Smart Spheres
Introduction
Welcome to the Vienna Symphonic Library’s series of Synchron Instruments! Vienna Smart Spheres was created to provide you with a versatile collection of pad and ambience sounds at an affordable price.
About Presets
Vienna Smart Spheres features 6 different Preset categories: Multi Presets, containing all the basic Patches with their natural sound as well as a number of effect variations; Pads; Basses; Pulses; Plucks; and Leads, all of which contain specially adapted combinations and effects. These Presets are described further down, but of course it is best to get your hands on them to find out what they can do for you!
About Patches
Patches can be used to build your own custom Presets and shape them according to your specific requirements. There are two variations of every Vienna Smart Spheres Patch, offering different tonal colors of the same basic sound idea. If you want to create Presets of your own, please refer to the Synchron Player manual, which will be helpful in case you encounter any problems.
About Pitch
For designating pitch, the Vienna Symphonic Library uses International Pitch Notation (IPN), which was agreed upon internationally under the auspices of the Acoustical Society of America. In this system the international standard of A=440 Hz is called A4 and middle C is C4. All pitches are written as capital letters, their respective octave being indicated by a number next to it. The lowest C on the piano is C1 (the A below that is A0), etc.
The Synchron Player software allows you to set middle C to C3, C4, or C5 according to your preference. Selecting another setting than C4 will of course also change the play ranges and keyswitches accordingly.
Walkthrough Videos
Included Presets
As mentioned above, Vienna Smart Spheres has 6 different Preset categories, which are described in the following. Apart from the Multi Presets containing the basic Patches and their variations, there is a wealth of Presets combining different Patches and applying various effects and filters to provide you with all kinds of spherical sounds derived from these basic Patches.
01 Multi Presets
This Preset category contains all Smart Sphere Patches, first in a Preset without any effects applied, and then in 5 more Presets offering different basic effect settings.
There are three types of "Spheres": Pads, Percussive, and Bass. For every Patch (or basic sound) contained therein, there are two variations which can be crossfaded using Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1, modwheel). If CC1 is used to control specific effects, this happens in addition to crossfading.
- Sphere keyswitches: A0–B0.
- Basic sound keyswitches: Pads C1–F1, Percussive C1–E1, Bass C1–C#1
- Variation crossfading: Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1, modwheel)
00 Original (No FX)
Pads
- Heaven Pad
- Variation: Heaven Pad Distorted
- Play Range: C3-G6
- Dark Organ
- Variation: Dark Organ Nervous
- Play Range: C3–G6
- Stormy Pad
- Variation: Stormy Pad Distorted
- Play Range: C2–D6
- Crystal Lead
- Variation: Crystal Lead + Dark Pad
- Play Range: C4–G6
- Tremolo Pad
- Variation: Tremolo Pad Celestial
- Play Range: C3–C6
- High Anxiety
- Variation: High Anxiety Mellow
- Play Range: C4–C6
Percussive
- Steel Mallets
- Variation: Steel Mallets FX Attack
- Play Range: C3–E6
- Big Bell Mallets
- Variation: Big Bell Mallets Plucked
- Play Range: C3–E6
- Mallet Strings
- Variation: Mallet Strings Plucked
- Play Range: G2–G6
- Frozen Mallets
- Variation: Frozen Mallets Dark Attack
- Play Range: C3–C6
- Plucked Pad
- Variation: Plucked Pad Spain Attack
- Play Range: C3–C6
Bass
- Pad Bass
- Variation: Pad Bass - Fat
- Play Range: C2–C4
- Distorted Bass
- Variation: Distorted Bass FX Attack
- Play Range: C2–C4
01 Delay-Inferno
This Preset allows you to experiment with 2 delays and your Vienna Smart Spheres, with dedicated FX Faders in the mixer.
- CC1: Return 2 (Stereo Delay)
- CC3: Send 1 (Delay)
02 Spaced-Out
Adds a deep reverb, with a dedicated FX Fader in the mixer.
- CC3: amount of reverb added
03 Filtered
Applies a 6 dB band pass filter, with a dedicated FX Fader in the mixer.
- CC3: FX Filter Channel volume
04 Phased
Applies a phaser effect, with a dedicated FX Fader in the mixer.
