FAQs: 70 DVZ Strings

What kind of computer do I need for the sampler?
Please refer to the Technical Specifications page for details.

What is the sampler software requirement?
70 DVZ Strings runs in Kontakt 4.1 Player, either as five VST plug-ins within a specified VST host or in a Kontakt 4.1 Player standalone. The required players are included with your purchase of 70 DVZ Strings. The 70 DVZ Strings User Guide thoroughly explains how this all works.

Can I run 70 DVZ Strings on the same computer as my sequencer?
We do not recommend this, although if your sequencer is running in a Windows 7 64-bit environment and you have an i7 2600 or faster computer, and you have 16 to 24 Gig of RAM, and you're running Vienna Ensemble Pro... it might work. You definitely would need an external MIDI device for MIDI connectivity between sampler and sequencer functions since neither MolCp3 nor ipMIDI will work properly in a single computer sampler/sequencer application with 70 DVZ Strings. You're free to try this but we have not had an opportunity to fully test such a setup. We strongly recommend that the sequencer computer is discrete, not the sampler computer running 70 DVZ Strings. And no, a Mac Pro simultaneously running Windows and Mac OS in Parallels does not qualify or work as two computers in this application.

What kind of copy protection is involved?
There are two main elements to 70 DVZ Strings, the library itself and the DVZ Core Engine Software. The library is provided with Native Instruments encryption so your standard procedure applies here; use the Native Instruments Service Center to register this library (with your 70 DVZ Strings serial number). The DVZ Core Engine is protected by a WIBU CodeMeter key (a USB dongle) that we provide with your purchase of the library. Depending on what third-party software you use in conjunction with 70 DVZ Strings there may be additional protection.

How many computers can I install 70 DVZ Strings on?
Only one authorized WIBU key is provided so regardless of how many computers you install DVZ on, you can only run one system at a time. We recommend and support running the strings on a single sampler. If you want to have a fully loaded backup computer ready to swap out for your main sampler in a critical moment, no problem. If you want to purchase two 70 DVZ Strings packages and run both simultaneously on different computers, there is no technical barrier.

How long will it take to install the library on my system?
There are two parts to this question. To simply take the DVD and install Kontakt 4.1 Player and the 70 DVZ Strings samples will take about 20 minutes. However, to completely install the software, as well as acquiring and installing third-party add-ons, registering everything, setting up the hardware (Ethernet and/or audio card connectivity), and to configure all the software will probably take from three to six hours. You can save yourself some time by watching the DVZ Sampler Setup video we've posted here. This estimate doesn't include any time to build the sampler computer, since you may purchase that as an off-the-shelf box or do-it-yourself starting with a case, mother board etc.

Is it true that 70 DVZ Strings needs an entire computer by itself?
70 DVZ Strings does use a lot of computer power but depending on the computer used it may not need its own computer. According to our current specs, for example, if you run it on an Intel Core 2 Quad chipped computer, yes it's best to run it alone. However, if you're using an Intel i7-2600 or faster computer that meets our published spec, then you'll actually be able to run 70 DVZ Strings on the same computer as DVZ Winds, DVZ Brass and our Percussion library as we release these in 2011.

It's important to recognize that 70 DVZ Strings is not one library; it is in fact 32 libraries playing all at once. There are 32 desks, which means that we are using 32 MIDI channels within Kontakt Player. Every time you play a single note, and that note falls within the ranges of all five sections, you are actually playing 32 MIDI channels at the same time. The only way you can get a true divisi, is by having multiple channels all with their own desks and instruments playing at the same time just the way live orchestras do the job.

This is why 70 DVZ Strings needs a lot computer power. Just duplicate your existing strings library 32 times, assign all 32 instances to the same MIDI channel on the same computer and start playing aggressively. You won't have to wait for the crash! Very few professional libraries can run their entire arsenal of sounds all loaded up at once on a single computer, much less 32 times.

How many solo instruments do I get?
70 DVZ Strings has 70 orchestral string instruments: Ten solo instruments and 60 others arranged as 2 or 4 instrument desks [players]. The most comprehensive set of playing styles and effects for each instrument was recorded, including mutes, bow positions, up/down bowing, and pizzicato see list here. All effects and styles appropriate to each instrument are available at start up without reloading.

