Hey everyone, thanks for watching! There are a lot of factors to consider when doing a review like this and unfortunately I often can't include everything I'd like to just because the video would either take too long to make, or the video would just be too long. If there is something that I didn't cover in the review, feel free to ask below and I'll try my best to answer the question! A couple that I'm sure will come up; How do these compare to other synthetics, i.e. Legere, Silverstein, D'Addario, etc? My honest answer at this time is, I'm really not sure. In a general sense, I think the Vandoren's stack up well, but it's hard for me to directly say what the best synthetic reed on the market is, as I don't currently have the right strengths of those reeds to do a direct comparison. If you'd like to see a video like that though, let me know, I might be able to do one in the future! If you have had the chance to test the Vandoren's out and have played on the other synthetics, feel free to share your thoughts too! I'm very curious to hear what long time Legere players think of the VK1's once they start getting into more of these artist's hands. I'm sure there will also be additional questions about reed strength choices. The Licostini FDC is a pretty resistant mouthpiece and while I occasionally use 3.5s, I tend to prefer 3s for that particular resistance level. If you play on something more free blowing/something that has a closer facing (i.e. M13 Lyre), I have seen others report success with the 55 and 60 Strengths, but I have also seen that being preferred for people using B40 Lyres. Of course, everyone's mileage may vary depending on their production style. If you've tried these reeds out, comment your preferred combination (Mouthpiece/Reed Strength.) I think that might be helpful for others! Thanks again for watching and happy practicing!

@egeneus

Жыл бұрын

Hey! Thanks for your brief review! I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time, that is Chicago Vandoren Lab and tried the VK’s myself. I should mention that I am a long time Legere player, and you should take my observations with a grain of salt. As to me VK’s feel similar to the cane reeds but kinda in a bad way. They somehow produce a smaller volume of sound compared to Legere, or to rephrase, you need to put much more effort to produce the comparable sound. (I tried strength from 40 to 55 on 2 mouthpieces, B40L and BD4 and end up buying a couple 45s just to mb give them a chance later). The timbre across the registers was inconsistent (pretty nice in chalumeau but gets edgy in clarion), and articulation demanded more effort than Legeres. To sum up, I expected to get a bit more out of the VKs in terms of sound color and mb better consistency from reed to reed compared to Legeres. Up to this point I haven’t found any significant benefits for myself. They do play pretty well, no question, but they do not feel like revelation and I am not sure how they are gonna compete with other players on the market.

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

@@egeneus This is really insightful, thank you for commenting! The feedback from Legere users is what I’ve been most interested to see as the VK1s get into more hands.

@griffindrucker5712

Жыл бұрын

⁠@@ParkHouseCreationsthink the VKs make a “cane-type sound” easier to create with a cane mouthpiece and ligature setup, whereas the Legeres need to be treated completely differently. Whenever people have said they hear something in the sound of a synthetic that they don’t like, but they don’t know how to describe that quality, it is likely due to the reed/mouthpiece matchup. Even smaller things like reed and ligature placement need to be treated very differently. The most important mouthpiece dimensions are the tip and side rails, from what I understand. I’m pretty sure thicker rails accommodate more for Synthetics. I honestly think that people should pick either cane or synthetic and stick to it, because they need to be treated entirely differently. There’s not much point in trying to make these comparisons, because cane and synthetics have two different purposes. Neither one is better or worse, it depends on what matters to you. If you want more customizability and options to choose from, go with cane. If you want consistency, stability, and longevity, go with synthetic. I prefer synthetics because I have more control over how I will sound at all times. There are less external factors that can influence my sound when using synthetics, which I love. If the reed is consistent and stable but doesn’t sound great, I can figure out how to make it sound great consistently without actually changing the reed.

As an orchestra player: Cane reed has the best sound period. To play in an orchestra or behind a screen in an audition, you need depth/body of sound & good projection and those were lacking with the plastic reed.

