KVR Audio

suthnear · Post by **suthnear** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 3:16 pm

Not my thing at all - I can't even play chopsticks - but given how great the video sounds, I kind of wish it was...

Mushy Mushy · Post by **Mushy Mushy** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 3:18 pm

MFXxx wrote:Interesting thread. I like bananas...

Same here, bananas are definitely my favourite colour.

noiseboyuk · Post by **noiseboyuk** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 3:39 pm

beely wrote:However, the world of playability with samples has come on a long way since those instruments - intelligent Kontakt scripting in particular has opened up a lot of ways to be expressive with these kinds of things, so there are certainly opportunities here.

I'm not saying they should do one finger automatic-guitar soundalikes here (they do tend to target musicians who want to *play*), but I do expect a certain amount of real-time playability in terms of string control, bends, slides, harmonics and so on - guitars are way more complex than keyboard instruments, and previous Spectrasonics instruments don't do this that well imo, compared to what's possible (and in the market) now.

Yes indeed. With the dust beginning to settle, this is one of the single biggest areas of concern for me regarding this announcement (the other being no hybrid patches using the synth engine). Yes, there has been careful restoration here and great attention to detail, but it's press record, play a key, edit, play back a key. That's it. With guitars you have slides, hammer-ons, all manner of complexities in the interaction between - and choice of - strings, up strokes, down strokes, mutes etc. And the pianos took them 10 YEARS.

Meet you all back here in 2065 for Guitarscapes?

There's a small amount of overlap between bass and guitar, but the latter is way more complex. And as you say, some of the more recent Kontakt libraries have got pretty clever.

seamoss · Post by **seamoss** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 4:15 pm

well.....

thank God is wasn't a DAW .....yeah?

TS-12 · Post by **TS-12** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 4:18 pm

Was hopeing it had sounds from keyboards like:

korg 01w, Trinity, Triton .
Roland JD, JV, XV, fantom,
Yamaha Motif, dx7, etc

That would of been really useful and worthy of "the 4th instrument"

But, Rhodes, pianos, clavinets... [ Huge Facepalm ]

Ned Bouhalassa · Post by **Ned Bouhalassa** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 4:29 pm

There are beautiful and classic MKS-20, JD-800 and MK-80 patches.

Compyfox · Post by **Compyfox** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 6:08 pm

So I took the time and watched the whole video on "Keyscape", and I must say... some of the concepts are interesting, also layer wise. Definitely what Trillian was originally. But this is about where the interest ends.

To me, it's really just ANOTHER Omnisphere add-on, but as/with a Standalone tool (see the late Trillian integration into Omnisphere). 77GB for 399USD - with various already known and times covered keyboards... huge, huge facepalm moment for me.

Honestly, my most go-to Epiano is still old GSi's "Mr Ray", which is based upon physical modeling. Pity that it was pretty much abandonned and even Key Performer doesn't have "that" sound. Was IMO the only cool Epiano VSTi on Physical Modeling after EVP73 (Logic). Spectrasonics didn't go that route (sadly).

I have sooooo many samples for various Steinway, Bösendorfer, etc... I'm pretty much covered. I also have Toontrack, I do have access (if I want to) to TruePianos (coupon as Rayzoon user), etc. Kontakt Samples drop pretty much daily, and the main difference is "how deep do you want to go in terms of layers" (which in turn adds to the file size).

At this price, I just did not expect a "keyboard/piano ROMPLER" with "mere control" over various layers.

So in a sense, Eric via Twitter was right "not what you expect". It's divided camps at this moment.

What ticks me off big time, is that the Stylus users are completely ignored for years at this point. We're at what... v1.9.4d or something. And it's been COMPLETE radio silence for 6+ years since that release (which was June 2010!!!). It was always "Omnisphere this, Omnisphere that"... we get that, Eric's main expertise was always sound design for synths. But come on, so many FR's for Stylus RMX, so many possibilities still. It's one of the best REX2 loops players that is with one major problem: you need to "convert" your content first. Also: Stylus could have EASILY surpassed MPC type drum samplers, but no...

Do we really have to wait until 2020 to also get a "10 years in the making - Stylus RMX2 - now called StylusPhere" with native WAV loading/slicing (without converting anything), a 4x4 pad (maybe) and what-have-you as features?

