Hollow Sun 'Definitive CP70' CD released

[hollowsun]

I have made the 'Definitive CP70' CD available at the site:

http://www.hollowsun.com/cds/cp70_page.html

I have extensively multi-sampled my own re-conditioned Yamaha CP70B with full length samples at different velocities for each and every every note.

The result is as perfect a reproduction of this classic electric grand piano as you're ever likely to find.

A/B comparisons between the original and the sampled version in my S5000/Z4 is convincing, even under critical listening conditions from pp to ff.

So... for a mere $55 (plus $8 p+p), you can own this distinctive sound that has become a signature sound for the likes of Peter Gabriel and Keane as well a host of other luminaries that include Genesis, Abba, George Duke, U2, Ian Dury, Buggles and countless others. Even in today's musical genres, the CP has a cutting piano sound that is as relevant today as it ever was.

Furthermore, I have sampled my CP through the same Boss/Roland analogue chorus used by Peter Gabriel for his signature piano sound. This is not some swirly, stereo digital emulation of the effect but the real thing by patching in the pedal to my CP70's insert points!

Apart from trimming, normalisation and other optimisational procedures, these samples are not 'sanitised' in any way - they are a truly accurate representation of a re-conditioned and multi-sampled example of a true classic.

Because of the nature of the sampling (full length samples on every note at different velocities with no looping), the programs are understandably quite large (around 100Mb each) but to help in situations where absolute detail is not required (in a busy mix or out live for example) and/or where memory is at a premium, there are 'lite' versions that only use every minor third. There are also 'ultra-lite' versions that dispense with the velocity crossfade/switching for ultimate memory management where total authenticity is not required. That said, these various 'lite' versions are almost indistinguishable from their 'full' versions.

For Z4/8 and MPC4000 users, there are programs that utilise a 'release trigger' where a note-off triggers a characteristic 'thunk' for absolute authenticity as the damper returns when your fingers leave the keyboard.

This is a very special collection and months of work has gone into making it as authentic as possible.

Initially, this collection is released exclusively in S5/6 and Z4/8 (and MPC4000) format only but an MFI will hopefully follow soon for use in other formats.

"OK guys, I wrote a demo or two for this collection, so I had a pleasure of working with it right after it's been created, and I really have to say this thing is absolutely wonderful and 100% authentically sounding. Put it simple: the best EP collection in my huge sample library." Andy Hardwake


Steve

[Whoomph]

Good luck with this product Mr Hollow Sun, something tells me the quality of this will be good.
Actually I've just listened to the demos and yep the quality is excellent,
And the playing on demo 2 is astounding especially as it gets into the clip a bit.
Not that demo one isn't good either

You've definitely nailed the cp 70 here , the memories have all come flooding back
Although this is obviously a great product at a very reasonable price I won't be buying this one ... I'm not really in the market for anything like this at the mo, though I did have to comment on the apperrant quality and craftsmanship involved here.
Plus I thought you wouldn't mind a little bump

[Failed Muso]

I've often thought about getting one of these beauties. That distinctive piano sound is quite unique. I was lucky enough to be involved with the CP70 CD, being fortunate to be asked to test them out on my set up at home. I even helped Steve with the sale of the CP70 that he used for the recording sessions. Steve had bought one specifically for the purpose of creating this collection. He even paid out for a professional tuner to come out and set it up right, but not before sampling it in it's "gigged" state for posterity Sadly, Steve lost money on all of this, but the end result was well worth it

I have played these samples in both my S6000 and Z8, and both sound exquisite, the Z8 version having that wonderful note off "thunk", a supremely clever yet simple addition.

These fantastic samples are some of the best of their kind and a bargain to boot. If you're an Akai owner, get these now. If not, wait for the upcoming MFI version that will cater for the soft samplists out there.

Now that I have bought my CD, I am even more impressed with the way Steve has packaged them, with photo's and typical Hollow Sun descriptions on shiny, glossy paper. They're certainly up there quality wise, both in content and presentation.

[Shell]

are any of the hollow sun cd's in wav format?

[hollowsun]

are any of the hollow sun cd's in wav format?

They are ALL in .WAV format!

For the most part, the programming (conversion/import) of these .WAVs to other samplers should be fairly straighforward as the samples are sensibly named either by note name (C2, D#3, A4, etc.) or 'numerically' (i.e. 01, 02, 03, etc., in semitone increments).

That said, there are various 'translators' that can convert from S5/6 format to most of the popular s/w formats - they should, at least, handle the tricky mapping process (though some intervention might be required with regard to filters, envelopes, etc.... but hey - it could be fun!).

The CP70 might be a tad trickier for the feint of heart because of the velocity crossfading used (and other tricks that appear to be unique - or at least, better implemented) on the 5/6000 but none of it is exactly rocket science!!

Besides which, the other Hollow Sun CDs come with the Multi-Format Installer (MFI) that installs the sounds in any of the most popular sampler formats including Kontakt, HALion, EXS24, NNXT and others.

One customer recently wrote to me to say about the MFI for his FS1r CD and NNXT:

"Seems such a painless operation I can't believe anything's NOT going to go wrong"!!!

