Studio Solo Strings

^{previously "SYNCHRON-ized Solo Strings"}

Introduction

This solo instruments collection of two violins, one viola, two cellos and one double bass is based on our extremely successful Collections VI Solo Strings I, Solo Violin 2 and Solo Cello 2, offering a completely overhauled sample database optimized for the Vienna Synchron Player. Our goal was to improve each instrument'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.

Mixer Presets

For Studio Solo 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 Solo Strings perfectly blend with any other product of our Synchron Series.

For each player, there are several Mixer Presets for solo and orchestral performances that depict different recording situations: Close, Classic, Distant, as well as settings without convolution but short and long reverb. In the solo Mixer Presets, you can also select the position of your players (left, center, right).

Basic Presets

The Patches of the basic Presets are organized according to basic playing style or Articulation, e.g., short notes or dynamics. These slots may again contain subtypes (spiccato, staccato, …), with further options if available.

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).

Keyswitches and controllers

By default the keyswitches for Articulations are mapped starting with C1 (for Middle C = C4) for violin, viola, and cello, and C5 to G#5 for double bass. For the available Types, the keyswitches start from C2 for violin and viola, and from C7 for cello and bass.

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.

Ranges

The maximum play ranges of the instruments are:

Violin 1 G3–A#7
Violin 2 G3–G7
Viola C3–G#6
Violoncello 1 C2–F6
Violoncello 2 C2–D6
Double bass B0–G4

These may be less depending on articulation (e.g., harmonics).

Violin 1, Viola, Violoncello 1, Double bass

Short notes

Spiccato, staccato, short détaché, long détaché with vibrato, and legato repetitive notes.

A screenshot of the Studio Solo Strings virtual instrument interface showing articulation and type selection menus. The articulation menu includes options like Short notes, Sustain, Legato, and Tremolo. The type menu features Spiccato, Staccato, and Short detache, demonstrating sound shaping for string instruments.

Long notes

Sustained notes without and with normal, progressive, and decreasing vibrato.

Vibrato XFade control: Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1, modwheel).

User interface for Solo Strings virtual instrument with articulation types like sustain and vibrato control options.

Legato

Performance legato and marcato regular and fast with auto-speed option, legato with progressive vibrato, and portamento.

Auto-speed control: Dim.Ctrl/C (playing speed).

User interface for Studio Solo Strings showing articulation, style, and auto-speed parameters, with Legato selected in articulation and Legato looped selected in auto-speed.

Dynamics

Sforzato, fortepiano, and sforzatissimo.

Tremolo and Trills

Tremolo regular and with sustain crossfading option, half and whole tone trills.

Sustain/tremolo XFade control: Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1, modwheel).

Software interface displaying articulation, type, and tremolo XFade controls with options like Tremolo + trills, Sustain vib., and Tremolo for Studio Solo Strings virtual instruments.

Pizzicato and col legno

Pizzicato, snap pizzicato, and col legno.

User interface displaying articulation types like Pizzicato, Legato, and Tremolo for Studio Solo Strings, used in digital audio workstations for string instrument control.

Harmonics

Harmonics, staccato and sustained.

Sul ponticello

Ponticello staccato, legato, sforzato, and tremolo.

Sul tasto

Sul tasto staccato, legato, sforzato, and tremolo.