Studio Chamber Strings

^{previously "SYNCHRON-ized Chamber Strings"}

Studio Chamber Strings was specifically created to enrich your tonal palette with a nuanced, intimate, yet expressive and dynamic small string ensemble sound, which not only covers the entire spectrum of chamber music literature, but can also enhance any larger string orchestra.

For creating Studio Chamber Strings, our sound editors went back to the raw, unprocessed sample data of the Chamber Strings I Collection. The original recordings were completely re-edited and re-mastered in order to achieve an all-new, modern chamber string sound that excels in terms of aesthetics, playability and realism, and that is optimized for use alongside the Synchron Series instruments.

For Studio Chamber Strings, our software developers added a specifically designed convolution reverb derived from Vienna MIR Pro to the Synchron Player, featuring the outstanding and unique ambience of the 540 m2 (5,813 sq.ft.) main hall of Vienna Synchron Stage. The perfectly engineered reverberation and placement presets combine customized impulse responses with expertly crafted reverb settings for each group of the ensemble. By adding the ambience of Vienna Synchron Stage's Stage A to the dry samples in real-time, Studio Chamber Strings perfectly blend with any other product of our Synchron Series.

For each ensemble, there are 7 Mixer Presets that depict different recording situations: Close, Classic, Wide, Distant, Ambience, Narrow Close, and Narrow Ambience. In the last two, the ensembles are placed closer to each other, like in a chamber orchestra. Please note that these are not compatible with Synchron Strings I.

The Presets of each instrument group are subdivided into 8 different Articulation categories (plus a ninth named "Custom", ready for your own creations):

• Short Notes
• Long Notes
• Legato
• Dynamics
• Tremolo
• Half tone trill
• Whole tone trill
• Pizzicato

Within these Articulation categories, you can select a Type (if applicable), e.g., soft or normal legato, and for some of the types there are additional options available, such as Attack or Tremolo Control.

Apart from the regular Presets, you will also find dedicated Velocity Crossfade Presets in your player's browser window. These contain the same Articulations; however, with the difference that Velocity XF is activated. Moreover, Dim-Ctrl/A (attack) is set to velocity control from 0 to 75 (MIDI values 0–95) with a flat curve as shown in the Control Tab.

The Velocity XF Presets allow you to crossfade between velocities with MIDI CC2, while keystroke velocity affects the amount of marcato where applicable.

Patches can be used to build your own custom Presets and adapt the Synchron Libraries to your specific requirements. The Patch information in this document is derived from the original Chamber Strings I Patch descriptions.

For designating pitch, the Vienna Symphonic Library uses International Pitch Notation (IPN), which was agreed upon internationally under the auspices of the Acoustical Society of America. In this system the international standard of A=440 Hz is called A4 and middle C is C4. All pitches are written as capital letters, their respective octave being indicated by a number next to it. The lowest C on the piano is C1 (the A below that is A0), etc.

The Synchron Player software allows you to set middle C to C3, C4, or C5 according to your preference. Selecting another setting than C4 will of course also change the play ranges and keyswitches accordingly.

The Chamber Strings Preset comprises all recorded Patches in Articulation groups, which again contain Types of the respective Articulation, with further options if available. The general structure was modeled after our Synchron Strings I Collection, making it easy to switch or combine string sections without major adaptations.

Articulations are disabled by default. Enabling an Articulation means that all the Types contained will be activated, too, so if you happen to be short of RAM it is advisable only to activate what you really need (you can always add more Types later).

By default the keyswitches for Articulations are mapped from C1 to G#1 (for Middle C = C4) for violins, violas, and cellos, and C5 to G#5 for the double basses. For the available Types, the keyswitches start from F2 for violins and violas, and from F6 for cellos and basses.

Additional options within Articulations or Types are offered by the Dimension Controllers. The controller function is indicated by the respective caption, as of course it may take on different tasks as needed.

You can find more information about individual articulations in the "Patches" section starting on page 14.

Apart from the individual string ensembles, there are also regular and 'narrow' Presets featuring Patches containing all ensembles. The combined strings do not have any legato Patches, so the Legato Articulation slot remains empty. They are especially useful for quick layouts and for playing an entire string orchestra live!

• Mapping range: B0–G7

  • Basses B0–E2
  • Cellos C2–B3
  • Violas C3–B5
  • 2nd violins C4–B5
  • 1st violins C5–G7

• Articulation keyswitches: C~–G#~

• Type keyswitches: F0–G#0

Spiccato, staccato, short and long détaché. There are no further options to these articulation types.

Sustained notes with soft attack, normal, marcato, and flautando.

Use Dim.Ctrl/B (CC1) to switch between vibrato and no vibrato, as well as the vibrato/no vibrato crossfading option.

Use Dim.Ctrl/C (CC20) to crossfade between vibrato styles.

As above with normal sustains, but with the option to use Dim.Ctrl/A (CC3) to add marcato attacks to the notes.

There is no further option to this articulation type.

Performance legato with soft attack, normal, marcato, fast legato normal and marcato, portamento, and Autospeed.

Use Dim.Ctrl/B (CC1) to switch between vibrato styles and the vibrato crossfade option.

As above with normal legato, but with the option to use Dim.Ctrl/A (CC3) to add marcato attacks to the notes.

This option implements a speed controller on Dim.Ctrl/D to switch automatically between normal and fast legato.

Sforzato, fortepiano, crescendo and diminuendo.

Use Dim.Ctrl/B (CC1) to switch between vibrato styles and the vibrato crossfade option.

There are no further options to these articulation types.

With this Articulation, you can add a marcato attack to the notes with the help of Dim.Ctrl/A (CC3), and crossfade between vibrato and tremolo using Dim.Ctrl/E (CC4).

