Deep Review & Demo: VISTA by Performance Samples
Expressive and romantic character
Lovely, smooth legato
Multiple attacks
Wide dynamics
Same note re-bows
Sounds bigger than a typical chamber orchestra
Great loyalty pricing
Limited articulations
Lacks 2nd violins
Only two microphones
Not the cleanest library
No delay shortening options for the (slightly noisy) harp
Quite expensive at full price
Performance Samples take emotional, playable strings to the next level with Vista, their new chamber strings library. With a focus solely on legato articulations, it’s ideal for sweeping romantic lines and sure to bring a classy, larger-than-life sound to your compositions.
Jump to the Videos of Vista by Performance Samples
Jump to the Demos of Vista by Performance Samples
Review: Vista by Performance Samples
Jasper Blunk is a man who does things his way and in a market of so many excellent string libraries the Performance Samples’ approach is always refreshing. The basic ideology centres on playable libraries that enable a composer to infuse compositions with the maximum realism and emotional impact, with a minimum of fuss. This is achieved by being very selective in the exact players that are chosen, extracting the samples from actual performances and then infusing the recordings with innovative editing and scripting techniques. The outcome is a very minimal interface and collections that focus on specific articulations and end uses. Vista is their first foray into a chamber sized section and features a number of unique touches, such as same note bow change repetitions, attack variations and an emotive slurred legato.
Vista Main Interface
Vista normally sells for $339.00 from Performance Samples
Thoughts
Vista exemplifies the unique sampling aesthetic pioneered by Jasper Blunk; we see the signature ‘active-bow’ sampling technique, four dynamic layers, slurred legato, re-bowed repetitions, and two attack variations, all extracted from real performances. Like all of their products Vista is, by design, a little rough around the edges, but for me it seems to add to the realism. Performance Samples’ first chamber strings collection is recorded in the same hall as some of their other products, such as Oceania and Angry Brass Pro, and it actually sounds far bigger and bolder than a chamber section.
The full price is set at a quite a professional level, considering you essentially only get legatos and sustains, but they are undoubtably quite special. A great deal of R&D has gone into this and much thought regarding the exact players best suited for it, who were all hand-picked for their individual tone and style. For more on the behind-the-scenes process for Vista there is a very interesting blog on the Performance Samples website that is well worth checking out.
The main limitations to Vista arguably lie in the lack of 2nd violins and only having two microphone options. The former is a shame, but might come later, who knows. For now duplicating the main 5 violin patch and changing the mic blend and EQ in the mix is a decent workaround. Regarding the latter, during my time with it I never yearned for more mics personally, though other users may miss the extra flexibility. I suspect they were omitted as it was felt they did not add anything significant to the particular style and sound Performance Samples were aiming for.
The huge dynamic range, coupled with key features such as the smooth legato and active-bow means that Vista exhibits a degree of life and excitement that is so enjoyable to use. The individual sections blend effortlessly and although sounding good in isolation, it is only when you combine them into a full string section that it becomes apparent how much the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts. Overall, I would say the great appeal of Vista comes from how it seems to breathe like a real orchestra, pushing and pulling with an emotional, dynamic flow that is hard to match with many other libraries.
Facts
Vista is a 10 GB library using the NCW compressed files for the full version of Kontakt.
There are 5 violins, 4 viola, 3 cellos, 3 basses, a harp, 3 violins FFF overlay and full string section sustains. All of these derive from real performance recordings recorded in a hall.
The individual sections feature legato and sustains with 4 dynamic layers, from PP to FFF.
There are 2 mic options – close and decca.
It downloads via Continuata Connect.
Vista normally sells for $339.00 from Performance Samples
Demos of Vista by Performance Samples
Videos of Vista by Performance Samples
Contributor Sam Burt reviews Vista by Performance Samples
“Performance Samples take emotional, playable strings to the next level with Vista, their new chamber strings library. With a focus solely on legato articulations, it’s ideal for sweeping romantic lines and sure to bring a classy, larger-than-life sound to your compositions.”