Honestly - kind of disappointed by this hype train... I rather invest in GSi's KeyPerformer and get a low-budget ROMPLER like the Roland SC-88, then maybe add the vKS-20 from Hollow Sun (Kontakt, from the MKS-20). Then I'd be covered for years if we talk Electric/Digital pianos. I also still have my Kurzweil K2000 (pity that there will NEVER be a VSTi). I'm no performer like the people shown in this 30min Youtube video, I'm still mainly an Audio Engineer, so it would suffice for my needs.

Though granted - there are people out there that are like "I want to mix this piano with that synth, and take it with me while traveling or on stage so that I can leave my 20+grand vintage piano at home". Others might be "YEAH! Even more ready to go Hollywood type sounds!". So to each their own I guess.

Now it's back to waiting for RMX2, or whatever it will be called... if there will even be a v2 that is...

Mushy Mushy · Post by **Mushy Mushy** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 6:10 pm

Definitely not my thing, but man it does sound good.

Zookes · Post by **Zookes** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 6:19 pm

Was not expecting to like "yet another keyboard rompler".

But I do like it.

mladi · Post by **mladi** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 6:26 pm

Do you tried Pianoteq's electric pianos Compyfox?

iPlogger · Post by **iPlogger** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 6:40 pm

I always tell people one area Omnisphere lacks is in pianos/epianos/organs. For pianos/epianos, this looks to definitely fit the need. I'd love to get some good pianos for use in Omni. For me, it's the integration with Omnisphere. Being able to make Multis with included pianos is powerful to me.

I don't consider myself a piano player, but I do need piano nearly every week I play. I mainly use my Yamaha synth for piano and sometimes I use Addictive Keys.

I don't know what I'll do, though. I haven't used an e-piano sound in at least two years so are not a priority for me, and 77GB is A LOT of space. No real indication as to what the 30GB version offers. The price is a tough one as it seems a bit much, but on the other hand, I've spent like $80 for acoustic/upright from Addictive Keys, I've thought about getting NI The Giant at $99 (I don't own anything from NI yet) so I am already closing in on 1/2 the price for less stuff. And I'm also looking into Pianoteq as well.

I'm wanting some good pianos so I can offload them from my Yamaha. I have always used hardware and only started using a computer for music about a year ago.

Frantz · Post by **Frantz** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 6:47 pm

Banana guy thinks it sounds good:

I don't understand why they didn't release one piano and one rhodes first and the rest as a series of expansion packs. Why wait 10 years to do a big bang release?

Compyfox · Post by **Compyfox** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 6:57 pm

mladi wrote:Do you tried Pianoteq's electric pianos Compyfox?

Years ago at trade shows. Been so out of the loop in this area of "physical modeling".

Frantz wrote:I don't understand why they didn't release one piano and one rhodes first and the rest as a series of expansion packs. Why wait 10 years to do a big bang release?

Don't give them any ideas for a new marketing strategy, please.

Oh wait...

mladi · Post by **mladi** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 6:59 pm

Compyfox wrote:
mladi wrote:Do you tried Pianoteq's electric pianos Compyfox?
Years ago at trade shows. Been so out of the loop in this area of "physical modeling".

You should really try the demo again. I'm sure you will be surprised!

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Fri Sep 02, 2016 6:59 pm

Frantz wrote:Banana guy thinks it sounds good:

I don't understand why they didn't release one piano and one rhodes first and the rest as a series of expansion packs. Why wait 10 years to do a big bang release?

Because it's a part of their business model to bundle enough stuff together to create enough value to keep the profit up relative to the number of transactions. They also want to differentiate themselves in a way that can't be easily knocked off. Companies like Uhe, that actually are technically innovative, can eat Spectra's lunch in technical terms, but, don't necessarily have the resources to gather and restore all of these old vintage instruments. If you released them one at a time the game becomes a little different. There will undoubtedly be favorites and, consequently, less than favorites in that collection, so the competition could just focus on duplicating the winners and compete on price.

This is right up their alley and actually is a great representation of their skills. I find it hilarious that Omni users are so disappointed.

So what is the competition for this? I don't find the Arturia Rhodes to be that great, I do like the Wurli well enough, but it doesn't sound as good to me as this offering.

Spectrasonics rumors...