Pianoteq or... Truepianos?

[GreyLion]

This may take it a little OT, but as long as Roel is paying attention to this thread --

I bought TP the past week and am extremely pleased with it. Especially considering the amazing price with the two discounts. Like so many here have said, it feels more like playing an instrument than a computer, and is sooo much less hassle than loading sample-sets.

Anyhow, my question is -- is there any chance of a TP module, or even a separate product, that will add in the sounds of electric pianos, especially the Rhodes line and the A200?

Because I'd pay good money for those, working at the same quality level as TP now is....

The freebies that George has done are fine, but they're not the kind of high-end coolness that TP is. I suspect that it would need to be a separate product entirely, as you'd need to do it somewhat like Digi's Velvet, with the effects chain, and some ampsims, and so on, to modify and mutate the raw sounds into the electric wonderfulness that I love.

[Roel de Witt]

Hi,

I can't publicly reply on (potential) unannounced future products I fear. See PM.

---
Roel / 4Front Technologies

This may take it a little OT, but as long as Roel is paying attention to this thread --

I bought TP the past week and am extremely pleased with it. Especially considering the amazing price with the two discounts. Like so many here have said, it feels more like playing an instrument than a computer, and is sooo much less hassle than loading sample-sets.

Anyhow, my question is -- is there any chance of a TP module, or even a separate product, that will add in the sounds of electric pianos, especially the Rhodes line and the A200?

Because I'd pay good money for those, working at the same quality level as TP now is....

The freebies that George has done are fine, but they're not the kind of high-end coolness that TP is. I suspect that it would need to be a separate product entirely, as you'd need to do it somewhat like Digi's Velvet, with the effects chain, and some ampsims, and so on, to modify and mutate the raw sounds into the electric wonderfulness that I love.

[Dewdman42]

If you want a physically modeled EP that is true quality, check out Lounge Lizard. But I personally prefer Scarbee's Vintage Keyboard sample based set, which is to my ears the best on the market right now. yea, its sample based, so not quite as convenient, but truly remarkable.

If The TP guys come up with modeled EP's, I will follow them and see how it goes. If the quality is there and the price is similar to the grand pianos, then it would be interesting to me. But frankly, I would rather see them spend time creating more acoustic piano modules and leave the EP's for someone else.

[spuddle]

Hi,

I can't publicly reply on (potential) unannounced future products I fear. See PM.

---
Roel / 4Front Technologies

This may take it a little OT, but as long as Roel is paying attention to this thread --

I bought TP the past week and am extremely pleased with it. Especially considering the amazing price with the two discounts. Like so many here have said, it feels more like playing an instrument than a computer, and is sooo much less hassle than loading sample-sets.

Anyhow, my question is -- is there any chance of a TP module, or even a separate product, that will add in the sounds of electric pianos, especially the Rhodes line and the A200?

Because I'd pay good money for those, working at the same quality level as TP now is....

The freebies that George has done are fine, but they're not the kind of high-end coolness that TP is. I suspect that it would need to be a separate product entirely, as you'd need to do it somewhat like Digi's Velvet, with the effects chain, and some ampsims, and so on, to modify and mutate the raw sounds into the electric wonderfulness that I love.

Ooh exciting, please can I eavesdrop? I'd like a PM too, promise I won't spoil any secrets!

[benjamind]

What about Guidos MrRay and MrTramp? These sound amazing!

These instruments can be found at www.soundfonts.it

They are astounding, there is even a Hammond B3 emulator that can do Farfisa and Vox Continental organs too.

Ben

[Cabinfever]

After all this I finally decided to get TruePianos. But I should have been paying more attention - the 20% discount deal is over Might have to wait until the next one....

[opus_diaboli]

After all this I finally decided to get TruePianos. But I should have been paying more attention - the 20% discount deal is over Might have to wait until the next one....

Don't worry ... just 12 month and there may be the next Christmas discount.

[GreyLion]

Just to continue the EP hijack a bit more, there's an interesting recent Keyboard Magazine round-up article regarding most of the EP's, on-line here:

http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/rhod ... t-07/31931

One of the more interesting conclusions they came to, I think, is that they raved about the Sonivox Downloadable Virtual Instruments, which are dirt-cheap at $30 each.

Right now, it looks like Velvet is the best among them, and, if Velvet's demo vid is accurate, probably deserves to be. Here it is: and here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 6462887672

It would be the one to beat if TP or PianoTeq ever want to compete in that arena.

Considering the new technologies that both are introducing, I think it's entirely possible that they can do so.

[tconrardy]

Tried the Pianoteq demo, and I was sold right away and got it. I think it was my first 'impulse' buy, but NO REGRETS!

I have already been creating some presets for it and got a pretty good hammer dulcimer.

I finally have a decent piano that is also tweakable. YEA Pianteq!

