Seventy DVZ Strings

Audio Impressions is the first company in the world to use Chris Stone´s patented real-time divisi process, DVZ. The "fast-easy-live" concept overcomes the unnatural "organ" sound that characterizes conventional string sample libraries. The DVZ process automatically divides chords being played and distributes them in real-time to the number of players you have selected, keeping the number of players constant no matter how many notes are in a chord.

70 DVZ Strings lets you control everything from a single intuitive user interface. One-click loads everything. You no longer have to interrupt your creative workflow to search through deep file menus, find the sounds you need, then wait an eternity for them to load. Clicking individual buttons recalls comprehensive factory or user presets. You only need five MIDI tracks for everything: Violins I, Violins II, Viola, Celli and Bass. Everything is done on those five tracks with MIDI CC control. Gone is the need for dozens of tracks for different articulations and styles. This library lets you get more realistic sound with greater speed and less effort.

70 DVZ Strings features real-time, continuously-adjustable articulations and styles without stopping to load or unload alternate samples. It offers "must-have" controllability that ordinary sample libraries cannot approach, such as a Collective Controller that allows you to go from legato through marcato using any continuous MIDI controller. You can continuously vary the bow position up and down, side to side, and even where each of the strings cross over as the left hand moves up the neck. Or, you can leave everything in auto mode and just play.

70 DVZ Strings is recorded with 32 separate desks: 10 solos and 22 desks of two or more players that add up to the total of 70 players. You can instantly size the orchestra to your project without loading or unloading predetermined ensemble sizes.

                                         Fast - Easy - Live!

SPACE – Recording Environment included
What does SPACE actually do?
SPACE resolves the typical overdubbed characteristics of sample libraries. You can precisely place each player, and adjust section levels and room size. You indirectly control the acoustics of the room environment by moving individual players (and their associated spot mics) closer and further apart from one another, and closer or further from the room mics. This would be part of any live ensemble recording, but is never possible with conventional sample libraries where player positions and their relationship to the mics are established during the recording session and can´t be altered later. Others may try to approximate what SPACE does with a reverb, but it´s simply not possible. With SPACE you can almost completely eliminate the room if you want a very dry, tight sound; doing this with another library would require truncating the sample tails, and they´d sound unnatural. On the other hand, with space you can get as tight or spacious a sound as you wish, and you can still add you favorite reverb to SPACE’s output.

Why is SPACE needed?
Non-DVZ libraries are recorded as ensembles with locked-in room sound. DVZ libraries are individual desk samples with separate spot and room mics to avoid fixed room signatures. SPACE then recreates scalable mic bleed and room mic depth. This is why both live ensembles and DVZ don’t sound like overdubs. SPACE also provides individual output level controls to balance the five section stems, a very helpful feature for those setups when you use a mixed stereo output instead of discrete stereo section stem outputs

How does SPACE work?
In live ensemble recordings, the spot mics pick up all players, not just the nearest player’s sound; this cross-bleed contributes the lion’s share of the live “room sound” quality. SPACE’s patented technology is the only process able to simulate the traditional Decca Tree room mic array as well as leakage (cross-bleed) between the spot mics on the stage. SPACE creates this realistic effect after-the-fact by uncoupling the recorded spot mic for each of the individual sampled desks, plus the overall room mic contribution of each desk, then reassembling those components depending upon how you place the players and adjust SPACE’s environmental controls.

Audio-/ Video Demos (additional information):

South By Southwest
Stephen Barton wrote “South by Southwest” exclusively with and for DVZ using no additional reverbs, EQ or effects. He recorded it 1 track at a time on 5 MIDI tracks. This demo was created with edits.

Tutorial
Explaining the easy and intuitive user interface in 13 minutes.

Complete Orchestra Preview
Example of 70 DVZ Strings working together with Brillanti Philharmonic and Early Brass as well as the Winds library and some of our Percussion thrown in. Everything was performed live, all at the same time, on one keyboard (multiple takes)

Oblivion
Demonstrates the use of DVZ’s pattern arpeggiators. Made exclusively with 70 DVZ Strings, Brillanti Philharmonic and Early Brass and other AI libraries to come. Composed and performed by Christopher L. Stone. This demo was created with edits.

Saga
Demonstrates the full range between legato and marcato. Composed and performed by Christopher L. Stone. This demo was created in one pass without overdubs or edits.