Why is the 70 DVZ Strings hard-disc footprint much smaller than that of other libraries with similar numbers of instruments?
In the 70 DVZ Strings library we recorded short tones, long tones, specific effects like pizzicatos and col legnos, snap pizzicatos and some trems and harmonics, as well as vibrato and non-vibrato samples. All other effects are achieved with our real-time articulation controls. The library’s small footprint ensures that you can load everything when you start so you never have to wait for other samples to reload. This boosts your productivity and averts obstacles to your creative flow.

Is Audio Impressions using modeling?
To create 70 DVZ Strings we painstakingly recorded nearly 10,000 discrete samples of individual notes played by individual instruments (or desks of two or four instruments). We did not record runs, slurs, strums or other complex and interrelated notes as some other libraries include; with our library you’re always listening to sample recordings of real instruments. Each sound you play is always an individually sampled note and not a synthesized interpretation like some highly condensed libraries. The modeling we do involves adding vibrato or tremolo, changing envelopes, pitches and other aspects of the sounds which allows us to precisely match the tempo and enables you to play all effects in real time without reloading.

Why isn't sample switching used to go from legato to staccato between notes, etc.?
A sampled articulation or slur is always time-based so it can only sound correct at certain tempos. There are complicated methods to accommodate different tempos. We devised various synthesis techniques that reduce CPU demands while providing increased flexibility and keeping the library size more manageable.

In reality, with 70 DVZ Strings you get far more power than any system that does sample switching. For example, you can smoothly transition from one effect to another, such as Marcato to Legato, using your favorite MIDI controller (e.g., a thumbhweel or foot pedal). Read more about this on the How it Works pages of this website.

Did you use any Stradivarius instruments in DVZ Strings?
We used both Stradivarius and Guarneri instruments among the principle players. In fact, all the first-chair orchestral players in all our libraries were first-call musicians playing prized stringed and orchestral instruments.

Why not just load in half the strings on a smaller computer?
It wouldn’t do any good. There would remain the issue of multiple DVZ MIDI channels all working cohesively as a unified orchestra. Also, who wants to pay for an entire library only to buy a computer that costs almost as much as the correct computer that can run the entire library at once? There is a technical reason as to why we don’t make it a two-load scenario. If we were to make it two loads, then you would also have to run two DVZ’s. Or, you would have to run 10 tracks rather than five and somehow piece it together. This would be a big mess and a nightmare for you to use and for us to support. Please keep in mind that in order for this library to work and sound like a like a live orchestra it means that you too have to think like a live orchestra. Seventy DVZ Strings is a radical new approach to string libraries, and an approach that we believe is going to be adopted from this point forward no matter how you slice it. There’s no going back. This is the world’s first DVZ library, so let’s not make it more complicated than it needs to be.

When will you sell half the strings?
We have no immediate plans to divide 70 DVZ Strings in half and sell it that way.

What is the sequencer hardware requirement?
This requirement is driven largely by the Vienna Ensemble Pro spec which calls for an Intel Core or XEON/Athlon 64 processor or later on Windows sequencers or Intel Core or XEON processor on Mac sequencers. Vienna states that PPC/PPC64 works but is not actively supported. If you are not using VEpro, we still recommend at least an Intel Core 2 or Athlon 64 or faster processor for Windows or Mac sequencers.

What sequencer programs are supported?
We have tested 70 DVZ Strings with a variety of popular sequencer software including Pro Tools, Logic, Digital Performer and Cubase.

What sequencer operating systems are supported?
You can use any Apple Macintosh Operating system from 10.5.7 or higher, and any Microsoft Windows XP 32-bit or Windows 7/Vista 32-bit or 64-bit versions on your sequencer.