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

Ya, at this point I still wouldn’t feel personally confident enough to use any synthetic reed for a big audition. I know there are some players who do use them auditioning and in the orchestra, so maybe I just haven’t found the right combination of reed and mouthpiece, but it’s hard to say. In general, I think orchestral players are essentially the final hurdle in the synthetic reed litmus test. I think when the majority feel confident in a synthetic reed’s ability to allow them to sound and perform their best in that environment, then we will know that synthetic reeds have truly arrived as a product better than cane. Thanks for watching!!

@laurieblanchet-clarinet

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for all the work to put this video together! Great content

You sound great on the VK1! I actually guessed wrong in the blind comparison 😂. I’m excited to try these myself:)

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

Hah thanks! I was pretty surprised when I went to listen to the recordings as well! Thanks for watching!

The biggest giveaway was the somewhat inconsistent intonation produced by the VK reed; the top C in the Grand Partita excerpt 5th and 6th bars were lower than the same note preceding the top D. Also, the high E was a shade under - I couldn’t see see whether you’d attempted to correct this using the RH little finger Eb key because it was below the video frame. None of these intonation issues was apparent with the cane reed. The cane reed had a much more complex mix of upper partials which were absent with the synthetic reed, making the sound ‘complete’. Their absence made the sound seem masked and two-dimensional.

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

Good ears! I agree the VK1 was a little less consistent, especially in the upper register when compared with the cane. I believe what you are hearing in the 5th and 6th bars is the inclusion of my bottom trill key with the typical C fingering (to raise the pitch) pre top D, but I did not include that key on the way down as I found it a little too awkward. For consistencies sake I did the same thing with the cane reed, but its lack of inclusion on the way down wasn't as apparent (I found intonation more malleable in the upper register with cane.) I did use the RH little finger Eb key to help with the high E intonation, but unfortunately it wasn't quite enough. And agreed about the sound, in the head-to-head I preferred the Cane as well! Thanks for watching!

@patricksautour5963

2 ай бұрын

Pour ma part j'ai en ma possession des anches Légère..et même problème Justesse dans le médium et difficile dans l'aigu c"est loin d'être merveilleux.....Le roseau a encore de belles années devant lui ......hélas ...!!!!

Fantastic video, as always! I am really looking forward to getting to try these reeds, and unfortunately it looks like we still haven't found the unicorn perfect reed that makes me sound great all the time no matter what. I guess I will have to keep practicing!

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Josh! And true 🤣, it looks like I’ll have to keep practicing (and searching) too! Let me know what you think of the reeds when you get your hands on them!

Skipping back and forth to some of the matching parts from A and B helps me hear what I prefer. A is just too bright, it's almost shrill. B is kinda dark, and has so much more body, it sounds significantly better, imo. And this is the case in pretty much every comparison I watch, and the same with the around 7 synthetic reeds I own (lots of different hardness and two very different mouthpieces). It is true, they are easy to play and articulate, super reliable, unaffected by the climate, and last a long time. So there is a lot of value there. Thanks for the great comparison, it's an easy pass for me. I love all your videos, keep em coming!

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Russell! I tend to agree that basically every synthetic reed still has the same shortcomings when compared to cane, however I am encouraged that companies keep working on trying to improve them!

Thanks for another great video. Honestly I thought the clarity was more even on the VK1, meaning there was just a hint of stuffiness near the throat tones with the cane, which made me guess correctly. Having said that, I wasn't confident of my choice. Anyway, you sounded awesome on both!

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Joseph, I appreciate the kind words!

Thank you for your review, it was accurate and balanced. I was guessing correctly. It would be interesting if next time you can compare the vk1 with the Légère. Let me know if you are planning to do it. Thanks again

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I will let you know if I am planning on doing the Legere comparison! Right now I have a few different projects in the works. Thanks for watching!

Thanks for this video, Eric. I was waiting for you to do one after your Instagram post. You are always objective in your reviews. What is the exchange program if there is one for Vandoren? I was pleasantly surprised that when I wrote to D'Addario to exchange a Venn that was too soft, they sent me 2 back each a half strength stronger, and at no charge. However, I still prefer the Legere Euro over the Venn and Silverstein on a Hawkins (preBackun) mouthpiece. Current prices that I am seeing on the internet are in the $40 range for this new reed.