- CC3: FX Phaser Channel volume
05 Space-Stutter
Introduces a synchronized pulse to your Vienna Smart Spheres, with dedicated FX Faders in the mixer.
- CC1: Return 2 (FX)
- CC3: amount of stutter
02 Pads
01 2049
Rising spheres floating and stabilizing over time, with built-in tremolo control and aftertouch tuning.
- Patches: Plucked Pad, Frozen Mallets, Stormy Pad, Dark Organ
- CC1: Slot XF
- Aftertouch: Tuning
02 Invasion
Transformation patch with brooding sonic energy and a high dynamic range. A dense wall of sound –arrival of the emperor?
- Patches: Pad Bass, Crystal Lead
- CC1: Filter, Send 1 (FX)
03 Dark Bee Swarm
Scary scattered sound with pulse control and ponderous stereo movement.
- Patches: Distorted Bass, Dark Organ, Tremolo Pad
- CC1: Slot XF
- CC3: Send 1 (Reverb)
04 Drama Queen
Massive rolling waves of shape-shifting sounds.
- Patches: Heaven Pad, Heaven Pad Distorted, Stormy Pad
- CC1: Slot XF
05 Padshop Noise
Driving steady cotton-wool clouds in a sunny sky.
- Patches: Tremolo Pad, Tremolo Pad Celestial, Heaven Pad
- CC1: Filter, Tuning, Return 1 (FX)
06 Dune
An ethereal, soaring soundscape, as if flying across a desert.
- Patches: Tremolo Pad, Heaven Pad, Crystal Lead
- CC1: Filter, Return 1 (Saturator, Reverb)
07 Halifax Point
Glistening warm pad with a warm filter control.
- Patches: High Anxiety, Tremolo Pad, High Anxiety Mellow
- CC1: Filter
08 Yin & Yang
Pitched pads for sonic slack-lining.
- Patches: Plucked Pad, Frozen Mallets, Stormy Pad, Dark Organ
- CC1: Slot XF
- CC3: Send 1 (FX)
09 Mighty Organ
An elegant organ manual with a shimmering tail.
- Patches: Dark Organ, High Anxiety, High Anxiety Mellow
- CC1: Return 1 (Reverb)
10 Waking Giants
Distant FX Thunderstorm on your fingertips. A mystic pad with random ramp FX.
- Patches: Tremolo Pad Celestial, Dark Organ Nervous, Plucked Pad Spain Attack, Distorted Bass FX Attack
- CC1: Filter
11 Sad Star
Tender translucent spheres with depth control, srom soft to screeching.
- Patches: High Anxiety, High Anxiety Mellow, Mallet Strings
- CC1: Filter, Return 1 (Saturator, Reverb
12 Shimmering
Multi-layered, evolving pad for bright, glossy textures.
- Patches: Steel Mallets FX Attack, High Anxiety, Dark Organ, Tremolo Pad
- CC1: Filter
13 Spheronica
Space Harmonica with extreme chorus control.
- Patches: High Anxiety, Pad Bass Fat
- CC1: Send 1 (Chorus)
14 Colfax
A soft blanket of sound, with a glistering filter peak.
- Patches: High Anxiety, High Anxiety Mellow
- CC1: Filter
15 Distant Choir
Towering Voices with humanized attack control, contacting otherworldly spirits.
- Patches: Pad Bass
- CC1: Filter
16 Herman Loves Pauline
Evolving harmonic cluster pad with gentle filter control.
- Patches: High Anxiety, Dark Organ Nervous, Dark Organ, Crystal Lead, High Anxiety Mellow
- CC1: Filter
17 Massive Pad
Majestic and dignified multi-layered wall of sound.
- Patches: Pad Bass Fat, Dark Organ, Heaven Pad Distorted, Heaven Pad
- CC1: Return 1 (Reverb)
18 Space Organ
Deep Space Pad with a ringing touch.
- Patches: High Anxiety, Crystal Lead
- CC1: Volume of Left and Right channels
19 Glass Organ
See-through sound with intensity control.
- Patches: Frozen Mallets
- CC1: Return 1 (Delay, Power Pan)
20 Pimped Harmonium
With a harsh initial attack for the first note, additional notes will fade in timidly, to end abruptly upon release. With reverb control.
