Poll on the preferred Grand Piano on the Stage

[Johannes]

Hi,
I really like my Stage but the Grand Piano sound still worries me frrom time to time, in particular when changing the Amplification. On top, the vast amount of NSPG and NPNO files I have so far collected on my hard drive make me think maybe I should switch to another Piano. So I created this poll in order to see which Pianos, but also which Versions people prefer to play together with maybe their reasons why they think they are superior. While it is great from Clavia to update the Pianos regularly, I am not sure anymore to use the "best" (for me) piaon sample. Ans since uploading one of the XL sample takes (at least at mine) about 5 minutes, I haven't tried all of them in all situations and so far stick to the C7 Studio Grand 3.12, but looking at the new ones. So would be happy to hear your experiences/preferences.
Note that I assume you are always using the XL versions (if available for a given version) and thus don't distinguish the XL with the non-XL.

Also, please post if you have a version not mentioned here (I also would be interested to have a complete history of the Pianos, which I could not find anywhere on the net.)

[Gustavo]

I have (unlike many people around) tested all of the piano samples available, I got to say that most of them are quite realistic and pretty good, but choosing the preferred Grand Piano is much of a matter of personal taste, I personally think that the Steinway D sounds better for my taste, although the Yamaha C7 is a quite good sounding piano. I think it is kind of like wines, while some will like red wines better, some admit they are good, but rather have a white wine.

I think that all samples are great, I just happen to personally like the Steinway Model D Ambient XL. No real reason for it.

I also find my Gran EP fav to be the custom one. My Fav EP is the Deep one, it is just soo deep!!!

Gus

[doctorgeorge]

I fell in love with the XL version of the Studio Grand 2 after using the Studio Grand 1. The Steinway i've never much cared for. I play in a vintage pop/rock band, and the Steinway never seemed to really cut through the mix when I tried it out (MONO-mode didn't help). The SG2 is superb, it is capable of really lashing out in the high register, evoking ominous pianissimo bass notes, and providing a comfortable bed of chords in the middle - which is exactly what I'm looking for in our band.

As Gustavo points out, it's a matter of personal taste. I think if I were to play classical-style piano, the Steinway would shine a whole lot more.

The diversity in character between the pianos in the whole Nord Piano Libary is what I think makes it such an excellent and beloved instrument. With most digital pianos i've tried out (including some really expensive ones), i felt the pianos had their sound stripped, smoothed and polished into bland mediocracy, seeming to lack 'soul'. Clavia is, thankfully, different.

Just my two cents,

Gerben
http://www.myspace.com/thecosmiccarnival

PS. Excuse my obvious Clavia zealotry. I am not being paid to say this. Unfortunately ;)

[Andy Keys]

Hi Gerben,

Is it the XL version of the Studio Grand 2 that you are using on the tracks on your MySpace page? I'm especially thinking of "Friday (It's Gonna Be Alright) take 1".

The piano on that track sounds great. :o)

If so, how have you got it EQ'd to cut through so well?

Regards
Andy

[Pabl]

I'm quite new to the Stage, I got an EX two weeks ago. At first I liked a lot the pianos in it. They were still version 4.4.
Then I upgraded the OS to the latest to allow the String Resonance, and installed the 3 new pianos. At first I fell immediately in love with the Stw D, for being much more soft and mellow, greater for solo piano playing than the Yam C7, IMO. But, there's something I'm finding a bit annoying on it. Some samples have a weird sound, it's only in notes from B4 to E5, they reproduce some harmonics that sound cool if you don't play many consecutive notes in that range. But when I do play fast in that range, those harmonics produce a strange feeling. Does anybody else notice this?
Nowadays I'm using a lot more the YamC7 XLR because of that. I will install back the StwD XL 4.4 to see if I get a better feeling about that note range.

[Johannes]

Hi,

I thouth for some time writing something about some strange harmonics I seemingly spotted in the Stage's Pianos as well so now I am glad someone else had a similar experience.
To be precise, I found that the Pianos sound somewhat too harmonic-full when playing one of the notes Bb4-G5! As said before, it is OK if you play one note at a time but when playing chords containing two or more notes in this area the sound gets really yelly and I have a hard time to stand it, seriously!!

First I thought it would be some non-linear reproduction of my speakers, but after playing several different units and headphones, I must conclude, it is not it!!
Moreover, while it is really strong with the Steinway, I think I can also hear it with the Yamaha.

Even more, I found this "feature" in basically all the Pianos of the NSEX I tried out so far. The least strong was it at the YAM 3.2, which I therefore used until the XLRs came out.

As I like to play at a real Grand's volume typically (meaning, rather a bit louder), it really HURTS my ears when having some chord changes inthis range. Tried a lot of EQing buit without success.

So maybe someone else can confirm or confirm that it is pure illusion/imagination??! Might well be the case!

Cheers
Johannes

[Pabl]

Glad to read I'm not the only one. I didn't know if it was only me or what... you know, the hearing experience is different for each one of us.
Anyway, it only bothers me with the Stw D, and I can't recall right now if it's gonna bother me the same when I install the previous version.
BTW, EQing does not work for me either.

[doctorgeorge]

Hi Gerben,

Is it the XL version of the Studio Grand 2 that you are using on the tracks on your MySpace page? I'm especially thinking of "Friday (It's Gonna Be Alright) take 1".

The piano on that track sounds great. :o)

If so, how have you got it EQ'd to cut through so well?

Regards
Andy

Hi Andy,

The piano on that track is from Native Instruments Akoustik Piano, and the part was played on a 20 dollar second hand 3-octave midi keyboard ;) The keyboards on all other tracks are my Nord Stage.

Thanks for the compliment none the less ;)

- Gerben

[Andy Keys]

Thanks for that, Gerben.

I'll keep tweaking the Stage pianos :o)

regards
Andy

[wartaler]

Hi,

Pabl wrote: "Some samples have a weird sound, it's only in notes from B4 to E5, they reproduce some harmonics that sound cool if you don't play many consecutive notes in that range. But when I do play fast in that range, those harmonics produce a strange feeling."

a while ago I wrote to Clavia :
With the E.Piano3 MkII v4.4 the notes C5 through E5 sound as if there is a very short delay with one of the layers perhaps, I'm not quite sure how to describe it, but they respond a bit different than adjacent notes

(I usually I do some more 'research' before I report anything to them - or include an mp3 - but not this time - maybe I thought that another issue that I reported was more important at that time)

I got a kind answer to my mail, that they would have a look, - did you report the thing with the Ac. grands to Clavia yet?

Anyway ... now that I read your post on the acoustic grands, I'm starting to wonder if this could be a more general issue with the piano section between notes B4-E5 ?

I will check the acoustic grands as well -

Albert