To me and I'm sure to the majority of listeners, hearing the strings being hammered in a delicate precise fashion means very little in comparison to whether feeling and emotion can be brought out of the instrument.
I have heard many demos of piano vstis, and the sound really convinces my ears yes, but the performance doesn't convince me. ie The notes themselves sound genuine, but the dynamics dont sound/feel expressive and so on. The 'feel' of the instrument is something that can be overlooked when hearing a demo. The feel greatly affects the performance by for example either stifling or inspiring it, and this is of great importance to most pianists, and in turn to listeners themselves.
Goes without saying that for me, the feel inspires me to no end! I've almost stopped playing on my real piano!
I dont need/want to give you my opinion on the sound because thats something you can all hear on the demos, but I felt the need to mention something on the feel.
New Quality Piano VSTi
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 517 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Baltimore, MD
http://www.youtube.com/reflekshun
Music Producer / Audio Engineer
Music Producer / Audio Engineer
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- KVRist
- 82 posts since 6 Dec, 2005 from San Jose
This latest demo IS a better demonstration of the capabilities. It definitely shows that in the lower range this VST sounds much like a piano should. There's that certain hollowness you get from the low tones vibrating the body of the instrument.
OTOH, the mid and upper ranges tend to sound too sharp and metallic, giving an unnatural tone that bespeaks of it's electronic origin.
I think if this was used in other than a solo context it would sound very good and hide the current inadequacies. But as it stands now, it doesn't quite cut it as a solo instrument.
I am guessing that some more tweeking of the code could probably overcome these problems. The expressiveness of the instrument is already very nice.
OTOH, the mid and upper ranges tend to sound too sharp and metallic, giving an unnatural tone that bespeaks of it's electronic origin.
I think if this was used in other than a solo context it would sound very good and hide the current inadequacies. But as it stands now, it doesn't quite cut it as a solo instrument.
I am guessing that some more tweeking of the code could probably overcome these problems. The expressiveness of the instrument is already very nice.
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- KVRian
- 500 posts since 13 Oct, 2004 from Durham, NC USA
To me, this piano is clearly better than all the ROMpler pianos I've heard (I'm talking about hardware keyboards, not softsynths) because those are all looped, and the loop points cause a note to "go static" after a short time. ROMpler manufacturers do this to save ROM space.
This isn't a problem with the Gigabyte sampled pianos, but this piano has a much memory footprint. I don't profess to know how they do it, but the tone and stereo image of each note continues to change through the duration just as it does on a real piano. To me, the static tone & image is a dead giveaway of currrent ROMplers and to me detracts dramatically from the results.
Another thing I'd like to point out: None of the digital pianos sound better than an excellent piano in perfect tune and played in a big enough and suitably treated room. However, they sound considerably better than that same piano, miked by most of us without extensive hours to spend sweating mike positioning. And far better than a typical good piano in a decent living room or home studio, miked as best as we can with inexpensive mikes. And WAY better than a crummy piano poorly miked in a small room! -- Even though those real pianos are sometimes more satisfying to play than digitals.
Most pianos, when miked by anyone who doesn't have a lot of experience at it and with the right equipment and in an appropriate studio, don't sound a lot like the piano being miked.
The great thing is technology has come so far that we get to be this picky! Any time before the mid 90's or so, folks would have paid in blood to have a portable piano that sounds like this.
This isn't a problem with the Gigabyte sampled pianos, but this piano has a much memory footprint. I don't profess to know how they do it, but the tone and stereo image of each note continues to change through the duration just as it does on a real piano. To me, the static tone & image is a dead giveaway of currrent ROMplers and to me detracts dramatically from the results.
Another thing I'd like to point out: None of the digital pianos sound better than an excellent piano in perfect tune and played in a big enough and suitably treated room. However, they sound considerably better than that same piano, miked by most of us without extensive hours to spend sweating mike positioning. And far better than a typical good piano in a decent living room or home studio, miked as best as we can with inexpensive mikes. And WAY better than a crummy piano poorly miked in a small room! -- Even though those real pianos are sometimes more satisfying to play than digitals.
Most pianos, when miked by anyone who doesn't have a lot of experience at it and with the right equipment and in an appropriate studio, don't sound a lot like the piano being miked.
The great thing is technology has come so far that we get to be this picky! Any time before the mid 90's or so, folks would have paid in blood to have a portable piano that sounds like this.
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- KVRist
- 467 posts since 21 Feb, 2005
No, I think it's a matter of us being so disappointed by all the hype that's come before. Look at the Art Vista piano. The demo was great, but the product doesn't even sound like the same piano. The Grand is out of tune and rattles on certain notes...unless...you run it at 24 bit. We're just tired of paying money for stuff that doesn't deliver what it promised. Everybody is going to look at these demos with a bit of suspicion because of that.learjeff wrote:The great thing is technology has come so far that we get to be this picky!