- Patches: Dark Organ
- CC1: Send 2 (Reverb, Rotary)
03 Basses
01 Vader Voltage
Carving into darkness, revolving and floundering through space. A breathing, distorted bass.
- Patches: Distorted Bass, Distorted Bass FX Attack
- CC1: Tuning, Return 1 (FX)
- CC3: Send 2 (FX)
02 Canon
A true gate-opener, this sound comes alive with wide intervals and controlled distortion. A heavily distorted, earth-shattering bass.
- Patches: Pad Bass Fat, Pad Bass, Tremolo Pad
- CC1: Filter, Send (Reverb, Auto Gain)
03 Beta Bass
A lucent attack starts this slightly pulsating sound, with a disturbing downward spiral that also affects pitch. A heavily distorted, rough bass.
- Patches: Distorted Bass, Distorted Bass FX Attack
- CC1: Tuning, Send 2 (FX)
04 Malicious Thoughts
A hollow sound with percussive movement, exploring the boundaries of sonic sanity.
- Patches: Pad Bass, Dark Organ
- CC1: Volume Bass
05 Breathing Void
Like travelling to another universe, you will discover more dimensions than you thought possible. A pulsing bass with simmering effects.
- Patches: Dark Organ, High Anxiety Mellow
- CC1: Send 2 (Reverb)
06 Alpha Bass
A haunting fragile tremolo with an incredibly dark bass foundation.
- Patches: Dark Organ Nervous, Pad Bass
- CC1: Volume of Bass channel
07 Devil's Horns
A brass-like lead that sounds most powerful when played in octaves.
- Patches: Pad Bass
- CC1: Filter, Send (EQ, Reverb)
08 Filter Bass
Dark and brooding, like monster machines. Filters will accentuate various types of distortion.
- Patches: Pad Bass Fat
- CC1: Filter, Send (Reverb)
- Keyswitches: C1–D1
09 Uncontainable Anger
Soaring and breathing and screaming out loud. All in one.
- Patches: Pad Bass Fat
- CC1: Filter, Reverb of Mid Channel
10 Monster Traces
A defined percussive bass with an interesting aftermath and an aggressive filter effect.
- Patches: Distorted Bass, Distorted Bass FX Attack, Frozen Mallets
- CC1: Filter
11 Plucked Bass
From round, warm and friendly to a very defined, urgent, breathy bass, this sound is a chameleon.
- Patches: Plucked Pad, Mallet Strings
- CC1: Filter
- CC3: Send 2 (Reverb)
12 Punchbowl
A messenger of sound from the depths of distortion.
- Patches: Pad Bass, Distorted Bass FX Attack, Pad Bass Fat, Distorted Bass
- CC1: Filter
13 SUBstitution
A wide, subtle, ambient bass with a lot of potential to remind you of the dark side.
- Patches: Pad Bass, Pad Bass Fat
- CC1: Return 1 (FX)
14 Tap Into Madness
Synchronized delays make this scary golem an irresistible partner for intense tracks. A thrilling effect that unveils its full character with short notes.
- Patches: Pad Bass Fat
- CC1: Filter
15 Saturated Brass Drone
Heavy Metal Brass, with an oscillating effect when playing chords.
- Patches: Pad Bass Fat
- CC1: Filter
04 Pulses
01 Barrax
Multi-rhythmic pulsating pad with growl control, good for building up tension.
- Patches: Pad Bass, Pad Bass Fat, Distorted Bass
- CC1: Send 2 (FX)
02 Blurred Bells
Mesmerizing bells with an intriguing aftermath and controllable stereo delay.
- Patches: High Anxiety, High Anxiety Mellow, Frozen Mallets, Big Bell Mallets
- CC1: Return 2 (FX)
03 Magic Chimes
Angelic melodic wind chimes with acoustic body control.
- Patches: Steel Mallets
- CC1: HP Filter
04 Crystalline
Shiny, soft-attack pad with a ringing follow-up effect.
- Patches: High Anxiety
- CC1: Send 1 (Auto Gain, Reverb)
05 Heavenly Stutter
Warm glowing pad with a vibrant radiation control feature.
