Pianos, Blind taste test

[zippo]

I've made 2 more examples.

Piano Z1:

• Piano Z1

Piano Z2:

• Piano Z2

How do you like them?
Can you guess the source?

Cheers Zippo

[zippo]

Hmm. No comments to this in – my opinion – quite interesting sounds?

[Hanon_CTS]

How do you like them?
Can you guess the source?

Cheers Zippo

Hello Zippo,
I've had the studio disconnected for the last week and I'm just getting around to hooking everything back up.

I just keep staring at the big pile of cables in the middle....
I wanted to use the same audio I/O to listen to your examples, and possibly A/B the second example against a couple of Nord Uprights.
I still haven't done that, but did get a good listen to your examples.

I quite like the first example, and really admire the the long sustain and excellent stereo image.
It has ever so slight the synthetic element, so I will guess that it's the Roland V-Piano.

I can't quite place the second, it sounds quite a bit like one of the Nord Uprights.

I've made a mental note that If I ever do another one of these "taste tests", I'll definitely edit out the bad notes, and artifact.
Because now every time I hear the file, I just wince in anticipation of the bad notes

Thanks for making these examples, it'll be interesting to learn which instruments were used.

Cheers, Hanon

[doctorno]

Thanks, Zippo. I have no idea which sounds you are using, but the grand piano (example 1) sounds very good. Maybe the string resonance is a little overemphasized (a little too much resonance from the low strings, when the high strings are played) and the stereo projection is not ideal for my taste as well. I personally would prefer all the Nords and the SV-1 to this one, but would prefer this one to the Motif and the M3.

The second example does not really fit in here, I think, because it seems to be an upright piano.

By the way: I have just downloaded your newest CD on iTunes. Great music! Thank you!

[zippo]

Thanks for your comments and glad you like our music!
By the way: The second piano is no upright but a short grand piano ("Baby grand").

[zippo]

Since you both own our new album: Piano Z1 is used on track 3 ("Realize") but with a lot of compression. Piano Z2 is used on track 10 ("La Salvación") and in the outro of track 12 ("Where is the Love").

[Johannes]

+1 on the great sounding demo #1, but difficult to guess. Maybe one of the new Yammies, probably more towards the CP1 or 5?
Could also be a great VSTi but don't know them very well. But I agree on the great detail of sound! cURIOUS TO KNOW THE RESULTS:

[doctorno]

Since you both own our new album: Piano Z1 is used on track 3 ("Realize") but with a lot of compression. Piano Z2 is used on track 10 ("La Salvación") and in the outro of track 12 ("Where is the Love").

These pianos fit perfectly into your band sound in my opinion. From my experience not every piano that sounds good on its own fits into the sound of a band and vice versa. The piano on Realize (panned to the left) f.e. even sounds perfect together with the electric "rhythm" guitar (panned to the right), which is not often the case.

By the way: The second piano is no upright but a short grand piano ("Baby grand").

Well, I have got a real "baby grand" at my workplace (a Steinway S) - does not sound very similar ...

[zippo]

Thanks for your comments and guesses!
OK. Here's the solution:
Both are software-instruments.
Piano Z1: Native Instruments "Alicia's Keys" (Yamaha C3 Neo)
Piano Z2: Imperfect Samples "Hohner White Baby Grand pro"

I like them both a lot. Although the "Hohner White Baby" is somewhat inflexible, because of its long release and its sounding room.

Cheers Zippo

[Johannes]

Thanks Zippo, it was Alicia's Keys? Wouldnt have thought that (but only know it from youtube videos). Sounds really great, but I would have guessed it was a full 8ft. grand!
Thanks for uploading those examples!