Big Bang Orchestra: Andromeda

Introduction

Welcome to the Vienna Symphonic Library’s series of Synchron Instruments! As the name says, Big Bang Orchestra furnishes you with a selection of full-orchestra articulations, at the same time allowing you (if you haven’t done so already) to explore our powerful Synchron Player software. If you're looking for that extra dramatic effect or want to highlight a passage in your composition, this bonus library could be the solution, or at least point you in the right direction.

Overhead diagram of Synchron Stage Vienna, illustrating microphone and instrument placement for recording Synchron Strings I. The diagram shows violin, viola, cello, and double bass sections, with specific mic types like Close Mic, Mid Mic, Back Mic, and the Main Decca Tree array, indicating Standard Library and Add. Full Library mic options.

Big Bang Orchestra: Andromeda explores the concept further, and not only gives you a wider range of articulations, but also offers Presets with and without the extra touch of a piccolo flute, as well as marcato control via modwheel (CC1) or by keystroke velocity.

Orchestra performing in a recording studio, featuring string players, conductor, and recording equipment for the Big Bang Orchestra Synchron Instruments.
Full orchestra rehearsing in a spacious recording studio, featuring string, brass, and percussion sections with a conductor in the foreground.
Overhead diagram of Synchron Stage Vienna, illustrating microphone and instrument placement for recording Synchron Strings I. The diagram shows violin, viola, cello, and double bass sections, with specific mic types like Close Mic, Mid Mic, Back Mic, and the Main Decca Tree array, indicating Standard Library and Add. Full Library mic options.

Reduction and Score

Musical notation with treble and bass clefs displaying chords and accidentals, including flats and sharps, representing the orchestral sound of Big Bang Orchestra: Black Eye from the Vienna Symphonic Library.
You can download the score here.

Included Presets

BBO Andromeda offers a regular Preset, where marcato articulations are controlled with the modwheel (CC1), and another one marked "VelXF", where keystroke velocity controls the marcato intensity. Within these Presets, you can use the keyswitches A0/B0 to make a basic choice between articulations with and without piccolo flute.

Articulation categories are selected with the keyswitches from C1 to F1.

Short notes

image5

Nothing more to be said here...

Long notes

Choose between non-marcato and marcato with the keyswitches G1 and A1.

Non marcato

image6

The keyswitches from C7 to F7 select different types of expression:

  • C7 Normal
  • C#7 Soft low Brass
  • D7 Espressivo
  • D#7 Soft swell
  • E7 Sforzato
  • F7 Sforzatissimo

Marcato

The marcato option allows you to add marcato attacks with the help of the modwheel (MIDI CC1) or by keystroke velocity when you use the VelXF Preset. This also applies to all subsequent Articulations. Type keyswitches as above.

image7

Dynamics

Short and long swells, with marcato option.

image8

Tremolo + Trills

Tremolo sustained, half and whole tone trills. With marcato option.

image9

Falls half tone

Half tone falls, with marcato option.

image10

Fast repetitions

Fast repetitions at 120, 140, and 160 BPM. With marcato option.

image11

Con Sordino (Expansion)

This expansion to BBO Andromeda provides you with a full orchestra playing soft to mezzo dynamics where the string sections play con sordino. Like other Big Bang Orchestra collections, it offers a regular Preset, where marcato attacks are controlled with the modwheel (CC1), and another one marked “VelXF”, where keystroke velocity controls the marcato intensity. Articulation categories are selected with the keyswitches from C1 to D#1.

  • Range: C2 to D6.
  • Type keyswitches: starting at C7 (white keys if only two choices).

Short notes

There are no other options to this articulation.

Digital interface showing music articulation options like short notes, long notes, soft swell, and tremolo + trills for Big Bang Orchestra Synchron Instruments.

Long notes

Choose between non-marcato and marcato with the keyswitches G1 and A1.

Non marcato

Sustained, normal and espressivo.

Screenshot of the Vienna Symphonic Library Synchron Instruments interface, showing controls for Articulation like Long notes, Marcato settings including Non marcato, and Type options such as Normal and Espressivo, for music production.

Marcato

The marcato option allows you to add marcato attacks with the help of the modwheel (MIDI CC1) or by keystroke velocity when you use the VelXF Preset. This also applies to all subsequent articulations.

Big Bang Orchestra Andromeda Synchron Instruments interface showing articulation, marcato, type, and attack controls for musical parameters like long notes, normal marcato, and dim.ctrl/A.

Soft swell

Soft swells, with marcato option.

Non marcato

Software interface displaying articulation and marcato selections for Big Bang Orchestra virtual instruments, showing options like soft swell and non-marcato.

Marcato

Vienna Symphonic Library Synchron Instruments interface showing articulation, marcato, and attack options for musical sound design, featuring selectable elements like Soft Swell, Marcato, Short Notes, Long Notes, and Tremolo Trills.

Tremolo + Trills

Tremolo images/bbo-a, half and whole tone trills. With marcato option.

Non marcato

Vienna Symphonic Library Synchron Instruments interface showing articulation, marcato, and tremolo/trill settings.

Marcato

Vienna Symphonic Library Big Bang Orchestra Andromeda virtual instrument interface showing articulation, marcato, tremolo/trill, and attack settings for orchestral sound control.