- Patches: Crystal Lead + Dark Pad, Dark Organ Nervous, Heaven Pad Distorted
- CC1: Volume of FX channels
06 Pelican Falls
Tension pulse with intensity control.
- Patches: Stormy Pad, Stormy Pad Distorted, Dark Organ
- CC1: Filter
07 Repeater Bass
Frightening bass pulse with EQ, reverb and filter control.
- Patches: Pad Bass Fat
- CC1: Filter Keyswitches: C1–C#1 fast/slow, F1–G1 light/medium/strong
08 Wake-up Call
Slowly evolving ghost pad with long delays.
- Patches: Dark Organ
- CC1: Send (Reverb)
09 Patient Smith
Evolving pad with many tonal colors.
- Patches: Big Bell Mallets, High Anxiety, Pad Bass Fat, Tremolo Pad, Mallet Strings
- CC1: Filter
- CC3: Send (Reverb)
10 Pluquencer
Multi-pattern sequences with octave control. Plucky sounds with different speeds and rhytms.
- Patches: Dark Organ, Heaven Pad Distorted, High Anxiety Mellow
- CC1: Slot XF Dimension 2
- Keyswitches: C1–D#2 rhythm and speed variations
11 Smartwatch
Ticking high-range pulse with short impulses, soft ringing effects.
- Patches: Dark Organ
- CC1: Send 1 (Reverb)
12 Trance Bass
Sequenced, growling bass with random room effects.
- Patches: Dark Organ, Pad Bass Fat, Tremolo Pad
- CC1: Volume of FX channel
13 Rolling Bass
Defined, sequenced bass pulse with filter control.
- Patches: Distorted Bass, Distorted Bass FX Attack
- CC1: Return 1 (Distortion)
- CC3: Send 2 (Reverb, FX)
14 Pulsar II
Pulsating warmth pad with a glassy component.
- Patches: Dark Organ
- CC1: Filter, Send (Reverb)
15 Sunrise
Positive spheres with a diffident, long attack.
- Patches: High Anxiety Mellow
- CC1: Send 1 (Reverb)
05 Plucks
01 Devil's Mallets
Filter-controlled deep mallet sound. Hard-hitting mallets with a demonic appearance.
- Patches: Frozen Mallets, Frozen Mallets Dark Attack, Distorted Bass
- CC1: Filter
02 Stranger Pings
Multi-faceted space pluck with FX Reverb Control. Strange noises and defined sounds.
- Patches: Steel Mallets, Big Bell Mallets, Mallet Strings, Frozen Mallets, Plucked Pad (all including variations)
- CC1: Return 2 (FX Reverb)
- Keyswitches: C1–E1
03 Crunk Walk
Double-hitting wooden crystal synergetic pluck sound. High octaves only.
- Patches: Big Bell Mallets, Steel Mallets FX Attack, Steel Mallets
- CC1: Filter
04 Inner Child
Intimate multi-layer pluck sound with a soft sustain patch. "A touch of Spain."
- Patches: Plucked Pad, Plucked Pad Spain Attack, Frozen Mallets
- CC1: Slot XF, Return 1 (Rever, Chorus)
05 Oblivion
Shimmering eastern pluck sound with attack control. Good for for softer or more pronounced passages.
- Patches: Plucked Pad
- CC1: Mixer Attack, Send Attack (Reverb, Compressor)
06 Space Pub Harpsichord
Harpsichord pad with infusion control for detuning effect.
- Patches: Mallet Strings, Mallet Strings Plucked
- CC1: Slot XF
07 Steel Cups
Vibrato steel cups wth attack control.
- Patches: Frozen Mallets, Plucked Pad
- CC1: Filter, Return (FX)
08 Tibet
Golden metallic delay pluck pad with delay speed control. Icy bell sounds.
- Patches: High Anxiety, High Anxiety Mellow, Mallet Strings
- CC1: Return 2 (Delay)
09 Broken FX
Chopped sounds, scattered in the stereo field, with random noises.
- Patches: Frozen Mallets, Plucked Pad Spain Attack, Steel Mallets, Heaven Pad, Crystal Lead, Tremolo Pad, High Anxiety Mellow
- CC1: Return 1 (FX)
- Keyswitches: C1–C#1 Mallets/Pads, F1–G#1 Patches
10 Loose Strings
Slap-back echo with attack control. The delay effect produces a sound similar to strings hitting the body of an instrument.
