Nord User Forum

Gambold wrote:>Gambold, can I ask your thoughts on the Steinways from the Library.<

There is an embarrassment of riches with the pianos, and it's not always a good thing, since you can spend way too much time obsessing over which one is better. Unlike a lot of people here, I can't claim to hear all the minute differences between each one. In a live setting with an amplified group, most of those "character" differences fast become moot, except for a few notable exceptions like the Bright Grand, which remains the go-to, in my opinion, for cutting through the murk of a pop-rock combo. Jazz players and acoustic groups would likely want something like the Italian or the Lady D. The Bosie seems best attuned for thundering classical, especially in the low registers.

The rest of the Grands are older, smaller samples or misfires like the Velvet and the 3D. The Silver is a bright piano but doesn't cut like the Bright, in my experience. Yamaha does know what they are doing. There does seem to be a loyal following for the Studio Grand 2 - I don't know why, since I've played it and don't see the exceptionalism, but it's mentioned a lot, esp by the old-timers.

As for the Uprights - again, a plethora of choices that can vex the compulsives in the group (like me). I never use them, and don't see why anyone would. In a live environment you want the best samples possible and those are XL or L samples of the grands I just listed - why close yourself down sonically with a simulated upright? Oh you can have fun with one at home, I guess -- but I've found that despite loading one or two on my E4 because I thought I should, I never play them. If you must, the Amber is the one, and if space is a premium, the Black or the Blue. There's a lot of gimmick in this group, like the Bambino, Honky-Tonk, and Saloon.

As for file size, I'll be the contrarian and say that S and M are a waste of time - you paid for this technology, so you want to use it. I know the argument that "in a band no-one hears your resonance, etc" but half the time you might be playing a solo, or with low accompaniment - or at home by yourself. It matters, if it didn't they wouldn't bother making them, so load the large samples. You use the whole keyboard and want the resonance everywhere, and hell, you'll take the full mapping if you can stuff an XL on.

waterbuffalo66 wrote:Has anyone else noticed that C#5 and D5, especially C#5, have a bit of a rattle when played mf or louder, giving those two notes a harshness not found elsewhere in this piano sound? I suppose there was an intonation issue that went unnoticed when the samples were recorded. It's a shame, really, because I can't "unhear" the flaw. Those two notes ruin this otherwise excellent piano sound for me.