VSL Expands Synchron Percussion Range

The Vienna Symphonic Library has announced the release of two new Collections that they say take its Synchron Percussion range around the globe: Synchron Cimbalom and Synchron World Percussion II. Both were recorded on the Hollywood-proven Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage and join the company's growing family of world instruments. The company is also launching a comprehensive "Sounds of the World" promotion with special prices on further ethnic libraries. Here's the details in their own words...

Synchron Cimbalom – From the Tavern to the Concert Hall

Few instruments travel as far in a single phrase as the cimbalom. This Hungarian concert cimbalom was recorded on Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage, performed by virtuoso Gergely Lajti. Its metal strings are struck directly with handheld mallets – standard, Romanian, and Gypsy – ranging from a soft shimmer to a bright, percussive attack, while full damper-pedal control governs the long, complex resonance that gives the instrument its unmistakable voice.

For centuries, the cimbalom was a folk and tavern instrument, at home in the dance houses of Hungary and Romania. That changed in 1874, when Budapest instrument maker V. József Schunda set it on four legs, extended it to a fully chromatic range, and added a damper pedal. Within a single generation, the cimbalom found its way into the concert hall through the folk traditions that composers such as Kodály, Bartók, and Stravinsky drew on. This versatility has since made it a striking color in contemporary orchestral and film scores.

Synchron World Percussion II – One Stage, Four Continents

Synchron World Percussion II gathers 20 characterful percussion instruments from four continents – from the Cuban batá and Brazilian berimbau to the Indian mridangam, the Iranian dammam, and the Irish bodhrán. Where the first Collection captured regional ensembles, this second volume presents each instrument on its own, giving composers and producers a versatile toolkit of distinctive voices ready to drop into any arrangement.

Captured on Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage, the Collection also includes 180 authentic MIDI grooves that can be auditioned in the Synchron Player's MIDI Loop Player and dragged straight into the DAW, giving users full freedom over tempo, dynamics, length, and arrangement.

For Synchron World Percussion II, the Vienna team brought together a circle of accomplished percussionists, each lending authentic technique and feel to their instruments: Ibou Ba from Senegal, Hamidreza Ojaghi from the Kurdish region of Iran, Sasa Nikolic from Croatia, Emma Frauenholz and Marnix Veenenbos from Austria, and Felix Morgenstern from Germany. As with all Synchron Series libraries, the Standard and Full Library differ in the number of provided microphone positions.

Sounds of the World – Special Offers on Synchron World Libraries

To celebrate the two new releases, Vienna Symphonic Library is adding two more world libraries to the promotion: Synchron World Percussion I and Synchron World Winds, including all of their Single Packs, such as tin whistles, bansuris, dizis, duduks, shakuhachis, and many more. The "Sounds of the World" promotion runs from September 16 through 30, 2026.

Pricing and Availability:

Synchron Cimbalom is currently available at introductory prices of €69 (reg. €89) for the Standard Library and €99 (reg. €129) for the Full Library, while Synchron World Percussion II is available at €149 (reg. €199) and €239 (reg. €319) respectively. Both introductory offers run through September 30, 2026.

More information:

• VSL

• VSL Introduces Vienna Essential Orchestra 01-Sep-26
• A Collection Of Straight-Muted Brass 06-Jul-26
• Vienna Symphonic Library Updates 18-Jun-26
• Meticulously Sampled Harpsichord 02-Apr-26
• VSL Updates Synchron Libraries 19-Mar-26