VSL Big Bang Orchestra: Zodiac

Supermassive Ensembles

Big Bang Orchestra: Zodiac marks the daring finale of our monumental series. With 112 string players alone, the massive sound of its oversized ensembles makes for a bold statement that elevates and enriches your arrangements with epic breadth and power.

The collection includes seven ensembles:

• First violins – 30 players
• Second violins – 26 players
• Violas – 20 players
• Cellos – 22 players
• Basses – 14 players
• Horns – 12 players
• Trombones – 9 players

Recording these very large string sections is not so much about volume – they deliver an especially lush and smooth sound that adds a beautiful warmth to your tracks. Likewise, the horns offer round and somber tones at lower volume levels. What’s really mind-blowing is the extremely powerful and blaring fortefortissimo of 12 horn players on the edge of what’s possible on their instruments. Similarly, the raw and powerful ensemble of nine trombones offers an extra fortefortissimo layer, too – not for the faint of heart!

Each of BBO: Zodiac's ensembles was recorded separately at our own scoring stage, Synchron Stage Vienna, with a multitude of close and mid microphones, Decca Tree, as well as surround and high surround mics. The included mixer presets deliver a perfectly engineered sound out-of-the-box that integrates seamlessly with all the other modules of the Big Bang Orchestra series.

BBO: Zodiac also includes combinations of several individual sections within one powerful preset, even with polyphonic legato. "All Strings" features all five string sections playing together, either with the original voicing layered over a six-octave span, or with condensed voicing over a four-octave span. Octave combinations provide two ensembles playing in octaves, such as first and second violins, violas and cellos, cellos and basses, etc. The "Epic Legato Combo" features the horn, viola, and cello sections with two additional clarinets, all performing legatos together. The exceptionally broad and smooth blend of these specific ensembles as well as the live character of the note transitions makes this patch excel at epic melodies.

Articulations

Articulations of the string ensembles include short notes (bold and agile), long notes and legatos with regular and soft releases played unerringly by the musicians to create beautifully articulated note fade-outs, sforzato, sforzatissimo, and tremolos. Additional articulations of the brass patches include the separately available blaring fortefortissimo layer, short and long swells, as well as fast and slow horn rips.

Microphone Setup

• Main (Decca tree stereo)
• Main (Decca tree center)
• Main surround stereo
• High stereo
• High surround stereo
• Mid microphones
• Solo/Close microphones
• Back microphones

Download File Size: 22.5 GB
Installed File Size: 46.6 GB