Dimension Strings I

Attention: Size of the download is 90GB, so the download can be extremly time consuming. You can alternatively order the library at Best Service on USB sticks.

Inspired by Human Nature

Vienna Dimension Strings opens a new chapter in the history of sampling technology. The recordings in Vienna’s famed Silent Stage started as early as the fall of 2008. With a total of more than one million samples for the full library, it is by far the most ambitious and intensive production in the history of the Vienna Symphonic Library. To put these numbers in perspective: Since the foundation of the company, 12 years ago, the Austrian company has published more than 1.5 million samples, covering nearly every instrument of the symphonic orchestra and more.

The 24 string players of Vienna Dimension Strings were recorded in homogenous groups (8 violins, 6 violas, 6 cellos and 4 double basses), capturing all of the human interactions and slight imperfections of a live performance, but this time the Vienna team has used individual microphones for each player, which allows you to access each voice individually.

Creating your personal string sound

They have even recorded each string of each instrument in its full range (approximately one octave plus a fifth), and with the included presets you may easily decide whether to have the musicians play on all strings (with a change to the next string in fifth intervals), or forced playing on a certain string. You can also choose to play with no open strings. Getting a darker or brighter string sound has never been easier and more flexible. What’s more, the technique of individual miking is perfectly suited for divisi writing as well! For the violins, preset setups for two groups of four players and four desks of two players are provided.

Stunning realism through imperfection

Over the last decade, sample libraries have become more and more “perfect”, sometimes at the expense of human feel. In reality, even the best musicians never play in perfect unison; one makes a change a little slower, another faster, but maybe with more dynamics, and so on. When playing as a group, musicians continually adapt, matching timbre, intensity, vibrato, intonation, bow speed and more. All these interactions happen automatically in a good ensemble, led by a good conductor, and reveal the “magic” of a live performance. With Vienna Dimension Strings, individual changes in dynamic levels of the players within a group can be achieved easily with velocity crossfades. You may even designate one or two “weak” musicians to play sloppy notes, with hesitant or delayed starts, for instance.

Check out the complete list of features and don’t miss the detailed interview with Herb Tucmandl, the mastermind behind Vienna Dimension Strings. Also, make sure to watch the informative Video Tutorials!

Key Features

• Four string sections of 8 violins, 6 violas, 6 cellos, and 4 double basses.
• Recorded in groups, but with individual microphones for each player, for unlimited individual performance flexibility.
• The full play range of each string was captured (one octave plus a fifth).
• 147 GB available hard drive space required
• Over 300,000 violin samples – up to one million samples for all four sections!
  

Unprecedented variety of articulations

• Three different sustains: Vibrato, non-vibrato (fully controllable via crossfades!) and espressivo/progressive vibrato (increasing the vibrato to maximum intensity).
• Legato Performances, Portamento Performances, Trill Performances (legato, marcato), Repetition Performances (legato, portato, staccato, spiccato, various crescendos).
• Various tremolo variations: Normal, with fast attack, and "slow-motion tremolos".
• Pizzicato, snap pizzicato and col legno.
• "Harsh” articulations: Brutally forced fortissimo sounds with short articulations, included as the loudest velocity layer with Repetition Performances of staccato, portato and spiccato playing techniques.
• Finger noises as separately recorded sounds from shifting positions on the fingerboard make for a more realistic sonic impression in combination with single note samples.
• Various ambient noises, recorded for each individual player, such as breathing, positioning/depositioning of the instrument, chair noises when leaning back and forth, browsing sheet music (in three dynamic levels!).

Individual Timbre and Ultimate Realism

• Sculpt your ensemble sound by adjusting level and position in the mix for each player, or desk, in order to create your personal string sound.
• Assign individual controllers such as velocity crossfade and/or expression for each player for realistic dynamic changes and customized balance within the ensemble.
• Ready-made presets for selecting the individual strings of each player of a group –“force strings” (all notes will be performed on the preferred string, e.g., for the violins: G, D, A, E), “avoid open strings” and “use open strings”.
• Perfectly adjusted vibrato/non-vibrato articulations with unlimited crossfade possibilities (available for sustains, Legato and Portamento Performances) – for an ideal sonic impression, especially in quiet passages.
• Mix articulations within the ensemble (e.g., desk 1 with vibrato, desk 2 without vibrato).
• Free positioning of individual players or desks on a virtual stage (e.g., when using Vienna MIR PRO or Vienna MIR PRO 24).

Articulations

• Standard Library includes basic articulations such as staccato, short détaché, sustained (with vibrato), fortepiano, sforzato, tremolo (normal, sforzato), pizzicato, Legato and Portamento Performances, Repetition Performances (legato, portato, staccato, harsh), finger noises on the fingerbord as well as ambient noises (positioning/depositioning of the instrument, chair noises, browsing sheet music, and more). 
• Extended Library includes additional articulations such as sustained (non vibrato, progressive vibrato), slow tremolo, long détaché, crescendo/diminuendo, snap pizzicato, col legno, artificial harmonics, legato and portamento performances (non vibrato and espressivo), performance glissandos and trills (legato, marcato), fast crescendo repetitions in 6 speeds (140 – 200 BPM

Library Content

• Standard Library: Samples 271.662 | Download Files Size 102,0 GB | Installed File Size 175,8 GB

• Full Library: Samples 832.908 | Download Files Size 108,7 GB | Installed File Size 175,8 GB

Exerpt:
+ Superb sound
+ Individual player control
+ Customizable section sizes
+ For pro composers/arrangers

Dimension Strings is an outstanding string library, musically and technically superb with fully customizable ensemble building and individual player control. Recommended for professional use but may be daunting for beginners

"Capable of intimacy and grandeur, this library promises to be the most user-configurable sampled string orchestra on the planet, and an orchestral control freak's dream"

Summary: While the degree of control on offer here may be uneccesary for newbies and casual orchestral sample useres, Vienna Dimension String's enormous depth and flexibilty, coupled with its fine musicianship and forensic sampling, will be warmly welcomed by professionla composers, arrangers, mock-up artists and musical control freaks!

Auszug aus dem Fazit:

Die Dimension Strings bieten eine bisher bei Sample Libraries nie dagewesene Kontrolle über die einzelnen Instrumente in hervorragender Klangqualität. Sie ermöglichen Arrangierabeiten wie sie für ein echtes Orchester gemacht werden. Man erhält hochwertige Soloinstrumente, die zusammengenommen einen homogenen Ensemblesound bilden oder ein kleines Orchester innerhalb eines Orchesters sein können.