VSL have released Synchron Duality Strings (Sordino), the second installment from their Duality series, available in two versions with intro offers that end October 30th:
- Standard Library – $415.00, increasing to $572.00
- Full Library – $667.00, increasing to $913.00
Add another layer of expression and sonority to your small and large string sections with these muted string ensembles, recorded exactly the same way as the first installment in the series, Synchron Duality Strings (regular). While the large ensembles played their instruments in Stage A, the small ensembles simultaneously played in the dryer Stage B of Synchron Stage Vienna, performing perfectly in sync, with a beautiful velvety timbre that’s still bursting with variety.
Sordinos massively expand the sound palette of string instruments, especially string ensembles. Considering that the volume of the instruments is only slightly reduced, playing with mutes is not synonymous with “playing quietly”. Rather, sordinos evoke a change in the frequency and sound spectrum that multiplies the possibilities of instrumentation, as the great orchestrators and composers have impressively demonstrated since the end of the 19th century.
Changing the instruments’ sound also has a decisive influence on the attitude of the players. Musicians instinctively react to the sound they produce as well as to the overall sonority of the ensemble. Passages played “con sordino” (with mute) will therefore always be clearly different from “senza sordino” (without mute) passages, even when a sordino effect is artificially applied to the recordings. The musical feeling and expression of first-class musicians makes all the difference, beyond the mere placement of a piece of plastic or wood on the bridge of an instrument.
Consequently, we developed a sordino collection that was not just a reduced version of the non-sordino recordings. Continuing in the vein of our Duality principle, each sordino articulation was recorded immediately after its non-sordino counterpart. The objective was for users to be able to activate or deactivate sordinos without creating a difference in expression, resulting in a continuous, coherent performance. This means that all the articulations of Duality Strings (regular) are also available with Duality Strings (sordino), except for snap pizzicato.
As in the first Duality Strings installment, the large and the small ensemble were sampled at once, playing in separate rooms, with the conductor on the podium in Stage A also directing the ensemble in Stage B via video monitors. While the mic setup in Stage A delivers a broad string ensemble sound, the smaller ensemble in Stage B was recorded closer with two different sets of microphones, offering bright and dark sounding variants. This enables you to customize your own string sound organically and effortlessly within the Synchron Player. Of course you can also rely on the expertly crafted mixer presets, ranging from close and classic to wide, distant, lush and more.
To capture the spectacular ambience of Stage A and the signals in the dryer sounding Stage B, our engineers employed separate phase-coherent microphone configurations that were recorded simultaneously to provide a broad range of room options. All sections were recorded separately at their designated positions.
The Dark and Bright microphone signals consist of a mix of two pairs of microphones, respectively:
- Dark Mics: Royer SF24 + Sennheiser MKH 8040
- Bright Mics: Neumann M149 + Ehrlund EHR-M
The additional Ribbon L/R microphones that come with the Full Library add an extra warm, low-mid layer to the transparency of the Decca Tree for an even lusher string sound.
The main surround microphone settings may also be used instead of the main stereo room mics in order to achieve a wider and more ambient mix. Blending surround signals with the other microphone signals creates a denser, more lush overall sound, even in stereo applications.
Room Mix Presets feature an excellent mix-down to stereo from the Decca tree and surround mic positions for a CPU and RAM-saving sound that’s perfectly balanced right out-of-the-box. A host of Mixer Presets is available in the categories of “Decca Tree Multi-Mic”, “Surround to Stereo Downmix”, and “Surround”.Due to the comprehensive selection of discrete audio channels you can mix your string sound in stereo, 5.1 surround or even Dolby Atmos (or any other immersive audio format, such as 9.1 Auro 3D).
Features include:
- Two acoustically isolated string ensembles performing simultaneously at Synchron Stage Vienna
- Large “con sordino” ensemble recorded on the iconic Stage A
- Smaller “con sordino” ensemble recorded in the smaller, dryer Stage B
- Use them in combination or separately
- Available with combined mic options and mixer presets
- Dark and bright mic setups
- Seamlessly blend both ensembles
- Articulations correspond to Duality Strings (regular)
Synchron Duality Strings (Sordino) requires Synchron Player, available to PC and Mac users (VST2, VST3, AU and AAX) and requires an iLok account.
For more information on Synchron Duality Strings (sordino), click here:
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