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Which features are different between editions of BBC SO?

Updated over 2 months ago

Below is a chart comparing the features of the different editions, under that is some further clarification:

BBCSO

Round Robins

Round Robins offer a different sampled version of the same sound each time you hit the same key, making each note sounds slightly different offering more realism.

BBC Discover contains no round robin samples, so there is only one sample per dynamic layer for each technique

BBC Core and Professional both include up to 8 round robins for added realism

Legato

Legato patches offer the most realistic playable sample sound available. These patches are monophonic meaning one note sounds at a time, if you play overlapping notes, you will hear the transition from one note to the other.

BBC Discover does not contain legato patches, Core and Professional do.

Dynamic Layers

For each technique we record selection of levels for the instrument's dynamics (how loud or softly the instrument is played), very soft at pp through to loud ff

BBC Discover has 1 dynamic layer per technique.

BBC Core and Professional contain up to 3 dynamic layers.

Techniques

Techniques - sometimes referring to as articulations - are unique sounds created by playing instruments in a certain way, such as Pizzicato (a plucked note) or Col Legno (playing a stringed instrument with the wood of the bow)

Discover contains 48 techniques

Core contains 344 techniques

Professional contains 468 techniques

For a full list of the included techniques please refer to the appendices in the user manuals or the "What's Included" list on the product page.

Microphone Signals

Both the Discover and Core editions of BBC Symphony Orchestra have one signal:

  • Mix 1 (full)

BBC SO Professional has the following signals, which include our unique "spill" signals:

  • Mix 1 (Full)

  • Mix 2 (Jake Jackson)

  • Mono

  • Close

  • Out

  • Balcony

  • Leader

  • Stereo

  • Sides

  • Close Wide Pan

  • Spill (Strings)

  • Spill (Woodwinds)

  • Spill (Brass)

  • Spill (Percussion)

  • Spill (Full)

Instruments

BBC Discover contains 34 instruments which are:

  • 1st Violins

  • 2nd Violins

  • Violas

  • Cellos

  • Basses

  • Piccolo

  • Flutes A3

  • Oboes A3

  • Clarinets A3

  • Bassoons A3

  • Horns A4

  • Trumpets A3

  • Tenor Trombones A3

  • Bass Trombones A2

  • Tuba

  • Harp

  • Celeste

  • Timpani

  • Marimba

  • Xylophone

  • Glockenspiel

  • Tubular Bells

  • Piano

(the following are found in Untuned percussion)

  • Anvil

  • Bass Drum

  • Cymbal

  • Military Drum

  • Piatti

  • Snare

  • Tam Tam

  • Tambourine

  • Tenor Drum

  • Toys

  • Triangle

The Core edition adds the following 7 solo instruments to the list:

  • Flute

  • Oboe

  • Clarinet

  • Bassoon

  • Horn

  • Trumpet

  • Tenor Trombone

The Professional Edition contains all of these instruments plus the following:

  • Violin 1 Leader

  • Violin 2 Leader

  • Violas Leader

  • Celli Leader

  • Bass Leader

  • Bass Flute

  • Bass Clarinet

  • Contrabassoon

  • Cor Anglais

  • Contrabass Trombone

  • Contrabass Tuba

  • Cimbasso

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