“[…] VSL products represent the pinnacle of aesthetics and technology in the service of creativity, arranging and production. Appassionata Strings products are among the best representatives of those qualities.”
www.scoretech.org/2011/11/appassionata-strings-vienna-symphonic.html
Carlos Garza, scoretech.org, November 2011
Vienna touts Appassionata Strings I and II as having a ‘lush, broad, and emotive cinematic sound’ and they're hardly overpromising. Appassionata Strings I contains more than 25,000 samples and they’re impeccable. […] Appassionata Strings II features a distinctive warmth and sweetness. […] String writers will go ga ga over Appassionata. You're going to be fooled by them for years on movie soundtracks, commercials, games, and pop tunes. Appassionata Strings l, in particular, is going to be the next go-to instrument in many scoring studios. Nothing else handles string parts like this, which makes them a Key Buy winner. Now that it's in my library, I can't imagine not having it. Soon, l'll be entering string parts line by line, and l'll think I'm John Williams.
Richard Leiter, Keyboard, November 2008
Neben der Klangqualität an sich macht die vielfältige Auswahl an Performances die Referenzklasse der Appassionata Strings aus. Mit ihnen sind authentische Resultate leichter als jemals zu erreichen. Ich möchte sogar sagen: ja, es sind leidenschaftliche Streicher; die musikalische Bandbreite reicht von einfühlsam bis episch breit. […] Die Anwendungsbereiche sind entsprechend vielfältig. […] Für lyrische Stücke und die Vertonung gefühlvoller Filmszenen erhält man mit den Appassionata Strings II hingegen die passenden Streicher, die es als Sample Library bisher schlicht nicht gab. Die Appassionata Strings I und II sind überall da angesagt, wo man einen „großen“ Streicherklang einsetzen möchte […] Der von Vienna Symphonic Library in Eigenregie entwickelte Vienna Player ist für diese großen Kollektionen maßgeschneidert; die Bedienung geht einfach und zügig, und man wird nicht mit technischem Ballast aufgehalten, sondern kann sich schnell aufs Wesentliche Konzentrieren – auf die Musikproduktion. […] Wer orchestrale Filmmusik produziert, liegt mit dem Kraftpaket aus Appassionata Strings I und II goldrichtig. Auch als Erweiterung zur Special Edition sind die Appassionata Strings perfekt geeignet, weil man so verschiedenste Besetzungen verwirklichen kann […] Die Appassionata Strings II als eigenständiges großes Con-Sordino-Orchester setzen, ohne dass es überhaupt eine Alternative dazu gibt, Maßstäbe. Wer diesen Con-Sordino-Sound möchte, braucht sich gar nicht erst woanders umzuschauen.
Der nicht gerade geringe Preis ist angesichts der hervorragenden Qualität ohne Wenn und Aber gerechtfertigt. Fünf Sterne und unbedingte Kaufempfehlung.
homerecording.de/modules/AMS/article.php?storyid=713
Rainer Leutert, homerecording.de, November 2008
Obwohl klanglich noch breiter und emotional wirkungsvoller, kam [Appassionata Strings I] bislang doch völlig ohne die sanfteste aller Spieltechniken aus: Die mit Dämpfer gespielten Sordine. Diese Lücke schließen nun die vorliegenden Appassionata Strings II. […] Wie man es von der VSL gewohnt ist, nahm man sich der Aufgabe wieder einmal mit der gebührenden Akribie an. […] Die Extended Library bietet zusätzliche Artikulationen, die zu einem noch realistischeren und differenzierteren Klang verhelfen können. […] Das ideale Material, um auf die Tränendrüse zu drücken.
Jan-Soeren Haas, Keys, Juli 2008
Die schluchzenden Vibrato-Geigen, die dramatischen Portamento-Patches und die voluminösen Celli und Bässe haben alle den begehrten großen „Hollywood“-Sound. […] Für den Profi, der den populären Breitbandsound mit vielen Details anstrebt, gibt es im Moment kaum eine Alternative zu den Appassionata Strings.