Don’t Go in the Attic
Demonstrates Pendereki styles including long glissandi and clusters. Created with DVZ’s continuous controllers. No dedicated effects samples. By Christopher L. Stone. This demo was created with edits.

Cunning Cat
Demonstrates broad glissandi, pizzicato, as well as trills and other pattern-generator functions of DVZ. Composed and performed by Christopher L. Stone. This demo was created with edits.

18th Century Strings
This demonstrates the scaleability of 70 DVZ Strings — down to 30 players in this example. It also demonstrates key velocity activated, metered trems. Composed and performed by Christopher L. Stone. This demo was created in one pass, without overdubs and with post edits.

Setup with Sequencers
DVZ interfaces with all popular sequencers.

• You can record the entire string orchestra, with all articulations and styles, in just five MIDI and five Audio tracks.
• 70 DVZ Strings is NOT a sequencer plug-in.
• It´s a standalone application that interfaces to your sequencer like a plug-in by using Vienna Ensemble Pro.
• Compatible with all recent Macintosh-based and Windows-based sequencers.

To overcome the limitations of traditional sample library control, and so you don’t have to navigate among various Kontakt windows, Audio Impressions’ DVZ libraries use a single master GUI (graphical user interface) to control all samples. We think you’ll find this approach is both easy to use and fast. DVZ puts real-time control at your fingertips as you play.

This diagram shows you basic structure. The sampler computer running the DVZ Core Engine and Kontakt 4.1 Players exchanges MIDI data via MIDI-over-LAN in two directions with your sequencer computer. The same Gigabit Ethernet that carries the MIDI also carries the sampler computer´s Kontakt 4.1 Player audio output to the sequencer’s audio tracks by using Vienna Ensemble Pro software.

Live Performance Setup
You don’t need a sequencer to play realistic, nuanced strings in real time.

• Play all the strings or click incrementally down to a solo instrument - in real time.
• Play any articulation, style, and pattern in real time – change at will – without loading any new samples.
• You can use a sequencer if you like, but it is definitely not necessary.
• Send audio from Vienna Ensemble Pro or the included Kontakt Player to your audio card out.

Because you don’t have to navigate among various Kontakt windows, and because all sounds and articulations are available at system start, Audio Impressions’ DVZ libraries put real-time control at your fingertips as you play. You can do things live, with an easily portable single-computer setup, that would otherwise require a sequencer, a studio full of gear and lots of time with a conventional string sample library.

The DVZ samples can be played either with Kontakt 4.1 Player in standalone mode or by using Vienna Ensemble Pro software to host the Kontakt 4.1 VSTs with our library. Kontakt offers an advantage in that it´s free (included with our library) and Vienna offers multiple advantages in that (a) it hosts five separate section VSTs so you get five stereo outputs (if you wish) instead of a single mixed stereo output with Kontakt standalone player, and (b) Vienna optimizes the computer´s multi-core CPU to allow a less powerful computer to run the strings alone or a more powerful computer to run multiple libraries at once (see our published specs). 

Video Demos

	Performance Feature - Tutorial This must-see video demonstrates and explains all the performance features of 70 DVZ Strings. 13 minutes.
	The DVZ Advantage - Tutorial Learn how to benefit from using DVZ’s many special features and capabilities. 6 minutes
	How it comes together - the components Tutorial Components and software for running 70 DVZ Strings, incl. connection to your sequencer. A semi-technical overview explaining how it all works together.
	Sampler Software Installation, Tutorial How to configure a new sampler computer for running 70 DVZ Strings. Sumarizes hardware and software needed and details downloading, installation, and software setup. An easy-to-follow tutorial. 28 minutes running time
	Space explained - Tutorial Learn about what you can do with SPACE and why this patented microphone bleed simulator is unlike any conventional or convolution reverb. Position individual players, adjust mic distances from intimate to huge hall, and get uncolored live ensemble sound.
	Complete Orchestra Preview Example of 70 DVZ Strings working together with Brillanti Philharmonic and Early Brass as well as the Winds library and some of our Percussion thrown in. Everything was performed live, all at the same time, on one keyboard (multiple takes)
	Oblivian Demonstrates the use of DVZ’s pattern arpeggiators. Made exclusively with 70 DVZ Strings, Brillanti Philharmonic and Early Brass and other AI libraries to come. Composed and performed by Christopher L. Stone. This demo was created with edits.
	Saga Demonstrates the full range between legato and marcato. Composed and performed by Christopher L. Stone. This demo was created in one pass without overdubs or edits.
	Dont go in the Attic Demonstrates Pendereki styles including long glissandi and clusters. Created with DVZ’s continuous controllers. No dedicated effects samples. By Christopher L. Stone. This demo was created with edits.
	South By Southwest Stephen Barton wrote “South by Southwest” exclusively with and for DVZ using no additional reverbs, EQ or effects. He recorded it 1 track at a time on 5 MIDI tracks. This demo was created with edits.
	18th Century Strings This demonstrates the scaleability of 70 DVZ Strings — down to 30 players in this example. It also demonstrates key velocity activated, metered trems. Composed and performed by Christopher L. Stone. This demo was created in one pass, without overdubs and with post edits.
	Cunning Cat Demonstrates broad glissandi, pizzicato, as well as trills and other pattern-generator functions of DVZ. Composed and performed by Christopher L. Stone. This demo was created with edits.

