Well-known for their orchestral instruments, Vienna Symphonic Library also have powerful convolution reverbs that have uses beyond the concert hall. See and hear them for yourself as we treat the band to some symphonic spaces…
In Summary
Vienna MIR Pro 3D is a finely multi-sampled convolution reverb. Coupled with 3D visual representations of world-class recording spaces, it allows engineers to place individual sources in space using their unique MIR Icons. This placement makes it different to using conventional track sends with reverb returns.
Going Deeper
Artificial Reverb
Artificial reverb has a long history adorning recordings of bands and other non-classical music. Following an early realisation that closer recordings could offer more control in the mix, various electromechanical devices were developed to allow a sense of space to be dialled back in. These later gave way to embryonic digital reverb boxes that laid the foundation for algorithmic space-makers of the 1980s onwards. More recently, engineers can tap into an enormous range of tools that take in this technology as well as advanced convolution-based reverb engines.
Symphonic Reverb
While the use of digital reverb is common in the classical recording world, it is almost exclusively deployed to support the spatial aesthetic of a real acoustic as heard by the mics. Aside from rare instances of artificial reverb being used to realise recordings made in compromised spaces, its use in real recordings is often to fold soloist or section spot mics more successfully into the sound of the main microphone array’s soundstage.
With the concert hall or space playing such a large role in the overall sound, advanced orchestral virtual instruments must rely entirely on reverberators that can successfully place virtual instruments into a simulated space that can equal their realism.
Vienna MIR Pro 3D
Developed by Vienna Symphonic Library as a multi-sampled convolution reverb for their renowned orchestral virtual instruments, Vienna MIR Pro 3D sets out to provide a large part of the orchestral sound: the room itself. Using impulses from numerous concert halls, churches, and studios, it allows the engineer to place sounds as well as virtual microphones in a virtual acoustic using a 3D GUI. This allows users to visualise and position sources and mics in space.
Symphonic instruments aren’t the only sources that can benefit from Vienna MIR Pro 3D’s concert hall roots. Its 3D visualisation of real multi-sampled spaces means that engineers can better understand what their reverberator is doing, as well as have fine control over things like virtual source location and virtual mic array positioning.
Vienna MIR Pro 3D plugins are instantiated directly on tracks to pipe audio to and from the standalone Vienna MIR Pro 3D app. This can contain a number of spaces at once, with fine control over virtual mic positions and source position, directivity, and width courtesy of the MIR Icon.
In the video we use MIR icons to place a band in some famous classical spaces including concert halls, and scoring stages including VSL’s own Synchron Stage in Vienna where the entire line of Synchron Series sample libraries were recorded. We then go for a fly around Vienna MIR Pro 3D in virtual space…
Vienna Symphonic Library On Vienna MIR Pro 3D
Vienna MIR Pro 3D is a holistic mixing and reverberation application based on our groundbreaking Multi Impulse Response convolution technology. Not just virtual instruments, but any audio signal can be authentically placed in a “multi-sampled” room using the unique MIR Icon, making it exceptionally easy for the user to combine all aspects of placement and reverberation into a single intuitive workflow.
New Features
Full 3D Audio Support - Stereo and surround to mixes ready for binaural and Spatial Audio, Dolby Atmos, Auro 3D, Sony 360 Reality Audio, plus “raw” Ambisonics. You can move instruments, virtual microphones and microphone capsules in a fluid three-dimensional space and rotate and tilt them in any direction.
3rd Order Ambisonics - Higher Order Ambisonics (HOA) is used throughout the entire signal path. All existing RoomPack venues have been upscaled to HOA by means of a proprietary process developed at the Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics - IEM of the University of Graz.
New Preset Management - Factory presets or create your own setups, switch between them instantly, and mix-and-match selected instruments by using the concept of “Roles” for any individual sound source.
Tabbed Venues - Use multiple rooms side-by-side, drag and drop instruments and entire orchestras from one hall to the other, or use different setups of the same room simultaneously.
Full compatibility with existing Vienna MIR Pro projects (MIR 3D RoomPacks required. Previous MIR projects integrated in Vienna Ensemble Pro 7 will require the free update of VE Pro 7.)
Room packs are available to buy separately so that engineers need only pay for the spaces they need; customers also get one pack of their choice for free when buying Vienna MIR Pro 3D.
Symphonia For The Band?
Many engineers will follow a tried and trusted approach to reverb. While classical engineers’ first instinct will be to work with the space and the move the mics appropriately, those working in other styles will feel most at home in front of the controls of an artificial main reverb. While this latter approach has its roots in creating a sense of real space, in reality these reverbs have become a sound of their own in many cases.
The traits that make classical spaces so desirable such as their rich complexity and predictable tonality can be applicable in any musical situation. Using a tool such as Vienna MIR Pro 3D, regardless of genre any mix can benefit from the characteristics of real, world class spaces.
A Word About This Article
As the Experts team considered how we could better help the community we thought that some of you are time poor and don’t have the time to read a long article or a watch a long video. In 2023 we are going to be trying out articles that have the fast takeaway right at the start and then an opportunity to go deeper if you wish. Let us know if you like this idea in the comments.