I know, I know - it's been done a hundred times before, often with elaborate polls. But what else are we going to do while we wait for Nord to get back to full steam?
Besides, the past few years have provided some time to fully evaluate the White, both in home playing and band environments, and see if it's truly the flagship sample now, or if the Royal still holds that title. Plus not too long ago the Imperial had a bit of a rebirth in popularity, no doubt due to its surprise positioning as the number 2 piano on the Stage 3 factory load - in XL no less. That's big exposure for the old Bosie.
SO - no polls, just the question - what are your Big Three? I'll start: Bright still rules for me in the band (pop/rock outfit), White is my go-to for home playing, and the Amber when I want to shift gears and play an upright. I use the L size for all of these.
--Gambold
47 posts
• Page 1 of 5 • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
It's that time again - what are your top 3 acoustic samples?
Last edited by Gambold on 14 Jun 2022, 02:08, edited 3 times in total.
Nord Electro 6D
Korg SV-2
Yamaha P22
IK Uno Synth
Korg SV-2
Yamaha P22
IK Uno Synth
-
Gambold - Posts: 515
- Joined: 22 Jan 2019, 14:48
- Country:
- Has thanked: 120 times
- Been thanked: 214 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Electro 6
Re: It's that time again - what are your top 3 acoustic samp
I have been a very longtime fan of the Imperial XL and my ear/touch are so accustomed to it that I don't do great with others, except in specialized circumstances. Last time I checked, I had the Silver and White XL loaded and I might switch to those every now and then, or use them in layers. Otherwise, I like the Bambino XL for its character and while it's not really "acoustic," I love the CP80 Amped electric grand.
Nords: NE2, NS2 88, NS3 Compact x 2
Live rig: NS3, Vent, Radial KL-8, Shure PSM-900 IEM Rig, UE18 & UE7 IEMs.
Studio: Hammond A-101 & Leslie 122, Yamaha CP-80, Yamaha S90, NS2, DSI Prophet-6, Vent II, Roland JX-8P.
Live rig: NS3, Vent, Radial KL-8, Shure PSM-900 IEM Rig, UE18 & UE7 IEMs.
Studio: Hammond A-101 & Leslie 122, Yamaha CP-80, Yamaha S90, NS2, DSI Prophet-6, Vent II, Roland JX-8P.
- ericL
- Patch Creator
- Posts: 1184
- Joined: 23 Jun 2012, 00:36
- Country:
- Has thanked: 422 times
- Been thanked: 612 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 2
- Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Stage 3
Re: It's that time again - what are your top 3 acoustic samp
Gambold,
On my Piano 4, I use the same 3x Acoustic Pianos as you (White Grand, Bright Grand, Amber Grand), but I also add in a 4th (Grand Upright) to the mix. All of them are XL. These are the basis for a bunch of different tonal variations I have programmed with different touch / EQ settings.
1. White Grand XL <<< most dynamic range / expression of all of the pianos. Close your eyes and it feels / sounds the closest to playing a real grand piano. Tonally it is very rich and lends weight and authenticity to any pieces / songs. The sound can feel a little full sometimes, so it isn't perfect for everything, though it adjusts well to different touch / EQ / Compression / Reverb settings. Best for piano practice to me, as it feels like you have the most control over the sound. Generally a happy sounding tone, great for classical music, empowering songs, broadway songs, etc. If I were to try and describe a mood for the piano, it gives me a strong feeling of nostalgia, or of looking back on a life well-lived. If I were to compare it to an orchestra section, it would be the brass section.
2. Bright Grand XL <<< sweeter / cleaner sound than the White Grand, but not as rich. Defaults a little bright, so is best when played softer / slower, but also easily softened through EQ, etc. A little sadder / bluer / jazzier sounding to me than the White Grand. To me this one sounds great with romantic music, but it is more youthful / naive sounding than the White, so maybe the mood is more that of love or life not yet fulfilled. While the White Grand sounds more brassy to me, the Bright feels more like an electric guitar in tone to me.
3. Amber Upright XL <<< beautifully strange / funky sound, that feels almost glassy and bell-like to me. This one reminds me of Tom Waits / Elton John for some reason, great for songs that have unique or unusual perspectives. Adapts really well with different touch / EQ filter settings. The sound of the hammers hitting the strings, is also very interesting, creating a very round, almost water-droplet like effect.
4. Grand Upright XL <<< this one is a little more basic sounding to me, but in a good way… like upright pianos from my youth, more folksy sounding, etc. Like the Amber, this one also has unique sound to the hammers hitting the strings… almost more like a mandolin or harp being plucked. Also takes on a very different character with the SOFT filter.
