VSL Synchron Smart Orchestra 2.0 [Synchron Player]

• Product: Synchron Smart Orchestra 2.0
• Publisher: Vienna Symphonic Library
• Version: 1.1
• Requirements: Vienna Synchron Player
• Source: https://www.vsl.co.at/products/synchron/smart-orchestra

VSL Synchron Smart Orchestra 2.0 is a comprehensive all-in-one orchestral virtual instrument from Vienna Symphonic Library designed for quick sketching, live performance, and hybrid scoring with entire Vienna Synchron Orchestra accessible from a single MIDI channel. It features four orchestra sections (Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Choir), 13 solo instruments including newly-added Solo Violin/Cello/Bassoon with lyrical legato, revolutionary Flow View interface enabling independent dynamics control of orchestra (left hand) and solo (right hand) simultaneously, velocity-dependent articulation switching (no key-switching required), Smart Spheres and Smart Hits for hybrid orchestral-electronic scoring, three mixer presets (Classical, Bright, Long and Lush), real-time orchestral section balancing, NKS keyboard integration, and full VST/VST3/AU/AAX compatibility. Recorded on Vienna Synchron Stage Stage A by Vienna Symphonic Orchestra members, designed for composers, arrangers, film/TV scorers, game composers, and live performers pursuing rapid orchestration and performance without overwhelming parameters.

Key Takeaway

VSL Synchron Smart Orchestra 2.0 revolutionizes orchestral composition workflow: sketch a full film score in an hour instead of a day, play orchestrations like a live performer instead of tweaking parameters, and compose in real-time with intelligent interface design. The Flow View transforms left-hand orchestra + right-hand solo into intuitive musical expression. For anyone pursuing fast orchestration, it’s essential.

The Workflow Revolution: Sketch Fast, Play Naturally

Traditional orchestral libraries demand deep focus: select articulations, manage multiple MIDI channels, layer instruments carefully. VSL Synchron Smart Orchestra 2.0 inverts this entirely.

Guy Bacos (super-composer and arranger) demonstrates in VSL’s official tutorial: load the instrument, select a solo instrument (violin), play. Immediately, the orchestra accompanies your solo melody—strings pad underneath, woodwinds and brass respond to left-hand dynamics, your solo carries the melody.

No complex routing. No articulation menus. Just play.

The Flow View interface is the breakthrough: left side controls orchestra, right side controls solo. Sustain pedal operates only orchestra. Breath controller (or customizable CC) controls solo dynamics. Independent control of both simultaneously, enabling natural musical performance rather than technical configuration.

The Flow View: Interface as Musical Philosophy

Flow View represents VSL’s understanding of how composers actually work: you don’t want to think about parameters; you want to think about the music.

Left Side (Orchestra):

• Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Choir sections
• Controlled via mod wheel (default CC1)
• Sustain pedal (CC64) operates here only
• Section balancing via four assignable CCs (pre-configured out-of-box)

Right Side (Solo Instruments):

• Key-switchable between 13 soloists (Solo Violin, Solo Cello, Solo Bassoon new in v2, plus others)
• Controlled via breath controller (default CC2) or customizable CC
• Sustain pedal does NOT affect solo—freeing your right hand

The Insight: Sustain pedal only sustaining the accompaniment while your right hand plays articulate solo passages. This is how a real orchestral soloist would perform—the orchestra sustains underneath while the solo phrase articulates above.

Practical Example: Left hand plays descending string pad with sustain. Right hand plays staccato solo cello passages using breath controller for dynamic shaping. Both happen simultaneously on one MIDI channel with independent expression.

This is sophisticated interface design solving a real compositional problem.

Universal Articulation: Velocity-Dependent Performance

Rather than key-switching (pressing specific keys to trigger articulations), VSL implements “Universal Mode”—velocity determines articulation.

Play gently: smooth legato
Play medium: sustain tone
Play hard: staccato, sforzato

No thinking about which key-switch to press. Just play musically. For beginners, this removes complexity. For professionals, traditional key-switching remains available if preferred.

This is intentional design philosophy: make beginners comfortable while preserving professional depth for advanced users.

New V2 Content: Solo Instruments & Articulations

The 2025 update adds substantial new content:

New Solo Instruments:

• Solo Violin (enabling string quartet-style writing)
• Solo Cello (complementing existing cello)
• Solo Bassoon (completing woodwind solo ensemble)

New Articulations (All Solo Instruments):

• Staccato (crisp, detached passages)
• Sforzato (accented attacks)
• Lyrical Legato (smooth, singing lines—most time-consuming to record)

Lyrical legato is significant: it’s the most demanding articulation to record in orchestral sampling (every interval is a unique musical gesture), yet VSL included it across all solo instruments. This shows commitment to natural, expressive solo performance.

Bonus Content Now Included:

• Smart Spheres (electronic and organic textures)
• Smart Hits (percussion and sound-design elements)

Previously sold separately; now bundled. This enables hybrid orchestral-electronic scoring without additional purchases.

Smart Spheres & Smart Hits: Hybrid Scoring Without Extra Tools

Smart Spheres provides modern textures—pads, drones, atmospheric elements—enabling orchestral music to shift toward contemporary electronic sounds without leaving the instrument.

