VSL is offering 50% off any one library, and my willpower is hanging by a thread. Those familiar with their wares, is there one that absolutely justifies financial recklessness? I’ll pass on Duality Strings (Cinematic Studio does the job beautifully, if a bit more modestly in terms of articulations), but I’m ready to splurge before common sense intervenes.
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Being a long time VSL enthusiast I feel the same way, @rraby.
Two things to note: this offer expires on Tuesday (2025-10-14); and doesn’t apply to the Synchron ‘bundles’… I tried it with ‘Special Brass’ - although that could have been because it’s already discounted.
Maybe try the other more expensive items and see what you can get 
.
Generally all VSL (particularly Synchrons) are excellent. Good luck!
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There are actually two codes - the other one is LEOVSL50. Both are for 50% off.
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Personally I don’t think you’d go wrong with any of the Synchron libs whether Standard or Full. If you own all the CSS stuff maybe the percussion I library? They all work quite well with Dorico.
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Agreed!
Another relevant piece of information, which has been posted here as well, is that Art Conductor now has multiple templates for Dorico, including for many VSL libraries, which makes them even more attractive
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I’ve purchased Art Conductor but haven’t yet had the opportunity to explore the templates.
My instinct tells me that VSL should know best how to get the most out of their own products through their Dorico Wizard, so I’m curious to understand how Babylon Waves might have improved upon this.
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Roy, thanks. Yes!
I’m in the same position as you. Have been impressed by VSL libraries since I used Sibelius - well before Dorico.
I intend to make side-by-side comparisons.
I bought it an upgrade from Mir Pro 24 3D to the main version (without restrictions). I also used a 20 euros voucher and the 50% discount.
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I took the bait 
and bought the Rieger organ, which I can use well.
(Mods, please move if this is too far off topic!)
Fell at the first hurdle.
Dorico crashes if I create an Art Conductor subdirectory here:
~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/DefaultLibraryAdditions/ArtConductor
with .doricolib files (only 34 of them, <150 MB) for all the VSL libraries that I own.
If I rename each Art Conductor directory, prepending with Art_Conductor_, Dorico doesn’t fully launch (Audio Engine terminates) with invalid file format errors.
Anyone successfully installed, please?
TIA…!
I got the Fazioli F212 from the Studio pianos, and the Studio Special Brass bundle (with the two 50% coupons).
You don’t necessarily have to install them in there like the VSL ones. I’m not sure it is tested that way. The official installation method is with drag and drop via the library manager, which works pretty well. Watch the videos on their YouTube channel for Art Conductor.
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Thanks, Michael!
And drag and drop an individual PBT.dorico file onto the Library > Library Manager ‘drop .dorico project file here‘ space?
But how do I load multiple instruments for an orchestral - say - project?
Do they stay loaded in Dorico somehow, somewhere?
Secondly, presumably this method means that I really can keep the Art Conductor files anywhere I want, rather than ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/DefaultLibraryAdditions/ArtConductor?
Yes, that video.
By default it will add it into the open Dorico project.
You can keep the library manager open and drag and drop each PBT file in one by one, click the arrow over collections and then click apply, and rinse and repeat with the next one until all are loaded. They are additive - one doesn’t replace the last one but adds onto it.
And yes you can keep the Art Conductor files anywhere you want.
Even if Art Conductor could be installed into the DefaultLibraryAdditions, you’d get a big mess of playing techniques for libraries that you are probably never going to use, which is going to make it harder to find the ones that you do want to use.
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Michael,
Thanks. This video makes clear how to add individual Expression maps.
But I’ve still not latched onto the concept of what exactly a PBT file is or how I choose and manage them.
For instance, I’m working on a brass 4tet atm (two trumpets and two trombones). I have the VSL Synchron Brass (Standard) library.
Would this workflow be correct:
-
ensure I’m in the relevant Dorico project - say with the first Flow open
(and in Play Mode)
-
go to Library > Library Manager…
-
navigate to the ‘Synchron 21 Brass > VelXF Sus‘ Art Conductor directory (I assume that corresponds to the ‘VelXF sus’ collection; and when would I choose ‘Flow’ or ‘Velocity’ there?)
-
drop all nine trumpet .doricolib files one at a time into ‘Drop .dorico project file here’ (even though those nine are actually .doricolib) space? The same for the four trombone files
?
But then where do I see results of having loaded these?
Will they stay loaded with the project?
I’m beginning to see how this works (and left open-mouthed at the amount of work which must have gone into preparing such a massive array of articulations etc for this (addition to) Art Conductor. But it’s still a new paradigm, isn’t it?
If I’m understanding correctly, you’re (also) pointing out that a workflow which doesn’t actually ‘install’ anything into DefaultLibraryAdditions makes better sense - even though I have actually identified which libraries I own and would want available to make use of.
The PBT is named this because originally they held the custom playback techniques for the map. But later he figured out how to add the expression maps themselves and also custom playing techniques that would trigger those custom playback techniques, all to the PBT itself. So for anything that has a PBT, the PBT will load the expression map, custom playback techniques, and custom playing techniques all in one go.
They will all be part of the project file. Other project files will not have these.
Great. Thanks.
So there is no need separately to Import EMs whenever I use the PBT files? And so loading a Library will always be more complete, comprehensive - and simpler?
I’m closer now.
And presumably ‘VelXF Sus’ and ‘VelXF Mod’ correspond to VSL’s Presets for any given Library.
But ‘Normal’ and ‘Prime’ when I’m not using a Prime library?
That’s correct, no need to separately import EM’s when you use the PBT file, because the EM is in there too. Some simple libraries though don’t need to add any playback or playing techniques because everything they provide is already available as built-ins, and for those libraries there is only an EM. Things like Berlin Free Orchestra and other basic libraries like that.
Yes the folders represent the presets.
For that last bit, not sure where you’re seeing “Normal” and “Prime”?
EDIT: Oh, what that might be is some of the Synchron parts like the brass have regular patches and special “Prime Compatibility” patches which use the same keyswitch layout as Prime, intended for people who made their project with prime and want to upgrade to the full without their keyswitches getting all messed up by triggering the wrong things.
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Very many thanks, Michael; all clear now !
I couldn’t resist getting the Yamaha CFX and am now wondering whether it’s worth upgrading to the full mic setup… and if so, where I can find that option. I’m also curious whether the second code could be used for this purpose.
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