Everything You Need to Go Big
If you want to make making audacious musical statements on an epic scale, you need to know about the Vienna Symphonic Library Zodiac “Supermassive Ensembles” expansion pack for Big Bang Orchestra. Not to be indelicate, but when you’re orchestrating contemporary blockbuster-style movie or game scores, size matters. It’s not entirely a matter of volume. Massive string and brass sections impart to your scoring the lushness and sheer size you simply cannot achieve with smaller ensembles. BBO: Zodiac comprises seven ensembles, including 30 first violins, 26 second violins, 20 violas, 22 cellos, and 14 double basses. Now, that’s a gargantuan 112-member string section, but wait — there’s more.
The thrillingly rich and powerful majesty of low brass is a mainstay of modern film scores, so BBO: Zodiac also includes a 12-strong French horn section along with nine trombones. Trust us: a full fortississimo blast from this horn section will command your listeners’ attention. Meticulously recorded with multiple microphones (that you can mix to taste) in the glorious acoustics of VSL’s Synchron Stage Vienna, this collection is a must-have for any serious film or video game composer. Thanks to the performance-detection power of the included Synchron Player, you’ll find it easy to control the expression and articulation of each instrument in your VSL sound library, regardless of which DAW you compose in. The included mixer presets deliver flawlessly engineered sound out of the box that’s highly playable — and thoroughly inspiring. A fitting capstone to VSL’s Big Bang Orchestra series, Zodiac integrates seamlessly with all the other BBO modules. Just add percussion, and you’ll have everything you need to go big.
Related Videos: Big Bang Orchestra: Zodiac Supermassive Ensembles
Included Synchron Player
Driven by a powerful new audio engine, the Vienna Synchron Player delivers flawless streaming performance and a new level of advanced simplicity. Just step through the articulations, select a variation, and audition how the pre-configured controllers affect the loaded preset. For authentic in situ instrument soundstaging, the Synchron Player incorporates an internal mic mixer with 5-band equalization, individual delay settings for runtime compensation, algorithmic reverb, polarity switching, and panorama controls, as well as a specially designed convolution reverb derived from Vienna MIR Pro that features the world-class ambience of Synchron Stage Vienna’s 5,813-square-foot main hall.
Mixable mic positions
- Main (Decca Tree stereo)
- Main (Decca Tree center)
- Main Surround Stereo
- High Stereo
- High Surround Stereo
- Mid microphones
- Solo/Close microphones
- Back microphones
About Synchron Stage Vienna
Synchron Stage Vienna, located on Vienna’s historic Wiener Rosenhüegel, can accommodate a 130-piece orchestra and has proven its mettle over the decades not only for film score recording, but also for sampling sessions. With its massive concrete foundation, room-in-room construction, sound insulation, and specially designed HVAC system, the studio boasts an ultra-low noise floor of 16dBA, even with the air conditioning running. Stage A sports a reverb time of 1.8 seconds — and unlike many other scoring stages, there is no low-frequency masking effect. Instruments sound warm and punchy, with superior depth and panoramic localization.
First-call musicians, first-class samples
At Sweetwater, we hold the Vienna Symphonic Library in high regard; that’s because we’re picky about our orchestral samples. It all starts with the musicians. Since VSL’s inception, first-call musicians have been providing the sound and character of these instruments as soloists and ensemble leaders. As Europe’s finest A-list session players, they have contributed their talents to countless film and television scores. Vienna Symphonic Library’s no-compromise approach is largely responsible for the impressive sonic authority and authenticity we have come to expect from VSL virtual instruments.
Vienna Symphonic Library Big Bang Orchestra: Zodiac Supermassive Ensembles Features:
- 7 ensembles, recorded at Synchron Stage Vienna
- Strings: 30 first violins, 26 second violins, 20 violas, 22 cellos, and 14 double basses
- Low brass: 12 French horns and 9 trombones
- Multiple microphone positions, additional close-mic positions
- Mix mics to taste in the free Synchron Player
- World-class acoustics of Synchron Stage Vienna
- Highly playable, with a full set of articulations
- Requires Big Bang Orchestra (free download)
