Music with Samples / Equipment/ Products VSL
INTRODUCTION
To be able to produce and play music, you need a rather large hardware basic equipment. Below you see a set, that is to be seen rather figuratively. I will briefly go into details of these components. You will recognize what is important when purchasing them, and on which components you'd better not try to economize.

CONTENTS
LEARNING TARGETS
- Components necessary to produce music with samples - Minimal standards of the hardware - Reasonable accessories - Tips regarding further investments |
COMPUTER

WINDOWS
A modern computer on 64Bit basis is mandatory. At least 32 GB RAM (better 64 GB) should be available. The CPU should ideally have a few cores and if the graphics work does not have to be done by the CPU as well, that is of course good. So ideally a spararte graphics card. If you have little computer experience, then shy around for a PC that is suitable for gamers and upgrade it regarding RAM possibly still.
It is important that you pay some attention to the storage of the samples. This needs "extra space" and depends on how many libraries you want to store. A computer (desktop) is suitable because you can usually expand it. This seems to me an important feature when buying a new one.
Today, many computers have SSDs, especially for fast startup. If you work with samples, it is also important that the libraries are loaded quickly. So if you can afford it, equip your computer with SSDs as well to store the libraries that way.
When I list all this, it quickly becomes clear that mid-range LapTops are not suitable for working with samples. Even if fast processors and memory modules are installed, such devices also have the task of running on battery power for as long as possible for the normal consumer. Hardware parts that work as economically as possible are built into all corners of such devices. "Economical" often means "low performance". In addition, LapTops are very limited when it comes to installing memory expansions, a faster graphics card, and so on.
This text (about computer) was written and added in September 22
COMPUTER

MAC
The Mac world is its own.
Mac users all swear by their own models and preferences.
If you're starting out, it's best to get your bearings from appropriate forums, or ask for advice at an Apple store.
This text (about computer) was written and added in September 22
MAC or WIN
Even if MAC people always snore about Windows: I have never had performance problems since WINXP, in connection with music programs although I do not work with top class PCs. I also don't remember the last time I had a crash. In addition, PCs are easier to expand on their own.
Whether MAC or PC is therefore no longer a clear-cut matter and therefore more a question of personal preference.
This text (about computer) was written and added in September 22

Monitor Screen: 22" or larger.
A pair of such monitors would be ideal. You need a big amount of space!
MIDI INPUT EQUIPMENT

If you are a pianist you most probably want a weighted keyboard.
If you cannot play the piano, you come off best if you buy a keyboard with integrated midi-controls, i.e. sliding controllers, turning knobs and switches.
Ideal if your keyboard supports your DAW, too. So you could operate the DAW-mixing-desk by sliding controllers. But: You do not need controllers - they would be a "nice-to-have".
Programming such controllers is very time-consuming. On your right you see a relatively low-priced "Evolution"-keyboard with 49 keys.
Keyboards with 61, 76 or 88 keys are optimal. The articulations in VSL are changed with the aid of Keyswitches. These are placed as a general rule in the lowermost registers of the keyboard keys (outside the playing area of the instruments).
Top
Controller?
Controllers can help work on the music computer and can support certain activities. They are not indispensable.
Consider first what tasks would be facilitated by a controller.

The smallest modern hardware equipment often comprehends very clever software. With its aid, you are able to modify your DAW and software-instruments in their parameters.
But mind! This is a whole world. You can spend days making and adapting setups - and you still have not made any music. I personally use "only" one DAW-controller (Presonus). Play, Record, Rew, Fwd, Back to Locater, Loop on / off…all these things for field transport are carried out very comfortably and faster than with the mouse.
I do not need any controllers for calibrating an equalizer.

