inside a set. Second my leve:l i exclude everything that is not able for Unify. I see Unify as a education tool. Last Lifestream Guy gave me an answer about my Unify question in chat and i am very happy with the answer. Yesterday a University responsible of Germany did contact me that they decide to use as Major Education tool for students in future. To answer yours question. I use Discovery Station and wait next black Friday that i am able to buy Core Station. I bought also Abbey Road Lower Strings. For a Chambers Room eg for a Indie Film i just double in Unify the single Instruments to a set and group them inside Unify This way and with an iZotope Echo/Delay or Valhalla i get the illusion of a Chambers Room and Setup in a way that no DAW can do for me. Hope it helps. The recent Global Award was as far as i know played mainly with the "Education tool" Unify. And the complete new Album of Dream Theatre was produced with Unify, Spitfire BBC and Spitfire Lower Strings, Jordan Rudess their Keyboarder recently did announce.

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

can you automate these articulation changes or are they still in Middle Ages like BBC Discovery and you have to open one track for each articulation?

[@belovedfilms9366]

The free Orchestral Programming Guide link is Broken

[@grailgnosticism2342]

Maybe I should be seeking the holy grail of instrument realism, but i am not; i guess it would be good, and loads cheaper, to hire a professional to fix my sound. And i fear for the future of live art or classical music. I recently heard some Elgar played on a free GM strings soundfont, yes it was Nimrod, still sounded wonderful, because it is Elgar. There must be a difference between sound and notes then!

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

12:00 sounds like just one viola with big reverb, not many violas?

[@MusicZeroOne]

There's 4 viola.

[@jmac2050]

Thought Philharmonia 2 had articulates

[@DevanshRastogi]

simple maths - exists* guy - *Don't make me do maths!!!*

[@CoolDudeClem]

As good as it sounds, with prices like that, I'll just stick to free stuff, I bearly have enough to make ends meet.

[@VuDuBu]

I was wondering what the benefit is of putting the keyswitches in a separate Midi channel. I usually just put them in the instrument channel. Am I doing this wrong?

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Ease of editing and recording

[@Sesaon3]

If it works it can't be wrong :-) I do it the same way as you

[@timbeaton5045]

Question. Can’t work out how to do the “separate articulation track” trick in Logic. Any pointers???

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

select all notes of same articulation, set midi channel, join in same region, create new track for selected region

[@tanglung4379]

hi , great video , can u tell me what player i need for this library ( if i need one ) , thank a lot .

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

It comes with the library gthe synchron player

[@tanglung4379]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation ok , thank u sir

[@ZoeSummers1701A]

What’s that midi control surface you’re using now? Have you sold your Icon sliders?

[@ZoeSummers1701A]

A, it’s the Blackmagic mini extreme pro video controller.

[@russellaustincomposer1664]

Downloads are too big for us - are VSL libaries available on hard disk / pen drive ?

[@lyncisAt]

Yes, they offer that option. You can add a hard drive to your order - then you have both the options to use the installation files on the hard drive - or download them from the website.

[@designerelefant]

Dear Guy, please stop imagining brilliant libraries - I don't have enough money to get them all the time😉😂 Irony over😅But thanks for the great video 👍

[@Stoneeeeemo]

I love that, but it's a shame it's so expensive...

[@Stoneeeeemo]

But i think this time the price is totally understandable by industry standards

[@nickgaming689]

With all these videos it's not making it easier to decide what library to invest in :(

[@ThinkSpaceEducation]

Depends a lot ion your style

[@nickgaming689]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation Beginner is my style :) Wanting to score for music, trailers, games.

[@Sesaon3]

@@ThinkSpaceEducation and the depths of your pocket!

[@jj99996]

ooops spelling! Synchron dimension strings

[@nightnoodler812]

Ever since I have been watching your channel, I pay way more attention to the music and the sound design when watching movies. Just watched Wonder Women 84, worst movie I have ever seen, but was realizing the sound/music track were like putting lipstick on a pig. Music and sound was great...All I thought was Poor Hans Z, having his name at the beginning of such a horrible movie. Then I realized they probly had to in order to give the movie any credibilty.

[@loucifer8009]

I write music for porno movies. What string section would you recommend?

[@tonycowin]

G-strings for porno.

[@loucifer8009]

@@tonycowin Excellent!!!💋💋💋

[@Dmitry_Perelekhov]

It may be called "A day after war"(p.s that USA wants now)

[@michaelm5926]

Yes, imagine Trump would have done so many shit like Biden in his first few months.... They would have crucified him!

[@mikeraz594]

Doesn't sound any better than their older string libs