Martin Gerke, Sound & Recording, Mai 2008
If you were wondering, the Appassionata Strings really do sound radically different from VSL’s Orchestral Strings, which really do sound different from their Chamber Strings. They may be recorded in the same studio, but the difference between for example 6, 10, and 20 violins is immediately obvious; all the libraries have a legitimate role in the world. […] These strings are lush – smoother and darker than the others […] Their sound is, well, as intended: rich, warm, and round. […] There really isn’t anything else quite like these two libraries on the market […] VSL has succeeded in capturing the lush string sound of a gigantic section, and as with all their libraries they’ve sampled it methodically and in great detail. These are pretty spectacular libraries.
Nick Batzdorf, VI Magazine, May 2008
Die Appassionata Strings ergänzen die Ensemble-Streicher der Hauptlibrary um den dichten, typischen Streicher-Sound von Hollywood-Blockbuster-Filmen.
[...] Neben den konkurrenzlosen Triller, Repetition und Intervall-Performances zählen auch eine Auswahl von fertigen Wechselnoten sowie einige Effekt-Cluster zum Repertoire. Die Appassionata Strings sind neben den Epic Horns die ideale Ergänzung für einen opulenten Orchestergrundklang.
Jan-Soeren Haas, Keys, August 2007
“The next best thing to hiring an orchestra”
Appassionata Strings will fulfill your needs for high expression, whether sounding sweet and triumphant or brooding and menacing. [...] Although void of any annoying bow clicks, foot movements or chair noise that often pollute lesser libraries, the recordings retain plenty of the human elements associated with ensemble bowing; the ambience can be startingly realistic and incite goose bumps. [...] A proprietary “performance-detection” algorithm automatically summons the perfect articulation as you play in real time – almost like reading your mind. It works surprisingly well.
[...] Likewise, the myriad grace runs (chromatic, minor third, up and down) in the effects folder make perfect ornaments of classical touch to a contemporary urban arrangement.
Jason Scott Alexander, Remix Magazine, July 2007
remixmag.com/mag/remix_vsl_appassionata_strings/
All four of the Appassionata string sections have a full, beautiful, sheer sound. [...] The 12 cellos’ tremolos and pfp samples are gorgeous, and their monophonic performance legatos (interval-specific sample sets optimised for the creation of smooth melody lines) are toe-curlingly good. [...] One nice touch is that the violins, violas and cellos performance legatos contain sinuous Bollywood-style slides, which can be instantly accessed with a keyswitch. I also liked the three-note chromatic ‘grace runs’ – good Tom & Jerry comedy fodder. [...] Getting a romantic Hollywood sound is easy with these samples. 5 STARS*****
Dave Stewart, Sound on Sound, May 2007
Appassionata = WOW
I'm finally getting around to using my Appassionata Strings in a film project, and I just have to say: WOW. They're even better than I hoped they would be. I'm surprised (pleasantly!) at how playable and realistic even the full strings patch is. You don't necessarily need to record individual sections on some things because that single patch sounds fantastic when played with both hands, chordally.
[...] For anyone who's contemplating buying these, just take the plunge. The whole matrix thing can be confusing at first (and honestly, it still IS a little confusing to me but the video tutorials help) but even without all the bells and whistles, this collection is extremely PLAYABLE. I'm lovin' it.
Kerry Muzzey in Vienna’s user forum, March 2007
I know I've said it before but thank you VSL for the careers you enabling us to go after!
Rob Pottorf in Vienna’s user forum, June 2006
Excellent, excellent work on the Appassionata Violins. Nothing I've ever heard from ANY other library even comes close.
Gary Lionelli, in Vienna’s user forum, March 2007
Vienna Instruments has revolutionized my approach to orchestral demos. We've bought 8 computers exclusively to host VI so that we can fully exploit each collection. In conjunction with a Lemur control surface, I can now create demos with a level of expression and detail that was simply impossible with my previous set-up. There are no creative stumbling blocks when all articulations and techniques are immediately available. The Vienna Instrument library is wonderfully balanced and has been programmed with great musicality and an understanding of the needs of the modern composer. VI is un-matched in power, fluidity and flexibility; I look forward to using it as my principal compositional tool for many years to come.
Ed Shearmur (Miss Congeniality, Johhny English, Charlie's Angels etc.)
There's nothing like VI out there - not even close.
Dave Connor in Vienna’s user forum, May 2006
Marvellous, marvellous software & library, changed my life.
Ray Harman in Vienna’s user forum, May 2006
Company: Vienna Symphonic Library