Tim

[dougsyo]

I guess I'm just not all that picky about EP's compared to "real pianos" - I like both the ones with DimPro (with the 2 free and one commercial add-on pack), and the ones in SR's piano collection (from the last group buy) ... as a result, I've not considered Skarbee, Sampletekk, MrRay/MrTramp, etc - at least not yet.

OTOH if it's a reasonable TruePianos add-on (Rhodes, Wurly and/or CP-80) at some point, I'll probably bite I'm REALLY liking TP, and I don't even play - just sequence.

Doug

[Robert Karasek]

Tried the Pianoteq demo, and I was sold right away and got it. I think it was my first 'impulse' buy, but NO REGRETS!

I have already been creating some presets for it and got a pretty good hammer dulcimer.

I finally have a decent piano that is also tweakable. YEA Pianteq!

Tim

...yup. same with me.
I was lucky to try it "live" at MUSIKMESSE Frankfurt and was blown away.
talked to the guys and decided to get one PIANOTEQ right away.

it feels really good when playing.
and I even managed to create some EP-like sounds

[spuddle]

Yea I even entered one of the Pianoteq sound design competitions. Here was my entry: http://myles.debastion.com/Music/spikeyclouds.mp3

So realistic huh?

I'm working on a dramatic piece now that is already bringing TruePianos out in a sweat. Shall post here if anyone is interested.

[Dewdman42]

Uhmm, read that keyboard mag again. In the section under Scarbee:

Only two products in this roundup rise to this ultimate level of care, authenticity, and ability to inspire. Digidesign Velvet is the choice if you need a self-contained instrument plug-in (not to mention Pro Tools — remember that Velvet doesn't do Clavs). If you prefer to work with a library in your soft sampler, KGB is king of the hill.

I agree that Velvet looks and sounds fantastic. Unfortunately you have to buy the entire Protools DAW platform in order to get it. That leaves you scrambling for other runner ups in the Physically modeled area. I would say that TP should look to Velvet as a vision of what to aspire to or exceed. If they do that, and in a good price point, it will be a smash hit.

In the meantime, I encourage EP players to check out Scarbee which is fantastic also. The only downside is that it takes a bit longer to load up an EP because its sample based. Its very well done though and by the way, it also comes with an effect plugin that gives you a bunch of killer vintage style effects as would be needed by an EP player(ie, phaser, distortion, tube amp, vintage EQ, compression, etc.. and includes a bunch of FX presets for classic EP sounds. You can use this plugin completely independently with other tracks too. IMHO, its the best digital EP on the market today right now as something you can buy as a standalone product.

I agree that velvet looks really nice. I've been hearing really good stuff about the new guitar amp plugin that comes with PT also. Seems like they are making a move those guys. They bought Sibelius, adding killer instrument plugins, etc. They may soon be a major contender for some of us in terms of DAW also.

[GreyLion]

Yep, Dewdman, the Scarbees get a great review. The point I was making, perhaps clumsily, was that the Sonivox Rhodes got a review as being surprisingly high quality, and they cost about a fifth of what the Scarbees do.

I have M-Powered, and can get an educational discount, which puts Velvet at $125 for me, so I'm really pulled toward it. As most of us know, the AIR dev team that is making the really excellent PT plugs used to be Wizoo before they got acquired.

I wish they'd put their plugs, like Velvet, Structure, Eleven, and Strike out in VST, but my bet is that Digi will never allow that, as one of their major goals is to lock people in to PT.

In any case, I'm really looking forward to seeing Mr. Ray 2 come out. The beta sounds excellent, and it looks like the price is going to be within my 'impulse buy' range.

I'm mostly contemplating the idea that, maybe, as physically-modelled or hybrid instruments like True Pianos and PianoTeq mature, they'll make a lot of sampled instruments obsolete.

[Dewdman42]

Oh that's even worse..Velvet will only be released as RTAS? Unfortunate.

By the way, what I read about the sonnivox stuff is that they are sold separately. might be $30 each, I didn't check, but you're up to $90 to get all 3 plugs... Still a good value though if the sound is there.

Nonetheless I'm a scarbee fan. I was against trying it for so long because it was sample based and I thought I wanted LoungeLizard instead because of that at the time). A bunch of people kept saying, no get Scarbee, get scarbee. I got it and was blown away by the sound quite frankly.

Scarbee periodically does these massive sales where you can get his stuff for 50% off or sometimes even better. He usually does them on holidays or on his birthday, etc.. that's how I got his EP stuff and ended up being around $150, give or take a bit, I can't remember now.

Anyway, back on topic. If TP releases a modeled EP that is close to the quality of Velvet/Scarbee at an interesting price point....(and Roel, please take note...FX are critical to most of the EP sounds that people want..if you release a modeled EP that is bone dry with no FX...IMHO it will have limited appeal to many people that just wanna play and not have to worry about how to dial in the perfect supertramp sound.)