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! I’m honestly not sure what Vandoren’s plans are for an exchange program at this time, I’ll be curious to see if they offer one. And wow, that’s just some great customer service from D’Addario! In regards to pricing, hopefully I’m recalling correctly, but when the Euro first released I think it was priced pretty similarly (nearly $40,) but it dropped very quickly in the months following release to about $30. Hopefully we see a similar price drop here!

did anyone feel like reed A sounded stuffy in the blind sound test?

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for using “Reed A!” For me, I hear it as being stuffy primarily in the articulation. It’s ironic, because it felt great behind the instrument while I was playing the articulation excerpt, significantly better than “Reed B” to be honest.

You sound great on the VK1s! But ya, cane reeds just sounded better in your recording, more overtones and more vibrant sound. The altissimo intonation really is the biggest problem for me, I cannot play Legere for this reason. Great video as always, keep going man!!🎊🎊

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Junnan, always appreciate getting your take on it!

They should make the new strength numbers more inconsistent and dethatched from the old one by giving it 8 digit random number.

I just tried three strength variations and was disappointed with lack of consistency between and within the reeds. I think they are close with regard to sound. Fingers crossed for the future.

I've recently compared the VK1 with the Venn 2 and Legere Euro. All depends on the music you're playing. In the high altissimo register nothing beats cane with the VK1 and Legere Euro competing equally. The Venn 2 is just two uneven and difficult to play in all ranges. In the lower ranges where I tend to play the most, preferring tenor opera arias and classic jazz standards, the Legere Euro outperforms all the others. So, depends on the music you play, and also on what you get used to. Each reed takes time to adjust to its characteristics.

Fwiw, I identified reeds A and B correctly. I think you've put your finger on a key issue (weakness? paradox?) with the current crop of synthetic clarinet reeds, include the Legere Euro Cut, and definitely the Venn G2, as well as the VK1: to obtain optimal tone quality and intonation over the full range, you have to use a strength that is a bit too hard to be optimally comfortable. As the output quality increases, so does the resistance, more so than with cane. But it certainly seems that the VK1 is worth trying out. The existence of this performance quirk may be less important than whether it can be managed effectively.

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

Ya, it’s one of the bigger downsides for me in regards to the synthetic reeds I’ve tried. I dislike feeling like I’m working harder than I need to. However, like you suggest at the end of your comment, it was fortunately pretty manageable for this setup! Thanks for watching, let me know what you think of the reeds when you try them out!

Hola, gracias por el video! aqui en europa no llegarán hasta octubre... yo uso légère desde hace 8 años de manera profesional ( revisa mis videos si te apetece ) y mi pregunta es: cambian despues de tocar 15 minutos seguidos debido a la temperatura? en mi experiencia, con légère la caña se vuelve mas blanda cuando está caliente. También en verano son más blandas que en invierno. Un saludo y gracias otra vez!☺

Hi Eric, I use a fdc in silver material, but I need a 3.5 v12 reed

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

Ya, I’ve heard other people say the same thing about the FDC. I think my instruments/barrels are also pretty resistant 😅 and it’s part of the reason I prefer softer reeds. I can use a 3.5, but I always feel like I’m having to muscle/or push to get the sound I want. You would probably prefer a VK1 55 or 60! Thanks for watching!

Hi! great content! May I ask what mouthpiece are you playing on?

@ParkHouseCreations

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! In this video I use a Licostini FDC, but lately I’ve been using a PlayNick Puccini Tosca. Hope that helps!

I'm currently using légère 3.25 Euro cut and I'm 14 going into high school. I already have 2 European cut 3.25’s and I can afford 3 more euro cut’s or try 2 strengths of VK1’s, I'm currently using a BD5 mouthpiece. This is the money that I earned and I want to spend it wisely on clarinet equipment.