Currently, only the NewTron and CP70 exist only in S5/6 format (which are proving popular with this large user base) but they will be 'MFId' in due course. The other CDs are multi-format - simply pop the CD into your 'puter, run the MFI, select the destination format and click on INSTALL - simple as that.

I hope this helps.

More info (including a Flash demo of the MFI) can be found at:

http://www.hollowsun.com/cds


Steve

[hollowsun]

Good luck with this product Mr Hollow Sun, something tells me the quality of this will be good.
Actually I've just listened to the demos and yep the quality is excellent,
And the playing on demo 2 is astounding especially as it gets into the clip a bit.
Not that demo one isn't good either

You've definitely nailed the cp 70 here , the memories have all come flooding back

Ha!

Although this is obviously a great product at a very reasonable price I won't be buying this one ...

Shame on you sir - go on.... you know it makes sense

I'm not really in the market for anything like this at the mo, though I did have to comment on the apperrant quality and craftsmanship involved here.
Plus I thought you wouldn't mind a little bump

Thanks Mr Whoomph!

[Prefab doubt]

I'll wait for the EXS24 version, if possible with a good number of layers (take for example Scarbee's work on their pianos). Thanks.

[Whoomph]

{edit}

[greendoor]

I sold my CP70 about 12 years ago - but i'd love a perfectly sampled version. But i'm concerned about two points - the chorus effect and the velocity crossfading.
imho - a chorus effect should not be sampled, because it is a continously sweeping modulation effect. If you sampled this on every note, when playing back chords not only would you have an abnormal accumlation of the effect, but the timing of the modulation would be different for every note - utter chaos. I hope you have a completely dry version?? Also - mention of velocity cross-fading worries me. With multi layer samples, you just need to switch between them - not cross fade. Cross-fading, to me, suggests you would be hearing not just one, but two samples, with all the out-of-phase yuck that is not necessary. Please tell me I have misunderstood ... I'm a purist.

[hollowsun]

I sold my CP70 about 12 years ago - but i'd love a perfectly sampled version. But i'm concerned about two points - the chorus effect and the velocity crossfading.
imho - a chorus effect should not be sampled, because it is a continously sweeping modulation effect. If you sampled this on every note, when playing back chords not only would you have an abnormal accumlation of the effect, but the timing of the modulation would be different for every note - utter chaos.

I know exactly what you mean but as it happens, this does not appear to be an issue with this.

I hope you have a completely dry version??

Of course I do - you can put this through any effects (chorus or otherwise) you want.

Also - mention of velocity cross-fading worries me. With multi layer samples, you just need to switch between them - not cross fade. Cross-fading, to me, suggests you would be hearing not just one, but two samples, with all the out-of-phase yuck that is not necessary. Please tell me I have misunderstood ... I'm a purist.

No you are right - there is a velocity region where there are two samples playing at the same time but this is not a problem here on the 5/6000 (or Z4/8 or MPC4000) as such samples are played with absolute phase coherence - I cannot vouch for s/w samplers however that do not have the optimised ASICs to handle such playback situations and only time will tell as we begin the conversions how well this CP70 translates from S5/6000 format to the various s/w sampler formats.

All I can say is that I am a purist too and very careful A/B tests between my CP70 and my 'programmed' S5/6 version were carried out with no discernible differences between the two. The testers involved also concurred.


Steve

[Shell]

are any of the hollow sun cd's in wav format?

They are ALL in .WAV format!
Steve

thanks much for the reply.....as soon as i start working on music again i will be over to your shop

[greendoor]

Thanks Hollowsun for your explanation - relieved that there is the dry version. Sorry, I misunderstood. I use Halion, and from what I can tell the sample playback is sample accurate so hopefully this would translate ok. If it worried me, I'm sure I could tweak the velocity settings so the samples don't overlap. The CP70 is such a great sound ...

[hollowsun]

Thanks Hollowsun for your explanation - relieved that there is the dry version. Sorry, I misunderstood. I use Halion, and from what I can tell the sample playback is sample accurate so hopefully this would translate ok.

I hope so!

If it worried me, I'm sure I could tweak the velocity settings so the samples don't overlap.

Indeed... in fact, I suspect that many will want to tweak their versions coz of different playing styles, techniques, etc., and also the keyboard they're using (synth or weighted... whatever).

The CP70 is such a great sound ...

Absolutely!

To (maybe) allay your fears of how the velocity crossfade works/sounds, I have put up a simple audio demo at the page. A few single notes played at different velocities. This is, of course, on an S5000 not a s/w sampler

http://www.hollowsun.com/cds/cp70_page.html

It's called 'CP70 Dynamics'.

Now... how well this converts to the various s/w sampler formats depends very much on their implementation of velo xfade and their playback accuracy.

BTW, I've also added a quick audio demo of the 'sweeps' as well.


Steve

[hollowsun]

I have just added some other quick audio demos as well - one of the chorus version through the Boss/Roland analogue pedal and one of the 'lite' version.

http://www.hollowsun.com/cds/cp70_page.html


Steve

[MickGael]

Can I ask why there does not seem to be a direct download of the demos? I'd like to be able to listen at home on better speakers...