- Patches: Distorted Bass FX Attack, Mallet Strings Plucked
- CC1: Filter
11 Lost In The Shell
Crawling sound exploring a creepy space.
- Patches: Mallet Strings Plucked, Steel Mallets, Mallet Strings, Plucked Pad, Steel Mallets FX Attack, Big Bell Mallets
- CC1: Filter
- CC3: Send 2 (Reverb, Pan)
12 M.A.
Carefully plucked harpesque sound, with depth control.
- Patches: Crystal Lead, Crystal Lead + Dark Pad
- CC1: Return 1 (FX)
13 Ohio Heat
Warm multi-layered pluck pad with attack control.
- Patches: Tremolo Pad, Stormy Pad, Mallet Strings, Mallet Strings Plucked, Frozen Mallets
- CC1: Filter
14 Space Mallets
Multi-layered singing bowls with space control. Big, bright sound.
- Patches: Steel Mallets, Frozen Mallets, Dark Organ
- CC1: Return 1 (Reverb)
15 Orbit Dulcimer
Filter-controlled, shiny dulcimer with a magic afterglow.
- Patches: Mallet Strings Plucked
- CC1: Filter
16 Octave Toy Piano
Spooky de-tuned piano with delay control.
- Patches: Mallet Strings Plucked
- CC1: Send 2 (Delay, Reverb)
17 Stockberg Mallet
Bright mallets with stereo delay control.
- Patches: Big Bell Mallets
- CC1: Send (Auto Gain, Reverb)
18 Stuck Stacks
Breathy pluck pad with reverb/delay control.
- Patches: Tremolo Pad, Tremolo Pad Celestial, Heaven Pad
- CC1: Return (Reverb, Delay)
19 Crystal Pluck
Shimmering pluck with a turn-around ringing sound.
- Patches: High Anxiety, Frozen Mallets, Plucked Pad Spain Attack
- CC1: Return 2 (Chorus, Saturator)
20 Knocking and Listening
A mallet bass sound with a great perspective.
- Patches: Mallet Strings
- CC1: Tuning
- CC3: Send 1 (Reverb)
21 Singing Plastic Koto
Simple pluck with depth control.
- Patches: Plucked Pad
- CC1: Send (Reverb)
06 Leads
01 Joi
Enhanced Space Harp with intuitive micro-tuning. A sharp and direct sound.
- Patches: High Anxiety, High Anxiety Mellow, Plucked Pad
- CC1: Tuning, Return 2 (Reverb, Chorus)
02 Alpha Centauri
Embark on a sonic journey that will resonate with you with this bright airy lead sound.
- Patches: High Anxiety, High Anxiety Mellow, Crystal Lead
- CC1: Filter, Return 2 (Saturator, Phaser, Reverb)
03 Leader
Minimal, electronic-sounding lead for blazing fast lines and pinprick chords.
- Patches: Plucked Pad Spain Attack
- CC1: Filter, Send 1 (Chorus, Reverb) + 2 (Delay, Reverb)
04 Nautilus Organ
Oscillating organ sound with depth control and a wide range.
- Patches: Pad Bass Fat, Tremolo Pad
- CC1: Filter
- CC3: Send 2 (Reverb)
05 Neon
Vibrant and pulsating sound, also great as a modulated pad.
- Patches: High Anxiety, High Anxiety Mellow, Plucked Pad
- CC1: Filter
06 Orion
Multi-facetted solo and pad sound, with a spectrum from solemn to diabolic, soft to screeching.
- Patches: Heaven Pad, Heaven Pad Distorted, High Anxiety Mellow
- CC1: Slot XF
07 Winter Evening
Shimmering bliss with a glazing afterglow and a highly addictive controllable feedback loop. Charming winds and sparkling sounds create the image of a snowy landscape.
- Patches: Dark Organ, Crystal Lead, Tremolo Pad, High Anxiety
- CC1: Volume of Sparkle channel
08 Star Gazing
Fine-grained, inspirational lead for chords and soft, floating themes.
- Patches: Plucked Pad Spain Attack, Plucked Pad
- CC1: Filter