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

New equipment can be exciting, but I think in this case I would continue using what works for you! If you are finding success with the Euro cuts, I would focus on getting more of those for your rotation rather than hoping that you pick the right VK1 strength. I would be nervous about ordering them without being able to try them in person first. Hopefully there is a chance for you to try them in the future without having to risk so much money!

@etternacomrade7682

Жыл бұрын

@@ParkHouseCreations thank you for the advice!

@philpasteris8973

Жыл бұрын

Interestingly, I am using the Legere 3.25 (2) on a Dassios mouthpiece and it works well. I have a BD5 also, but they would not play at all. Seems the BD5 is optimized for cane reeds. I rotate my reeds so that "1" is played on an odd date and "2" is played on a even date. I have found that reed and ligature placement are absolutely critical. The two reeds play best in different locations on the same mouthpiece. I would be interested in your observations. I hope you are having fun in high school. That was over 55 years ago for me!

@etternacomrade7682

Жыл бұрын

@@philpasteris8973 that's really interesting, I haven't tried mouthpieces that aren't vandoren yet but ill try more throughout my career. I find it really easy to get a dark sound on this mouthpiece, especially throat tone notes

I guessed

I got a 60, but it is too soft. I play legere euro 3.75.

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

This is good information, thank you! And thanks for watching!

@tallrob11

Жыл бұрын

@@ParkHouseCreations I love your playing and your videos!

@elisecurran9497

11 ай бұрын

Right, they simply do not make a strength that would be workable for me, and certainly not for these prices, considering the inconsistency.

tldr: I think I made a repair woman think I was someone who could tell the future. I think I might have came off of as a someone who could see into the future. I took my great uncle's clarinet to a repair shop with my grandfather. When the repair woman went to put her mouthpiece on, which didn't fit for whatever reason, my uncle pointed out that her reed didn't look like a normal reed. She told him it was a synthetic reed, to which I responded "You know that Vandorian is making a synthetic reed" to which she told me "I have no idea." I had watched Earspasm's video on the synthetic reed.

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

Haha, let me know if you get any premonitions about the next big clarinet invention! Thanks for watching!

@cooperjorde149

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for making this video. I have just some random things to say so read if you want to. The clarinet in question is about 60+ years old and is made of wood and made by Conn, which is very strange. One neck of a clarinet for a beginner such as myself. I am not a beginning band student, just picking up the clarinet. The only bad thing was being the eager learner, I wasn't able to get reeds for weeks and I used the old reeds that came in the case. I should have listened to your warning about old reeds tasting bad, I made a joke to someone saying that reeds are not like wine, tasting better with age. Those reeds must have been at the very least 50 years old. I didn't have a ligature so I used my sister's ponytail holder to hold the reed to the mouthpiece. Anyways thank you all who have read through this. Good day

Disappointed. Had high hopes for the Vandoren VK1 but the cane sounded clearly better!

I don't find any advantage over reeds. They are much more expensive, they are not perfectly equal to each other, they don't sound as good...they don't change, it could be an advantage. But if one prepares different reeds for different contexts, there are no problems... then? Why the insistence on plastic "reeds"?

@pablodevadderclarinete

Жыл бұрын

Is it possible to fix them?

@ParkHouseCreations

Жыл бұрын

Ya I hear what you are saying, I think the biggest benefit is what you said; that they don’t change and in general remain the same for a longer period of time before wearing out. Knowing what you are going to get day after day is definitely helpful for a lot of people even if most of the other attributes are slightly worse than the best cane. I’m with you though, I don’t have many problems with normal cane reeds and would pick them for most scenarios. Though I stand by what I said at the end of the video, having these reeds for that long recording session was really useful (the articulation and response held up really well, while my cane reeds became waterlogged from so many consecutive hours of playing.) At the end of the day, it’s just another option that can be useful for your playing depending on the situation. And I believe (I could be wrong) that it’s not recommended that you work on these reeds.

I immediately guessed A is synthetic because sounded lifeless and empty compared to B. Vandoren should make sub-strengths in cane reeds instead of these, that would be much more useful. Wasting time for non-inspiring equipment.

You are aware that you look like me, right?