Wallander Instruments has introduced the WI Visual Instruments series – collections of virtual instruments that combine advanced behavioral modeling with extensive amounts of sound data extracted from acoustic measurements and recordings of real instruments. The first release is a brass collection – Brass1.
Description:
Distinguishable for the WIVI instruments are their extreme realism and expressive capabilities. Even advanced performances and lyrical melodies can be created instantly. You have full continuous dynamic range of each instrument at your disposal, and a tonal development that almost perfectly emulates that of a real instrument.
The WIVI wind instruments are designed to work flawlessly with a breath or wind controller. Advanced controllers are optional, but the key issue here is that WIVI is designed to provide full expressiveness while maintaining stability, phrasing and tonal development automatically. Unlike anything you’re used to, WIVI instruments behave, sound and respond like real instruments.
All WIVI instruments are designed to sound like the real thing out-of-the-box, while also providing full control over advanced parameters for users with special needs. Parameters can be used to design custom instruments, for a more personal sound and behavior.
Features
- Universal player
- Full set of instruments
- Unlimited number of instruments per instance
- Customizable instrument parameters
- Customizable reverb
- Easy integration with external reverbs
- Sample rates: 6 – 384 kHz
- Multiple environments
- Multiple visual themes
- Subscription to the update delivery service
Instruments Included
- Trumpets 1, 2, 3 (in Bb): No mute, straight mute, cup mute, bucket mute, solotone mute, harmon mute/no stem, harmon mute/stem inserted (wah-wah), harmon mute/stem extended (wah-wah), plunger mute (wah-wah).
- Tenor Trombones 1, 2, 3: No mute, straight mute, cup mute, bucket mute, harmon mute/no stem, harmon mute/stem inserted (wah-wah), harmon mute/stem extended (wah-wah), plunger mute (wah-wah).
- French Horns 1, 2, 3, 4: No mute, stopped, straight mute, dynamic stop (wah-wah).
- Tubas 1, 2 (in F): No mute, straight mute.
Brass 1 retails for $599.
It might be nice, but for most of us it’s pricy — $500 or $600 per set — close to $3000 for all of it. I’m not sure there is enough in this to justify the cost. I use a Yamaha VL70m with my MIDI wind instrument and can play various saxes, brass, woodwinds, synths, bass etc. and it costs about $500-600 total. Of course, it is only monophonic but it sounds great. I also wonder if a sampler could handle most of the other jobs that this does.