The trills are implemented plain and with a marcato attack option, where you can dse Dim.Ctrl/A (CC3) to add marcato attacks to the notes.

Pizzicato and Snap pizzicato. There are no further options for these articulation types.

This Articulation does not yet contain any samples. It provides 6 slots ready for you to configure presets of your own.

Patches can be used to customize your own Presets according to your needs and preferences. This section lists the available Articulations for all ensembles.

• Range: G3–G7

• Velocity Layers: 5
• Variations: 8
• Samples: 1217

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 8
• Samples: 675

• Velocity Layers: 4
• Variations: 8
• Release samples
• Samples: 1165

• Velocity Layers: 4
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 588

• Velocity Layers: 5
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 2171

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 1258

• Velocity Layers: 5
• Release samples
• Samples: 712

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 441

• Velocity Layers: 2: 0–80 no vibrato, 81–127 with vibrato
• Release samples
• Samples: 98

• Velocity Layers: 2: 0–80, 81–127
• Samples: 127

• Velocity Layers: 2: 0–80, 81–127
• Samples: 52

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 5
• Release samples
• Samples: 7298

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 4323

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 5
• Release samples
• Samples: 5818

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 3507

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 5
• Release samples
• Samples: 7271

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 4337

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 5
• Release samples
• Samples: 18992

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Samples: 392

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Samples: 392

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Samples: 147

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Samples: 147

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 222

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Release samples
• Range: G3–F7
• Samples: 96

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Release samples
• Range: G3–F7
• Samples: 96

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 2
• Samples: 294

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Variations: 2
• Samples: 50

• Range: G3–E7

• Velocity Layers: 5
• Variations: 8
• Samples: 1160

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 8
• Samples: 648

• Velocity Layers: 4
• Variations: 8
• Release samples
• Samples: 1106

• Velocity Layers: 4
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 552

• Velocity Layers: 5
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 2036

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 1183

• Velocity Layers: 5
• Release samples
• Samples: 668

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 414

• Velocity Layers: 2: 0–80 no vibrato, 81–127 with vibrato
• Release samples
• Samples: 92

• Velocity Layers: 2: 0–80, 81–127
• Samples: 119

• Velocity Layers: 2: 0–80, 81–127
• Samples: 48

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 5
• Release samples
• Samples: 6918

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 4131

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 5
• Release samples
• Samples: 5529

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 3333

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 5
• Release samples
• Samples: 6891

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 4113

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 5
• Release samples
• Samples: 18080

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Samples: 368

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Samples: 368

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Samples: 138

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Samples: 138

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 210

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Release samples
• Range: G3–D#7
• Samples: 92

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Release samples
• Range: G3–D7
• Samples: 92

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 2
• Samples: 276

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Variations: 2
• Samples: 48

• Range: C3–E6

• Velocity Layers: 5
• Variations: 8
• Samples: 1021

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 8
• Samples: 567

• Velocity Layers: 5
• Variations: 8
• Release samples
• Samples: 1018

• Velocity Layers: 4
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 555

• Velocity Layers: 4
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 1456

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 1091

• Velocity Layers: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 473

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 369

• Velocity Layers: 2: 0–80 no vibrato, 81–127 with vibrato
• Release samples
• Samples: 82

• Velocity Layers: 2: 0–80, 81–127
• Samples: 107

• Velocity Layers: 2: 0–80, 81–127
• Samples: 44

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 3232

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 2423

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 2249

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 1702

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 3232

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 2423

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 7294

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Samples: 309

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Samples: 309

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Samples: 123

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Samples: 123

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 186

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Release samples
• Range: C3–D#6
• Samples: 80

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Release samples
• Range: C3–D6
• Samples: 80

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 2
• Samples: 246

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Variations: 2
• Samples: 42

• Range: C2–A5

• Velocity Layers: 5
• Variations: 8
• Samples: 1127

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 8
• Samples: 621

• Velocity Layers: 4
• Variations: 8
• Release samples
• Samples: 1020

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 392

• Velocity Layers: 4
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 1659

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 1211

• Velocity Layers: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 530

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 414

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0–80 no vibrato
  • 81–127 with vibrato
• Release samples
• Samples: 92

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0–80
  • 81–127
• Samples: 118

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0–80
  • 81–127
• Samples: 48

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 3663

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 2711

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 2534

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 1914

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 3675

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 2723

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 7417

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Samples: 346

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Samples: 346

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Samples: 138

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Samples: 138

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 210

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Release samples
• Range: C2–G#5
• Samples: 80

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Release samples
• Range: C2–G5
• Samples: 80

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 2
• Range: C2–G5
• Samples: 264

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Variations: 2
• Range: C2–G5
• Samples: 44

• Range: B0–D4

• Velocity Layers: 5
• Variations: 8
• Samples: 1013

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 8
• Samples: 567

• Velocity Layers: 4
• Variations: 8
• Release samples
• Samples: 944

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 360

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 1080

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 4
• Release samples
• Samples: 1099

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 360

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 360

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0–80 no vibrato
  • 81–127 with vibrato
• Release samples
• Samples: 80

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0–80
  • 81–127
• Samples: 42

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0–80
  • 81–127
• Samples: 42

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 3492

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 3511

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 2772

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 2772

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 3879

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 3900

• Monophonic
• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 5818

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Samples: 280

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Samples: 280

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Samples: 120

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Samples: 120

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Release samples
• Samples: 183

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Release samples
• Range: B0–F#4
• Samples: 76

• Velocity Layers: 2
• Release samples
• Range: B0–F4
• Samples: 76

• Velocity Layers: 3
• Variations: 2
• Samples: 240

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Variations: 2
• Samples: 42

This section contains Patches with limited playing ranges for use with the "Chamber Strings all" Preset.