Systemrequirements

A separate Windows 7 PC is recommended for professional and extensive use of 70 DVZ Strings (no Mac OS supported yet)!

Sampler Computer - Spec for Running 70 DVZ Strings Only

• CPU: Intel Core Duo 3.06 GHz (or higher performance)
• RAM: Minimum of 8 GB
• Operating System: Windows 7 64-bit, Professional
• OS Drive*: internal SATA II solid state drive (SSD 60 GB) min. 250 MB/sec
• Samples Drive*: internal SATA II solid state drive (30 GB) min. 250 MB/sec
• Video: 20-inch (diagonal) or larger monitor. Optional USB touch-screen supported.
   

Sampler Computer - Spec For Running Entire DVZ Orchestra
(Strings & upcoming Winds, Brass and Percussion)

• CPU: Intel Core i7 860 (or higher performance i7)
• RAM: Minimum of 16 GB
• Operating System: Windows 7 64-bit, Professional
• OS Drive*: internal SATA II solid state drive (SSD 60 GB) min. 250 MB/sec
• Samples Drive*: internal SATA II solid state drive (30 GB) min. 250 MB/sec
• Video: 20-inch (diagonal) or larger monitor. Optional USB touch-screen supported
   

Notes
We recommend that 70 DVZ Strings and the DVZ core engine are on a computer other than the one with your sequencer. The above CPUs listed are based on the use of Vienna Ensemble Pro (Version 4.1, build 7043) as the VST host environment for the Kontak Players with the library; use of a different host or use of Kontakt Player standalone will require more powerful CPUs. Core 2 Duo CPU does create some latency, Core 2 Quad CPU is better, i7 better yet. We do not claim that our current computer specs are the only components that will work; they are our suggested specs based on what we have discovered thus far. All listed computer specifications are subject to change, without notice or obligation, as we continue to test new and improved hardware.

*We recommend using a separate samples drive, but it is not mandatory. If you use a single drive, then add the above listed capacities for the OS and samples drives to get a single-drive minimum size spec. We recommend using Mushkin Calisto SSD´s.

Basic Audio Flow
The latest version of Vienna Ensemble Pro optimizes CPU efficiency when hosting Kontakt Player VSTs. This lets you use a less powerful computer for 70 DVZ Strings alone. With a more powerful computer, you’ll be able to play the entire DVZ orchestra when additional libraries are released. Vienna sends the audio out via Ethernet to receiving plug-ins on the sequencer computer’s audio tracks. This keeps the audio in digital format without costly audio converters. As an alternative you can use audio cards and the (included) Kontakt Player standalone, which is also very useful for live performance without a sequencer.

Basic MIDI Flow
Connect your serial MIDI or USB MIDI keyboard to the sequencer as usual. The Keyboard’s MIDI flows over Ethernet (LAN) to the Sampler Computer by relying either on MIDI over LAN CP (MolCp3) or ipMIDI software. In the Sampler Computer, the DVZ Core Engine sorts the Keyboard’s MIDI notes into five MIDI tracks for the sections of the string orchestra. This MIDI then goes back over Ethernet to the Sequencer Computer. The five MIDI tracks also feed the Kontakt Player NKMs in the Sampler Computer which generate the Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Celli and Basses audio.

Product activation:
An internet connection on any computer is required to authorize / activate the product (Challenge/Response).

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