Studio Saxophones

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Studio Saxophones is based on its Vienna Instruments namesake, and offers a completely overhauled sample database optimized for the Vienna Synchron Player. Our goal was to improve the instruments’ playability and realism even more, which we achieved by enhancing the sample recordings as well as by utilizing the Synchron Player’s unique features.

The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in the early 1840s and patented in 1846. Sax invented two groups of seven instruments each—one group contained instruments in C and F, and the other group contained instruments in Bb and Eb. The latter soon became dominant, and most saxophones encountered today belong to this series.

While the saxophone remained marginal and was regarded mainly as a novelty instrument in the classical music world, it began to become more widely accepted over the early decades of the twentieth century. Among the best-known examples are Ravel’s Bolero and his orchestration of Mussorgksy’s Pictures at an Exhibition (The Old Castle). Nowadays, it is not only a fundamental member of all kinds of jazz ensembles, but also has its place in the modern orchestra.

Studio Saxophones contains the five most commonly used saxophones: soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass. The range of articulations includes not only the classical repertoire, but also bends, tongue slaps, growling, screams, extended harmonics, key noises, and more.

• Range:
  • soprano G3–E6
  • alto C3–C6
  • tenor G2–E5
  • baritone C2–A4
  • bass G1–C4
• Articulation keyswitches: C1–F#1; bass C5–F#5
• Type keyswitches: soprano, alto starting from C2; tenor, baritone, bass from C6

The patches are mapped so that an instrument which lacks a certain articulation will have a copy of the preceding articulation in that slot, which in most cases will be similar to the missing one.

Staccato; portato short, medium and marcato (soprano and tenor only); legato repetitions, slow and fast (bass: one speed only); portato repetitions; staccato repetitions; slaps; key noise (except bass); bends; falls.

Portato medium and marcato with regular, bend, and fall release release.

• Release: A7–B7

Legato repetitions slow and fast, regular as well as crescendo and diminuendo with 5 repetitions. With a dynamic layer patch where dynamics can be controlled with the modwheel.

• Dynamics: C7–D#7
• Dynamic layers: Dim.Ctrl/A (MIDI CC1, modwheel).

Portato and staccato repetitions slow and fast, regular as well as crescendo and diminuendo with 9 repetitions. With a dynamic layer patch where dynamics can be controlled with the modwheel.

• Dynamics: C7–D#7.
• Dynamic layers: Dim.Ctrl/A (MIDI CC1, modwheel)

“Slaps”, regular and muted. This is an articulation where the breath is expelled in a brief burst, creating a sharp, pizzicato-like sound.

• Range: soprano G3–C5
• Regular/muted: C7/C#7

Legato regular (with and without vibrato) and fast with an additional autospeed patch, grace notes, portamento (except bass), and upwards glissandos (except baritone). All with regular, bend, and fall release.

Bass saxophone: no vibrato options, no dirty tones.

• Vibrato: G#2–B2 / G#6–B6
• XF vibrato: Dim.Ctrl/B (MIDI CC20)
• Release: A7–B7

“Dirty” notes with regular, bend, and fall release release.

• Release: A7–B7

Legato regular (with and without vibrato) and fast with an additional autospeed patch, grace notes, portamento, and upwards glissandos (except baritone and bass). All with regular, bend, and fall release.

• Release: A7–B7
• Vibrato (regular): G#2–A#2 / G#6–A#6
• XF vibrato (regular): Dim.Ctrl/B (MIDI CC20)

Legato regular with vibrato, and fast. Legato type is selected according to playing speed.

• Speed: Dim.Ctrl/C (playing speed)
• Release: A7–B7

Sforzato, fortepiano, sforzatissimo; crescendo and diminuendo medium; crescendo and diminuendo strong; piano-forte-piano. Bass saxophone: sforzato and fortepiano with and without vibrato; no sforzatissimo; medium crescendo and diminuendo without vibrato 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5 seconds; strong crescendo and diminuendo with vibrato 3, 4, 5 seconds; piano-forte-piano with vibrato 3 and 5 seconds.

• Release: A7–B7
• XF vibrato (regular): Dim.Ctrl/B (MIDI CC20)

Medium crescendo and diminuendo without vibrato at 1.5, 2, and 5 (except soprano) seconds; with vibrato, 1.5 (except soprano), 2, and 5 seconds.

• Vibrato: G#2–A#2 / G#6–A#6
• Duration: C7–C#7; C#7–D7

Crossfading between vibrato and no vibrato articulations of the same length.

• XF vibrato: Dim.Ctrl/B (MIDI CC20)

Strong crescendo and diminuendo as well as piano-forte-piano with vibrato, 3 and 5 seconds.

• Duration: C#7–D7.

Flutter tonguing, crescendo; half and whole tone trills; and fast repetitions from 140 to 180 BPM.

• Bass saxophone: no fast repetitions

Half and whole tone trills regular and accelerando with regular, bend, fall, and cut release; regular and accelerando crescendo and diminuendo.

• Dynamic: C7–F7
• Release: A7–C8

Fast repetitions regular, crescendo, and diminuendo at 140/150/160/170/180 BPM with regular, bend, fall, and cut release.

• Dynamic: C7–D7
• Release: A7–C8

Octave runs, chromatic and whole tone, up and down.