My Presonus contains a 100mm motor-fader. You can comfortably fabricate Audio-Automations.
I appreciate this function, for the mouse is clearly handicapped.
As you can do this only per 1 track, it doesn't bother you if there is only one fader at your disposal.
If you can afford it, purchase one of the high-class devices.
I have done very well without any controller for years.
AUDIO-INTERFACE

Here you can spend a lot of money or less. If you have not owned any audio-interface so far, you should decide whether to work with MIR in future, the new VSL Reverb-system.
With MIR Surround-Sound is possible; it would be ideal to think of buying an Audio-Interface with at least 8 output-channels.
Attention! If you read "6 Outputs", it does not mean that it is a matter of 6 equivalent outputs or 6 outputs that can be used at the same time...
Basically we distinguish between two sorts of Audio-Interfaces:

2. USB / Fire Wire Audio-Interfaces
These are connected with the PC / MAC through a cable. The development has been enormous these last years, and this hardware almost equals the directly integrated interfaces, especially if they have to provide only few audio channels.
Advantage: These interfaces are also suited for Laptops. Further, they are often equipped with microphone amplifiers (including 48V phantom powering).
Decision?
If you want to use your interface on the Laptop: USB / Fire Wire - device.
If you want to build up a fixed Sound Studio, I'd recommend an integrated multichannel system.
If you plan to use MIR: integrated Audio-Interface (PCIe).
You get top instruments for any application with RME - at respective prices.
M-Audio, MOTU, Presonus, Steinberg etc. offer good devices with 64-Bit drivers.
ESI, M-Audio, E-MU etc. offer low-priced units - many of them already with 64-Bit drivers as well.
Attention!
Expensive devices can not prevent a bad mix.
But in any case, do not buy the cheapest product.
The rule is: if you buy cheap, you buy twice.
Here an overview "Audio-Interface"
Top
MIDI-INTERFACE
They assure the Off and On of the Midi-signals from the Midi-keyboard to the DAW or from the Midi-controller to the DAW.
Audio-Interface-Cards often include a Midi-Output and -Input.
It is sometimes useful to have an additional Port. You will read about it later on.
Should you not have any Midi connection, I recommend to buy a USB-Midi-Interface (works on the LapTop, too.).
Additional text September 2022:
Many midi controllers and midi keyboards today are integrated into the midi system in the computer and DAW via USB.
The classic midi jack is rarely seen. Therefore no additional midi interface is needed anymore...
SOFTWARE
Below you see the products mainly utilized. Most people use CUBASE and LOGIC. If you want to avoid problems, purchase one of these.
VSL develops its products with these platforms in any case.
Average versions of these programs are sufficient for what concerns Midi.
If you mix in the audio section, top versions are ideal, because they comprehend all the options.
See:
- that several VST-Effects per channel can be integrated.
- that at least 40 Audio-tracks are possible
- that at least 10 Buses (Sum Channels) can be opened.

Music Notation programs
"Sibelius" and others have integrated VSL samples, "Finale" works – so far I know - with Garritan samples.
But again:
This Tutorial does not address users who predominantly work with notation programs.
Top
LICENCEs

Many music programs only work if they find a licence saved in a special key.
Since 2022 VSL does have a new Security-Licence-System togehter with iLok
You can either use the iLok-Cloud or you save the licences on a Key-Dongle
Top
LICENCE-KEY(s)

You can either use the iLok-Cloud or you save the licences on a Key-Dongle
VSL SAMPLE LIBRARIES
The Sample organization with VSL is easy, if you are aware of the system.
Basically you distinguish between 3 main groups of forms of samples:
ORGANISATION
1. "Single Notes"
(Staccato, Sforzato, Sustain etc.)
These samples can be played polyphonically (several voices simultaneously). Some of them are looped, i.e. they sound permanently, Sustains, Tremolos etc.
2. "Performance Notes"
(Legato, Glissano, etc.)
These samples are a VSL-specialty. If you change in "Performance Samples" to a new tone, the Vienna Instrument chooses the right "Crossing Sound": woodwind-keys, fingers, change of tone etc. ... Performance articulations can only be played monophonically (one voice at a time). These sample articulations are very greedy for RAM. From each tone for an octave down and up, these transition/crossing sounds are integrated.
3. Special Notes
(Runs, Gracenotes etc.)
This sort of samples contains complete playing phrases, which sound quite natural. Though, these playing phrases only fit into exactly predefined situations. Example: repeated notes of a certain speed. These articulations can mostly be played polyphonically.
These 3 groups will have my full attention within 3 special chapters, which show how these families of articulation are applied.
Here you find a survey of the various sample groups with VSL:
<Single Notes> <Performance Notes> <Special Notes>
Top
Sometimes the letters of Hard Disk-Drives change, because an USB stick has been plugged in.
Then the Libraries in Vienna Instrument will disappear, too.
In this case, please import or find the Libraries again with the Directory Manager.
Top
HARDDISK