What additional software do I need on the sequencer?
If your sequencer is on a Windows computer, you’ll need to add Apple Bonjour for Windows Print Services, a free download from Apple. This is used by our DVZ Sync Plug-in to find the DVZ program on the sampler computer (via Ethernet). And, of course, you’ll need to install that DVZ Sync Plug-in which is part of your downloaded DVZ Core Engine software; if your sampler is Pro Tools, you'll need a third-party VST wrapper for the DVZ Sync Plug-in. You’ll also need either MolCp3 (version 3.3.635 or higher) from MusicLabs or ipMIDI from theNerds. If you’re using Vienna Ensemble Pro for audio-over-Ethernet from the sampler to the sequencer, then you’ll need the audio-receiving Plug-in that comes with it.
You’ll also need a program to split the MIDI keyboard that’s connected to the sequencer so it simultaneously feeds the sampler. We recommend MIDI Patchbay for Mac sequencers, or either Hubi’s MIDI Looback Driver or MIDI-OX for Windows sequencers. You can find links to the various websites by clicking the Helpful Websites link to the left.

What MIDI keyboards can I use?
To play 70 DVZ Strings you can use most MIDI/USB keyboards with their standard controllers such as pitch bend, volume pedal, modulation wheels, etc. Optional auxiliary key switching can be done with a MIDI/USB keyboard such as the M-Audio Oxygen 25. We have mapped the first nine preset selectors to keys below the range of a standard 88 key keyboard, and you can turn keyswitching on or off within DVZ. You can also designate MIDI CC values for 8 external MIDI continuous controllers so they can control the 8 real-time articulation sliders in the Performance section of the DVZ GUI.

Can I bounce 70 DVZ Strings tracks faster than real time or do they have to be recorded in real time?
70 DVZ Strings will need to be recorded in real-time. This is true of any system where your sound sources are external to your sequencer. Because of the way DVZ works in real time, it is not designed to be bounced faster than real time. The reason we chose this design method was to allow full control of all string sections at once. If each section had been designed as a plug-in, you would lose the ability to control all sections at once.

What is the sequencer hardware requirement?
This requirement is driven largely by the Vienna Ensemble Pro spec which calls for an Intel Core or XEON/Athlon 64 processor or later on Windows sequencers or Intel Core or XEON processor on Mac sequencers. Vienna states that PPC/PPC64 works but is not actively supported. If you are not using VEpro, we still recommend at least an Intel Core 2 or Athlon 64 or faster processor for Windows or Mac sequencers.

What sequencer programs are supported?
We have tested 70 DVZ Strings with a variety of popular sequencer software including Pro Tools, Logic, Digital Performer and Cubase.

What sequencer operating systems are supported?
You can use any Apple Macintosh Operating system from 10.5.7 or higher, and any Microsoft Windows XP 32-bit or Windows 7/Vista 32-bit or 64-bit versions on your sequencer.

What additional software do I need on the sequencer?
If your sequencer is on a Windows computer, you’ll need to add Apple Bonjour for Windows Print Services, a free download from Apple. This is used by our DVZ Sync Plug-in to find the DVZ program on the sampler computer (via Ethernet). And, of course, you’ll need to install that DVZ Sync Plug-in which is part of your downloaded DVZ Core Engine software; if your sampler is Pro Tools, you'll need a third-party VST wrapper for the DVZ Sync Plug-in. You’ll also need either MolCp3 (version 3.3.635 or higher) from MusicLabs or ipMIDI from theNerds. If you’re using Vienna Ensemble Pro for audio-over-Ethernet from the sampler to the sequencer, then you’ll need the audio-receiving Plug-in that comes with it.
You’ll also need a program to split the MIDI keyboard that’s connected to the sequencer so it simultaneously feeds the sampler. We recommend MIDI Patchbay for Mac sequencers, or either Hubi’s MIDI Looback Driver or MIDI-OX for Windows sequencers. You can find links to the various websites by clicking the Helpful Websites link to the left.

What MIDI keyboards can I use?
To play 70 DVZ Strings you can use most MIDI/USB keyboards with their standard controllers such as pitch bend, volume pedal, modulation wheels, etc. Optional auxiliary key switching can be done with a MIDI/USB keyboard such as the M-Audio Oxygen 25. We have mapped the first nine preset selectors to keys below the range of a standard 88 key keyboard, and you can turn keyswitching on or off within DVZ. You can also designate MIDI CC values for 8 external MIDI continuous controllers so they can control the 8 real-time articulation sliders in the Performance section of the DVZ GUI.

