Studio Choir

previously "SYNCHRON-ized Vienna Choir"

Introduction

Studio Vienna Choir 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 these ensemble’s playability and realism even more, which we achieved by enhancing the sample recordings as well as by utilizing the Synchron Player’s unique features.

Included Presets

The Vienna Choir project was among the most physically demanding of the Vienna Instruments Collections, where the challenges of achieving perfect tone, intonation, consistency, and stamina were directly linked to, and even magnified by, the mechanics of the human body. Given the rigorous criteria for inclusion, the voices of Vienna Choir hand-picked from among Austria’s leading choirs. Hundreds of hours were spent performing with utmost perfection and even a surprising passion that imbues every recorded note and interval, a testament to the professionalism of these outstanding artists.

  • Ensembles

    • soprano (16 singers)
    • alto (10 singers)
    • tenor (10 singers)
    • bass (8 singers)
    • Special presets for female, male, and full choir, as well as a bonus soprano choir with 32 singers.
  • Articulations

    • staccato
    • long notes
    • legato
    • dynamics
    • glissando
    • clusters

All articulations are available on the vowels “AA” and “UU”. In addition, there is a special “Breathing” patch.

If parallel mode is enabled in the first dimension, it is possible to switch between AA and UU vowels in the middle of notes. In addition, the breathing noises can be added without an articulation switch. However, you should be aware that twice as many voices will be streamed, so that using this option will take much more performance.

  • Ranges
    • Soprano A#3–C6, cluster F4–A#5.
    • Alto E3–F#5, cluster A#3–C5.
    • Tenor B2–C5, cluster F3–G#4.
    • Bass C2–E4, cluster C2–G#3.
    • Breathing sounds are mapped to D6–A#6 and D7–A#7 except F#.
  • Vowel / breathing keyswitches: A0–B0.
  • Articulation keyswitches: C1–F#1.

Staccato

Staccato on “aa”, “pa”, “ra”, “sa”, “ta” / “uu”, “pu”, “ru”, “su”, “tu”.

  • Vowels and Consonants: C2–E2, C5–E5 (basses).
User interface demonstrating Studio Vienna Choir instrument settings for Vowel, Articulation, and Consonant sound parameters, showing options like Staccato, Legato, and various syllables.

Long notes, Legato

Long notes and legato normal and espressivo, as well as with marcato attack on vowels and consonants. In addition, legato offers Performance trills.

  • Normal/marcato: G1/G#1.
  • Vibrato switch (ensembles): F2–G2, F5–G5 (basses).
  • Vibrato crossfading (ensembles): Dim.Ctrl/C (MIDI CC 20).
User interface of the Studio Vienna Choir software showing selectable options for Vowel, Articulation (including Long notes), Type, Vibrato (including Xfade), and XF vibrato.

Marcato

Keystroke velocity determines the amount of marcato attack.

  • Vowels and consonants: C2–E2 / C5–E5 (basses).
  • Marcato attack: Dim.Ctrl/A (keystroke velocity).
Screenshot of Vienna Instruments Studio Choir interface showing Type, Consonant, Vibrato, Attack, and XF Vibrato settings, with Marcato, XFade, and Espressivo options visible.

Legato: Performance trill

Normal/marcato/trill: G1–A1.

Studio Vienna Choir interface showing playback options for Vowel, Articulation, Type, Vibrato, and XF Vibrato, with Legato, Perform trill, and Xfade prominently selected.

Dynamics

Sforzato, crescendo and diminuendo 2/3/4 seconds, and crescendo with marcato attack on vowels and consonants.

  • Dynamics type: G1–A1.
  • Length switches: F2–G2, F5–G5.
User interface for Vienna Instruments Studio Choir showing options for vowel, articulation, type, and length of sounds, with Dynamics, Crescendo, and 4 seconds highlighted.

Crescendo marcato

Keystroke velocity determines the marcato attack amount.

  • Vowels and consonants: C2–E2 / C5–E5 (basses).
  • Marcato attack: Dim.Ctrl/A (keystroke velocity).
Screenshot of the Studio Vienna Choir virtual instrument interface showing sound articulation options for type, consonant, length, and attack, with 'Cresc. marc.', 'AA', '2 seconds', and 'AA' selected.

Glissando

Performance glissandos.

Software interface displaying Vowel and Articulation sound options for Studio Vienna Choir, including AA, UU, Breathing, Staccato, Long notes, Legato, Dynamics, Glissando, Cluster, and Custom.

Cluster

Sustained and performance clusters.

  • Cluster/performance cluster: G1/G2.
Studio Vienna Choir interface showing Vowel (AA, UU, Breathing), Articulation (Staccato, Long notes, Legato, Dynamics, Glissando, Cluster, Custom), and Type (Cluster, Perf. cluster) selection options.

Female choir / Male choir

The female and male choirs have stacked ensembles with accordingly different ranges. Apart from that, articulations are the same as those of individual ensembles.

  • Female choir range: E3–C6; clusters G4–A#5.
  • Male choir range: C2–B4; clusters C2–A#4.

Full Choir

The full choir has the same articulations as the individual ensembles but lacks legato and glissando articulations – the legato slot therefore contains a copy of the long notes. The glissandos are replaced by “creepy” sustains.

  • Range: C2–C6; cluster C2–A#5.
  • Consonant keyswitches: C7–E7.
Studio Choir interface showing Vowel, Articulation, and Consonant settings for vocal samples.

Creepy

“Creepy” sustains – female voices, male voices, and merged.

  • Range: merged C2–C5; female E3–C5; male C2–C4.
  • Merged/Female/Male: G1–A1.
Studio Choir user interface showing Vowel, Articulation, Type, and Stack options for sound customization, including Female and Male voice selection.

Bonus: Soprano choir with 32 singers

This special Preset contains the merged samples of our two soprano choir recordings, with long notes and legato on “AA” and “UU”, as well as breathing sounds.

  • Range: A#3–C6.
  • Long notes/legato: C#1/D1.
Studio Vienna Choir software interface showing Vowel and Articulation parameters. The Vowel column displays A0, AA, UU, and Breathing options, while the Articulation column shows C#1, Long notes, and Legato selections.