On my Piano 4, I use the same 3x Acoustic Pianos as you (White Grand, Bright Grand, Amber Grand), but I also add in a 4th (Grand Upright) to the mix. All of them are XL. These are the basis for a bunch of different tonal variations I have programmed with different touch / EQ settings.
1. White Grand XL <<< most dynamic range / expression of all of the pianos. Close your eyes and it feels / sounds the closest to playing a real grand piano. Tonally it is very rich and lends weight and authenticity to any pieces / songs. The sound can feel a little full sometimes, so it isn't perfect for everything, though it adjusts well to different touch / EQ / Compression / Reverb settings. Best for piano practice to me, as it feels like you have the most control over the sound. Generally a happy sounding tone, great for classical music, empowering songs, broadway songs, etc. If I were to try and describe a mood for the piano, it gives me a strong feeling of nostalgia, or of looking back on a life well-lived. If I were to compare it to an orchestra section, it would be the brass section.
2. Bright Grand XL <<< sweeter / cleaner sound than the White Grand, but not as rich. Defaults a little bright, so is best when played softer / slower, but also easily softened through EQ, etc. A little sadder / bluer / jazzier sounding to me than the White Grand. To me this one sounds great with romantic music, but it is more youthful / naive sounding than the White, so maybe the mood is more that of love or life not yet fulfilled. While the White Grand sounds more brassy to me, the Bright feels more like an electric guitar in tone to me.
3. Amber Upright XL <<< beautifully strange / funky sound, that feels almost glassy and bell-like to me. This one reminds me of Tom Waits / Elton John for some reason, great for songs that have unique or unusual perspectives. Adapts really well with different touch / EQ filter settings. The sound of the hammers hitting the strings, is also very interesting, creating a very round, almost water-droplet like effect.
4. Grand Upright XL <<< this one is a little more basic sounding to me, but in a good way… like upright pianos from my youth, more folksy sounding, etc. Like the Amber, this one also has unique sound to the hammers hitting the strings… almost more like a mandolin or harp being plucked. Also takes on a very different character with the SOFT filter.
Last edited by agcohn on 14 Jun 2022, 04:36, edited 1 time in total.
- agcohn
- Posts: 80
- Joined: 20 Jun 2021, 09:33
- Country:
- Has thanked: 0 time
- Been thanked: 13 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Piano 4
Re: It's that time again - what are your top 3 acoustic samp
I play Pop and Rock music, I only use the Silver and White.
-dj
-dj
Last edited by DJKeys on 14 Jun 2022, 16:10, edited 1 time in total.
Nord Stage 3
Nord Wave 2
Yamaha U3
iMac i7 13.5.2
Studio One 5.5.2
Nektar T4
Drawmer DL 241
Focusrite ISA Two
Focusrite Clarett 8 Pre
-
DJKeys - Patch Creator
- Posts: 2028
- Joined: 11 Apr 2011, 17:11
- Location: Las Vegas
- Country:
- Has thanked: 408 times
- Been thanked: 811 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 3
- Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Wave 2
Re: It's that time again - what are your top 3 acoustic samp
White grand is the best for me.. then i use royal 2 some times..
- M1tsos
- Posts: 341
- Joined: 20 Nov 2021, 18:51
- Country:
- Has thanked: 26 times
- Been thanked: 84 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Stage 3
- Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Grand
Re: It's that time again - what are your top 3 acoustic samp
Many people on this forum with better ears than mine have chosen the Silver over the Bright for their "cutting" piano, the one that will get through a band mix. I have it loaded and have played it quite a bit - it often has a more "icicle" sound than the Bright so I stick to the Bright for live work. But I'm starting to think that it's the semi-weighted action on my Electro 6 that is not bringing out the best in the Silver. I'm going to see if I can MIDI it over to my SV-2, which has a very nice keybed, and see if there's a difference.
Nord Electro 6D
Korg SV-2
Yamaha P22
IK Uno Synth
Korg SV-2
Yamaha P22
IK Uno Synth
-
Gambold - Posts: 515
- Joined: 22 Jan 2019, 14:48
- Country:
- Has thanked: 120 times
- Been thanked: 214 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Electro 6
Re: It's that time again - what are your top 3 acoustic samp
Gambold wrote:Many people on this forum with better ears than mine have chosen the Silver over the Bright for their "cutting" piano, the one that will get through a band mix. I have it loaded and have played it quite a bit - it often has a more "icicle" sound than the Bright so I stick to the Bright for live work. But I'm starting to think that it's the semi-weighted action on my Electro 6 that is not bringing out the best in the Silver. I'm going to see if I can MIDI it over to my SV-2, which has a very nice keybed, and see if there's a difference.