Smart Hits provides percussion impacts, sound-design hits, textural elements useful for game music, trailers, and contemporary film scoring.

Philosophically, this acknowledges that modern composing often blends orchestral and electronic elements. Rather than forcing users to load separate synth plugins, VSL integrated this capability.

Recording Quality: Stage A Vienna Synchronn Stage

All instruments recorded on Vienna Synchron Stage Stage A—the largest concert hall in the VSL recording complex. This means bright, open orchestral sound reflecting concert-hall acoustics, not close-mic’d control-room recording.

24-bit/96kHz recording ensures professional-grade audio quality.

The Vienna Symphonic Orchestra performs the recordings—not session musicians, but members of an actual professional orchestra. This consistency shows in performance quality and articulation depth.

Orchestration Simplicity: Fewer Articulations as Feature

Rather than every possible articulation variation (which some libraries offer), VSL focused on “essential articulations”: legato, staccato, sforzato, sustain.

This deliberate reduction is feature, not limitation. Fewer decisions enable faster composition. You’re not paralyzed by 47 articulation variations; you work with the 3-4 that matter.

For sketching and quick orchestration, this is perfect. For needing every variation, you’d reach for comprehensive libraries like Synchron Duality Strings (full version).

Mixer Presets: Instant Tonal Variation

Three preset options (Classical, Bright, “Long and Lush”) enable instant tonal shifting without menu diving. Each represents a mixing philosophy—classical emphasizes balance, bright emphasizes presence, lush emphasizes reverb and space.

Real-time switcher means trying different mixes while playing is instant.

Real-Time Orchestral Section Balancing

Four assignable CCs control Strings, Woodwinds, Brass volume independently—and it’s configured out-of-the-box, no setup required.

This enables dynamic rebalancing while playing: bring woodwinds up for a moment, fade them down, emphasize brass—all in real-time without stopping. Crucial for live performance; convenient for composition.

NKS Keyboard Integration

For users with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol keyboards, the Light Guide provides instant visual feedback on key switches and play ranges. Not essential, but helpful for hardware users.

Pros & Cons

Synchron Smart Orchestra 2.0 is not comprehensive like Synchron Duality Strings (full) or Symphony Orchestra. It’s intentionally curated for speed and ease.

If you need every articulation variation, or granular control over ensemble size, you’d choose a more detailed library. Smart Orchestra 2.0 prioritizes “80/20″—80% of what you need 80% of the time, with 20% special uses requiring additional tools.

This is philosophical choice, not technical limitation.

Pros	Cons
Entire orchestra + 13 solos on one MIDI channel; unprecedented control simplicity.	Fewer articulations than comprehensive libraries (intentional).
Flow View interface enables playing like a live performer, not tweaking parameters.	Not suited for deep orchestral sound design (different tool).
Velocity-dependent articulation (no key-switching) enables natural playing immediately.	Niche position: ideal for sketching/live, less so for polished orchestration.
Independent dynamics for orchestra and solo simultaneously on one channel.	Requires 88-key keyboard + controllers for full potential (not optimized for 49-key).
New V2 content (Solo Violin/Cello/Bassoon, new articulations, bonus packs) substantial.	Ensemble size control limited (not granular like full Synchron libraries).
Smart Spheres & Smart Hits included for hybrid scoring.	Sustain pedal architecture (orchestra-only) may not suit all workflows.
Professional Vienna Symphonic Orchestra recording quality.	Beginner may require learning curve for keyboard controller integration.
Mixer presets enable instant tonal variation.	Performance demands SSD storage; not ideal for budget system setup.
NKS keyboard integration for hardware users.	$282 regular price is premium for “sketch tool” (though $209 intro is reasonable).
Real-time section balancing (4 CCs pre-configured).	Not a comprehensive orchestral reference (fewer learning resources).

FAQs

Final Verdict

VSL Synchron Smart Orchestra 2.0 represents a philosophical breakthrough in orchestral library design: embrace the fact that 80% of users need 80% of a full library 80% of the time, and build that 80% perfectly rather than overwhelming with comprehensive options.

The Flow View interface—independent orchestra/solo control on one MIDI channel—is genuinely innovative and changes how you compose orchestrally.

For sketching, live performance, quick arrangements, and film/game scoring, it’s essential. For deep orchestration requiring every articulation variation, it’s supplementary.

The February 2025 update (new solo instruments, articulations, bonus packs) shows VSL’s commitment to continuous improvement. The $209 intro price is reasonable; $282 regular price is premium but justified for professional-grade Vienna Synchron Orchestra recordings.

The main requirement: 88-key keyboard + sustain pedal (minimum). Breath controller enhances but isn’t mandatory.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

All-in-one orchestral instrument simplifying complex composition into intuitive keyboard playing. Revolutionary Flow View enables independent orchestra/solo control. Velocity-dependent articulation, Smart Spheres/Smart Hits hybrid tools, professional Vienna Synchron Stage recording. Intentionally curated articulations (not comprehensive), niche position (sketching/live over deep composition), premium pricing. For composers pursuing fast orchestration and live performance, essential; for detailed orchestration, supplementary to fuller libraries.