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Vienna Symphonic Library

Performance Tool

Visual Range Finder

Copyright Notice

Information in this training guide, including URL and other Web site references is subject to
change without notice. Without limiting the rights under copyright, no part of this document
may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form, or by any means, or for any purpose, without the express written permission of the
Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH.
Vienna Symphonic Library may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, or other
intellectual property rights covering subject matter in this document. Except as expressly
provided in any written license agreement from Vienna Symphonic Library, the furnishing of
this document does not give you any license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights or
any intellectual property.
Copyright 2003 All rights reserved.
Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH.

Purpose

The Visual Range Finder is a hand guide of instrument ranges visualized on the
GigaStudio keyboard and expressed in the commonly used Roland MIDI terms
(where C4 is Middle C) for effective use of the Alternation, Legato, and Repetition
tools when making settings in the Play Zone section of each tool.

Ranges are expressed in these terms for two reasons:

1. Because in Giga Edit default settings, GigaStudio does so
2. To avoid negative numbers when setting octave adjustments in the lower
range.
For example, the normal music range of a violin is G below middle C (G2) up to
D above double high C (D6). In our terms, this is G3 to D7. To avoid confusion,
the range has been shown using the Giga piano layout where middle C is
marked with a red dot.
Abbreviations

(c) 2003 Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH

Abbreviations for the Vienna Symphonic Library instruments are in German,

reflecting their German names. Each instrument in the guide has the German
name and its English equivalent.
Where appropriate, weve also added some instrumentation information when we
felt it would be helpful.

Online Instrumentation
Resources

At the Vienna Symphonic Library web site, (www.vsl.co.at) just click on the
Instruments tab. This takes you to the most complete online Instrumentation handbook anywhere in the world.
For each major instrument, youre given:
Brief description
History
Notation
Range
Sound Production
Playing Techniques
Sound Characteristics
Sound Combinations
Symbolism
Repertoire
Here are some selected sections of our online handbook youll want to explore.

Playing Techniques

At playing techniques, youll find both musical notation examples for various techniques and MP3 examples. The Vienna Symphonic Library is the only site on the
web with this extensive collection of recorded orchestration techniques.
Here, for example, is the Concert Flute:
This first example is General and its followed by 17 more techniques! Clicking
the blue buttons triggers the matching MP3.
After General, youll find, on average, 17 more techniques with audio examples
that include
Tonguing
Vibrato
Szforzando
Legato
Glissando
Trill
Tremolo
Modern Techniques
And more.

Repertoire

This important section gives you a complete reference of orchestral works to consult that feature the particular instrument youre reading about.

Additional Printed Resources

Four additional resources are suggested:

The Revised Rimsky-Korsakovs Principles of Orchestration (endorsed by film
composer Jerry Goldsmith) which can be found at
www.alexanderpublishing.com.
Orchestration by Cecil Forsythe. This can be ordered through Amazon.com
online in the US and Europe.
Anatomy of the Orchestra by the late Norman Del Mar. This is a tremendous
work designed to be used with an orchestration book. Here youll find various
orchestral seating plans used by Tchaikovsky and others which can be used to
create alternate panning positions, best applied in GigaStudios DSP section.
This also can be ordered online from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and others.
Sounds and Scores by Henry Mancini shows how to apply the Vienna
Symphonic Library to film and pop arrangements. It comes with a CD,
available from Warner Bros. and can be ordered at your local music store.

(c) 2003 Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH

Concert Flute

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Keyboard Range: B3 to E7

German Name: Grosse Flte

FL2

Notes:

Oboe

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Notes:

(c) 2003 Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH

Keyboard Range: B3 to A6

German Name: Oboe

OB

Clarinet in Bb

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Keyboard Range: D3 to A6

German Name: Klarinette in B

KLB

Notes:

Bassoon

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Notes:

(c) 2003 Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH

Keyboard Range: B1 to E4

German Name: Fagott

FA

Horn

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Keyboard Range: B1 to G5

German Name: Wiener Horn in F

HO

Notes:

Horn Ensemble

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Notes:

(c) 2003 Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH

Keyboard Range: A2 to F5

HO-4 meaning that four (4) horns were recorded.

Trumpet in C

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

The C trumpet is a non-transposing instrument.

Keyboard Range: E3 to D6

German Name: Trompete in C

TrC

Notes:

Trumpet Ensemble

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Notes:

(c) 2003 Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH

Keyboard Range: G3 to D6

Tr-3 meaning that three trumpets were recorded.

Trombone

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Keyboard Range: C2 to D5

Technical Name: Tenor trombone in Bb

German Name: Tenorposaune
TP

Notes:

Trombone Ensemble

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Notes:

(c) 2003 Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH

Keyboard Range: C2 to Bb4

PO-3 meaning that three trombones were recorded.

Tuba

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Keyboard Range: D1 to G5

Technical Name: Bass Tuba in F

German Name: Basstuba in F
TU

Notes:

Violin

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Notes:

(c) 2003 Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH

Keyboard Range: G3 to D7

German Name: Violine

Vl-14 meaning that 14 violins were recorded. To create a violin section, youll
select two different Vl-14 programs. In your sequencer, label one VLNS 1 and the
other VLNS 2. Set the panning as you normally would for two string sections.

Viola

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Keyboard Range: C3 to E6

German Name: Bratsche, Viola

VA-10 meaning that 10 violas were recorded.

Notes:

Cello

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Notes:

(c) 2003 Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH

Keyboard Range: C2 to E5

Technical Name: Violoncello

German Name: Cello, Violoncello
VC-8 meaning that 8 cellos were recorded.

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Double Bass

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Keyboard Range: B1 to D4

German Name: Kontrabass

KB-6 meaning that six basses were recorded.

Notes:

Harp

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Notes:

(c) 2003 Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH

Keyboard Range: B1 to A7

German Name: Harfe

HA

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Timpani

Vienna Symphonic Library Labeling

Notes:

Other Notes:

(c) 2003 Vienna Symphonic Library GmbH

Keyboard Range: Bb1 to Bb3

Technical Name: Timpani, Kettle Drums

German Name: Pauken
TMP