The hard disk must have a lot of storage space and be able to read quickly. Current internal hard disks work very well. A full version of a VSL library quickly takes around 100GB and more.
As I said, ideally the hard disk is built into the computer - on the fast bus system. In the best case it is even an SSD. This allows such a fast reading that even the first playing of the samples will not cause any crackles. HDDs usually cause clicks during the first playback, because at the beginning only the first few seconds of the samples are read in - therefore the rest has to be read in when playing the respective sound. Today's libraries often have many samples per tone. Multi-voices of 100 to 500 samples occur. This is of course too much for a HDD. But at the 2nd or 3rd playback the crackles are lost even with a HDD - everything is read in.
This text was set in September 22 and replaces the original (outdated).
Top
MONITORING / HEADPHONES

A final mix whose panorama and depth of instruments you find natural must be done through loudspeakers.
Headphones cannot do this adequately.
You also need to assess off-axis frequencies, tonal balance, and overall impression when mixing with samples.
If a speaker system "colors" the music too much, you are correcting inaccurately.
The room should be acoustically corrected so that it does not influence the sound too much.
If the room is not optimally solvable, close-field monitors (up to approx. 1.2m) should be used.
Attention should also be paid to the stereo three-dimensionality, etc.
Learn more in the tutorial "Mixing an Orchestra".

You should not try to economize money on these devices.
Either you read the Test-Reports and then choose your loudspeakers, or you go to shops and take your choice.
This is a challenging purchase - especially if you are a beginner.
At prices below € 500 per pair every € 100 promise more quality and power.
It is important to observe the equal-sided triangle and to place the boxes as the producer specifies.
Learn more in the tutorial "Mixing an Orchestra" (incl. Test Files, etc.)

At work, headphones are good. So your family or neighbors do not have to hear the same sentence a hundred times.
Buy comfortable headphones that will not tire you when you work for hours under the "cap". Especially pleasant are "open headphones".
Remember that certain work (stereo concerns, positioning in the room) can not be solved perfectly with headphones.
Sooner or later you will also have to buy studio monitors in order to be able to solve all work well.
MONITOR - OPTIMIZATION

If your listening conditions are poor - not everyone can set up a perfect recording studio at home - you can try out ways to correct them.
With measuring microphones you record the conditions of the room.
The software will help you to improve the errors in a small way.
Large room and loudspeaker poblems cannot be eliminated with it.
SUMMARY
If you are at the beginning and you have not purchased the components yet, you should reflect what final products you wish to accomplish.
A) Integrate samples in your music every now and then (e.g. strings)
B) Transcribe your compositions
C) Make professional film music
For A - C:
Buy the fastest computer components your budget allows (CPU, RAM, Graphic Board).
Be sure you have enough memory capacity (RAM and harddisk)
You will certainly be well assisted by a large monitor (better 2!) and good headphones.
It would be good for…
A) 4 GB RAM,Sequencer software medium version. Monitoring according to budget, Midi input device if possible.
Libraries:
SE-Full Library
B) 8 GB RAM (= 64Bit-System), Sequencer software full version. Active Monitors from € 600 /pair.
61Key keyboard with controller functions.
Libraries:
SE-Full Library (Basics for all Instr.)
DVD-Version String Library (Full)
DVD-Version Brass 1 (Full)
DVD-Version Woodw. 1 (Full)
C) 16 GB RAM or more (= 64Bit-System), 1 - 3 computers, abundant harddisk-space, Sequencer full version.
Active Monitors from € 1'000 / pair (optionally with additional Subwoofer),
88Key keyboard with Midi controllers.
Libraries:
Symphonic Cube
This is the end of our little tour through the hard- and software "Music with Samples".
Monitor, Soundcard, Sequencer-program or Midi - each of them holds a wide theme.
In the next chapter we are going to study the operations, the workflow in order to achieve good results.
Top