VCSL

[Samulis]

While I was happy with the original build of VSCO 2 CE, there certainly are some flaws and gaps in the sample set. However, filling those gaps in an economical way just never seemed to be within grasp. So, I decided to start a new open sample library project, titled Versilian Community Sample Library.

https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL

You can read more in the readme, but the basic gist of it is it's a CC0 library that covers a much broader range of instruments (even stuff like harmonicas) and is more targeted towards making more "plug-n' play"-type solutions, like GM soundfonts, rather than more intricate keyswitched instruments. It also gives me a convenient framework to release all my little freeware odds and ends on, so I don't have to toss it in a thread somewhere or any of that- instead, it can all fall under this, and I can easily patch the soundset with new sounds as time goes on.

Currently I have about 3 GB of content, including a lot of stuff not in VSCO 2 CE (some highlights being a brand new grand piano, some harmonicas, and much, much more percussion than VSCO 2 CE). Over the next few months, I'll be fitting a few 'quick-n' dirty' sampling sessions into my schedule to get some brand new woodwinds, brass, and hopefully strings which will all fit this project a bit better (that way VSCO 2 can continue to be its own thing).

I wouldn't recommend digging in deep yet, as there is still a lot of content that needs to go up, but within a few weeks I hope to have it fairly well fleshed out.

[Michael Willis]

Wow Sam, you keep pouring truckloads of time into making stuff to donate to the community, it's like an itch that you just can't stop scratching. I kind of wish I lived closer, I would volunteer to be your clarinetist. I'm tempted to try doing it at home, but I would need to sound treat the room and get a decent pair of microphones first. I'm looking forward to hearing what comes out of this!

[bigcat1969]

Sigh... and me still in recovery from VSCO2... and I adore GM soundfonts... and I'm trying to get the first volume of the Encyclopedia Insanica out... and trying to learn to wrtie without using three periods in a row.
Thanks Sam you might be the most generous man in the history of digital music.

[Mattias Westlund]

Wow, that sounds amazing! You are a true philanthropist Sam

[bigcat1969]

Forgive me forking the thread, just wondering if anyone has some artistic talent they wouldn't mind donating. I personally have the artistic skill of a hamster that has been nipping at the elderberry wine.

Here is what the plugin looks like in use
http://www.mediafire.com/file/1xr1q5by1e...corder.png

Here is the actual skin
http://www.mediafire.com/file/8edfnosq37...bigcat.png

Anyone have the ability to make something nice that says VSCL Instrument or Sam Gossner Rocks or something appropriate to these samples...

[Mattias Westlund]

(03-23-2018, 08:30 PM)bigcat1969 Wrote: Forgive me forking the thread, just wondering if anyone has some artistic talent they wouldn't mind donating. I personally have the artistic skill of a hamster that has been nipping at the elderberry wine.

Here is what the plugin looks like in use
http://www.mediafire.com/file/1xr1q5by1e...corder.png

Here is the actual skin
http://www.mediafire.com/file/8edfnosq37...bigcat.png

Anyone have the ability to make something nice that says VSCL Instrument or Sam Gossner Rocks or something appropriate to these samples...

Give me a few days, and I'll be happy to give it a shot.

(A spiky "Sam Gossner Rocks" logo with a picture of Sam wielding an electric guitar is what you're looking for, right... ?)

[Samulis]

Thanks for the kind words so far, all!

Bigcat, I have no idea how you manage to make these things so darn fast. Someone should give you a medal.

Eventually I might release part of the collection of images I have for these instruments under some sort of CC-BY license or something as a sub-section of the VCSL set.

I am quite content to make all this public. A good chunk of it is from stuff that is inadequate to be turned into a commercial sample library (mostly just that folks would complain if a modern commercial sample library doesn't have multi-mic and 8 RR), while the VSCO 2 sample set has basically "paid its dues" and is now a bit more open to extracting bits from.

I ran into a collection of harmonicas and picked them up real cheap last year along with some other interesting instruments. I sampled up two of them real quick (~7 minutes) with three articulations. If anyone has a moment to toss them in their sampler and try them out, let me know what you think. I just did them mono because I know a lot of harmonicas are recorded mono, but I am considering doing a stereo option instead or so on. Also, I was lazy and just sampled 'blowing', but if it sounds too strange, I might try 'sucking' too (not figuratively, but literally). The release samples make a big difference if you can add them (also stick 100 ms of attack on them, or else they click a little).

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(03-23-2018, 04:20 PM)Michael Willis Wrote: Wow Sam, you keep pouring truckloads of time into making stuff to donate to the community, it's like an itch that you just can't stop scratching. I kind of wish I lived closer, I would volunteer to be your clarinetist. I'm tempted to try doing it at home, but I would need to sound treat the room and get a decent pair of microphones first. I'm looking forward to hearing what comes out of this!

Sample yourself anyway! There's no way to learn this stuff except by doing it and experimenting with different methods. 

[bigcat1969]

Thanks Mattias!
Loving that Sam Rocks logo idea, now when he releases his rock legends guitar / drum samples we will be so set!

Thanks Sam! Fortunately I decided to actually try listening as I had reversed the staccato G#3 and A#3 samples... Oops.
Off to check out the harmonic samples. Love me some harmonics. Thanks again for all this. I've never said this to another human being, but I love your Aerophones man!

[Samulis]

(03-23-2018, 09:08 PM)bigcat1969 Wrote: Thanks Mattias!
Loving that Sam Rocks logo idea, now when he releases his rock legends guitar / drum samples we will be so set!

Thanks Sam! Fortunately I decided to actually try listening as I had reversed the staccato G#3 and A#3 samples... Oops.
Off to check out the harmonic samples. Love me some harmonics. Thanks again for all this. I've never said this to another human being, but I love your Aerophones man!

Hey man, my aerophones are your aerophones! 

[Mattias Westlund]

(03-23-2018, 08:54 PM)Samulis Wrote: Sample yourself anyway! There's no way to learn this stuff except by doing it and experimenting with different methods. 

Definitely true. And even a moderate attention to detail, consistency and sound quality goes a long way. You might initially think that all your takes sound like crap, but once you have split everything into separate notes, mapped said notes in your sampler, tuned them and adjusted attacks and releases... you will find that it sounds a whole lot better than you thought it would.

I sampled and mapped a whole bunch of small percussion instruments last weekend. Even though I didn't spend a ton of time playing each instrument (adjusting room acoustics with foam mattresses and blankets, as well as mic positioning, took faaar longer) I got some really decent results. The whole experience made me want to sample more live instruments.