Can I bounce 70 DVZ Strings tracks faster than real time or do they have to be recorded in real time?
70 DVZ Strings will need to be recorded in real-time. This is true of any system where your sound sources are external to your sequencer. Because of the way DVZ works in real time, it is not designed to be bounced faster than real time. The reason we chose this design method was to allow full control of all string sections at once. If each section had been designed as a plug-in, you would lose the ability to control all sections at once.

Is the sampler computer used for DVZ special in any way?
Not really. We do not require proprietary computers or cards or anything that you can’t get from your standard supplier of computers. You do need USB 2.0, a Gigabit speed LAN connections and at least 1600 x 1050 pixel video output, and these are pretty much entry-level features in today's computers.

The sampler must be relatively powerful, using one of Intel’s Core 2 Quad up to i7 CPU chips as described in our technical specifications page. No special accelerators, DSP cards or interfaces are necessary. The sampler doesn’t need an audio card unless you opt to not use audio-over-Ethernet because (a) you're going straight out to a mixer or DAW's analog or digital audio inputs, or (b) you just prefer audio cards and don’t mind installing them in the sampler and sequencer.

What kind of quality can I expect from DVZ libraries?
All our library samples were captured direct-to-Pro Tools at 192 kHz in the world’s finest recording studios using first-call musicians and the world’s best instruments. These were recorded at the highest audio fidelity utilizing vintage Neumann and Telefunken tube condensers and ribbon microphones. No hardware or software equalization, compression or other signal processing was used during recording. Because our SPACE process enables all samples to sound like they’re playing at once in the same ensemble, we didn’t have to record everything in one studio to get a sound match for the various instruments. Instead we were able to use the optimum room type for the instruments being recorded. While we are delivering the libraries to you at 48 kHz, 24 bit depth, you’ll nonetheless hear the superior sonic results of the pristine recordings themselves.

An important thing to remember is that these libraries, the strings in particular, were recorded with an orchestral environment in mind. We did not try to get you a collection of the best solo instrument recordings, but rather a collection of the best recordings that will work well together, in any sized ensemble you decide to activate. When you hear what you can do with turning off/on each desk in each section (in real time), and moving the players around within the “live” ensemble created by SPACE, as well as the ability to play trills and so forth that sync to your sequencer and patterns that match your key, you’ll appreciate that our concept of sonic quality goes far beyond what a raw sample sounds like.

What if I prefer the sound of Los Angeles strings to the London sound where you've recorded the
70 DVZ Strings?

You can adjust the sound of our library to move continuously from a London to a Hollywood sound by moving the Sul Tasto - Sul Pont slider. You can see how this works by understanding the difference between the two sounds, which is something that many composers have observed.

British string players in general tend to place the bridge further away from the fingerboard than their Los Angeles counterparts. The exception is for the solo players, where convention has them placing the bridge slightly closer to the fingerboard. By slightly we mean roughly 1/4 of an inch or less. As a result, the orchestral players sound sweeter while the soloist stands out.

Why does the soloist stand out?

The closer the bridge is to the fingerboard the more Sul Pont-like the sound. If the bridge is farther away from the fingerboard, the sound becomes mellower when the bow is placed directly between the bridge and the fingerboard. This does not mean to say that the orchestral players can't get more edge when wanted, it just means that their normal playing with the bow directly between the bridge and the finger board is sweeter than the soloist.

Why do session players in Los Angeles place their bridges slightly closer to their fingerboards the way soloists do in London?

It goes back to the old days of recording session budgeting which called for a smaller string section against a larger brass section for standard film score arrangements. To ensure the smaller string section session players would stand out and compete sonically with the brass, they placed their bridges slightly closer to the fingerboard. This turned into standard practice over the years and that is the reason the Los Angeles strings sound is always brighter, and to some ears more brittle, then the sweeter British sound - end of mystery.

Because DVZ provides continuous control of the bow position between bridge and fingerboard using the Sul Tasto - Sul Pont slider, you can adjust between a London or LA sound. To further assist here, we proivde a preference for solo volume trim so you can bring the first chairs up or down in level relative to the other players in each section.