I hope this piano is everything y'all say it is. You're right. This isn't the '90s. Someone should be able to do a virtual piano right by now. I hope it's finally this one.
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- KVRAF
- 6078 posts since 27 Jul, 2001 from Tarpon Springs, Florida, USA
IMHO the Art Vista virtual Grand is the one to beat. Yes its not absolutely perfect and that why it sounds real. The sounds have a slight bend that I love. 
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- KVRist
- 476 posts since 28 Jun, 2002 from Vancouver, Canada
I'm on the beta-team, and though you can say what you will about the sound of the demos, what I can tell you is this: it makes me play. Really ... like when you sit in front of a gorgeous grand and your fingers just write new and interesting melodies ... the same thing happens when I play this piano. And that alone is worth the price of admission to me ... it is inspirational in the playing.
Whether or not you use it on a record makes no difference to me, but when you can feel that "inspired" feeling when you play on your MIDI controller, it's a wonderful tool. Especially for those of us doing this whole music thing full-time, when creativity is often SQUEEZED out of an exhausted mind at 3 and 4 in the morning while we shoot for a 9am deadline.
Just my opinion, of course.
~MacQ
Whether or not you use it on a record makes no difference to me, but when you can feel that "inspired" feeling when you play on your MIDI controller, it's a wonderful tool. Especially for those of us doing this whole music thing full-time, when creativity is often SQUEEZED out of an exhausted mind at 3 and 4 in the morning while we shoot for a 9am deadline.
Just my opinion, of course.
~MacQ
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- KVRAF
- 3191 posts since 20 Sep, 2004 from Atlanta
*this* is what *I* look for as well. Know exactly what you mean. any instrument the literally sucks you in and you find 4 hours have passed and you've not noticed...THAT's what I'm talking about.MacQ wrote:what I can tell you is this: it makes me play. Really ... like when you sit in front of a gorgeous grand and your fingers just write new and interesting melodies ... the same thing happens when I play this piano. And that alone is worth the price of admission to me ... it is inspirational in the playing.
BTW- new demo (UNFREE) is great
sign me up
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- KVRian
- 873 posts since 16 Dec, 2004
Agreed!Kalamata Kid wrote:IMHO the Art Vista virtual Grand is the one to beat. Yes its not absolutely perfect and that why it sounds real. The sounds have a slight bend that I love.
The last demo of this threads piano (Unfree), does sound much better imo then the first demos posted.
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- KVRist
- 151 posts since 19 Nov, 2004
Here's something I did with the latest beta version and some TC Megaverb:
Chopin Prelude No.25 in C# Minor
Chopin Prelude No.25 in C# Minor
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TotcProductions TotcProductions https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=6202 - KVRAF
- 5156 posts since 5 Mar, 2003 from Franklin, NH
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- "The" Jazz
- 4617 posts since 18 Aug, 2004 from California, United States
Nice! But so far all the demos I've been hearing are Classical pieces and New Age music.
I want to hear some Jazz played with this now... and I just so happen to play jazz piano professionally and own a 88-key fully weighted keyboard...
(i.e. can I get on the beta test list?)
I want to hear some Jazz played with this now... and I just so happen to play jazz piano professionally and own a 88-key fully weighted keyboard...
(i.e. can I get on the beta test list?)
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TotcProductions TotcProductions https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=6202
- KVRAF
- 5156 posts since 5 Mar, 2003 from Franklin, NH
Wait...GregJAZZ plays Jazz!?Gregjazz wrote:Nice! But so far all the demos I've been hearing are Classical pieces and New Age music.
I want to hear some Jazz played with this now... and I just so happen to play jazz piano professionally and own a 88-key fully weighted keyboard...
(i.e. can I get on the beta test list?)
WTF's goin on here!? -
- "The" Jazz
- 4617 posts since 18 Aug, 2004 from California, United States
Yeah, no kidding. And everyone thought I was strictly a polka player...TotcProductions wrote: Wait...GregJAZZ plays Jazz!?
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TotcProductions TotcProductions https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=6202
- KVRAF
- 5156 posts since 5 Mar, 2003 from Franklin, NH
aah polka....believe it or not...I've got roots in Polka.Gregjazz wrote:Yeah, no kidding. And everyone thought I was strictly a polka player...TotcProductions wrote: Wait...GregJAZZ plays Jazz!?
(changing my name to cheesballs in cowtown collide 
) ...my grandfather played drums in a polka band for most of his life...even into his 60's...used to hear it every weekend. Still have a ton of 8-tracks of polkas and brass. Yup, there's still some polish in me yet. Peace
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- "The" Jazz
- 4617 posts since 18 Aug, 2004 from California, United States
I'm first-generation American, my dad's Swiss. You can imagine.TotcProductions wrote: aah polka....believe it or not...I've got roots in Polka.