I have never directly compared the Silver to the Bright, but I did use the Silver a lot when I first got my Piano 4 around a year ago. It was a good option at first when I was mostly testing the Imperial, Royal Grand and Silver together. However, once I had discarded the Imperial and Royal Grand in favor of the White Grand, Amber Upright and Grand Upright, I found that I never picked the Silver any more. That changed when I loaded the Bright, which to me has a much more pure piano tone than can be adapted / EQ'ed into a variety of different uses.
The Silver just always sounded "old" to me, like I was playing piano in a B&W movie. I'm not sure what it was exactly about it, but I never connected with it personally.
- agcohn
- Posts: 80
- Joined: 20 Jun 2021, 09:33
- Country:
- Has thanked: 0 time
- Been thanked: 13 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Piano 4
Re: It's that time again - what are your top 3 acoustic samp
White Grand XL in 95 % and Bright Grand XL in 5 % of all situations. The White is by far my favourite, even at tunes like Don‘t stop believin‘ or Schickeria I rather add a bit of chorus effect and EQ-treble than look for a different piano sample.
I‘d prefer an XXXL piano sample of 1 GB file size as this could be my one and only then.
Cheers from sunny Germany
I‘d prefer an XXXL piano sample of 1 GB file size as this could be my one and only then.
Cheers from sunny Germany
| nord electro 5D 61 and korg X50 on k&m 18880 or 18950 stand | iPad mini 5 with Set List Maker | phonic AM120 submixer |
... and I loved these of my former stuff: nord electro 3, Roland VR-760, Fatar Studio 1100, korg 01/W, Roland U-20
... and I loved these of my former stuff: nord electro 3, Roland VR-760, Fatar Studio 1100, korg 01/W, Roland U-20
- The author Tasten-Bert was thanked by:
- Gambold
-
Tasten-Bert - Donator
- Posts: 840
- Joined: 17 Feb 2015, 11:57
- Location: Where there is friendship, love and music ...
- Country:
- Has thanked: 152 times
- Been thanked: 359 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Electro 5
- Your Nord Gear #2: Other Brand
Re: It's that time again - what are your top 3 acoustic samp
Royal 3D XL
Compared with my fantastic AvantGrand N3 it's the most realistic piano sample. I just add sometimes a little bit of reverb and EQ to compensate frequency respose on my amp/headphone.
Compared with my fantastic AvantGrand N3 it's the most realistic piano sample. I just add sometimes a little bit of reverb and EQ to compensate frequency respose on my amp/headphone.
Last edited by ggoebel on 15 Jun 2022, 08:13, edited 3 times in total.
Roland D-20 (1988) | Yamaha EMT-10 (1990) | Yamaha AvantGrand N3 (2013) | Nord Electro 6 HP73 (2021)
- ggoebel
- Posts: 8
- Joined: 18 Jan 2022, 09:20
- Country:
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 4 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Electro 6
Re: It's that time again - what are your top 3 acoustic samp
on Electro 6D, I prefer the Silver (Kawai Shigeru) which cuts through the mix in a Big Band. The White gets a run often as well.
I am enjoying the Grand Imperial (Bosendorfer) when I use the Piano 5 for much the same reason.. cuts through the mix clearly.
( using the Centerpoint Spacestation for nice amplification and subbing to PA during performances)
Cheers from Australia, Allan
I am enjoying the Grand Imperial (Bosendorfer) when I use the Piano 5 for much the same reason.. cuts through the mix clearly.
( using the Centerpoint Spacestation for nice amplification and subbing to PA during performances)
Cheers from Australia, Allan
Last edited by AllanH on 15 Jun 2022, 08:25, edited 2 times in total.
my gear: Nord Electro 6D, Nord Piano 5 /73, Centerpoint Stereo Spacestation, Yamaha UX 3
previous gear: Nord Piano 3
previous gear: Nord Piano 3
-
AllanH - Posts: 59
- Joined: 31 Jul 2018, 00:33
- Location: Brisbane, Australia
- Country:
- Has thanked: 28 times
- Been thanked: 17 times
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Piano 5
- Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Electro 6
47 posts
• Page 1 of 5 • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 22 guests