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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Super-Tracks are an interesting surprise for 12.5 - with thanks as ever to PG.
I can't seem to get the mute function to work though. eg with a Super-Track selected in the piano channel, muting the piano using f5 'Edit settings for current bar' appears to have no effect - unlike for midi or a piano RT. Is this a bug - or am I doing something wrong... ?
On a related point: which VST soft-synth do people think gets the most authentic Grand Piano sound ?
Thanks again to PG and all. Best - Andy
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Andy,
For your jazz stylings, I reckon the Steinway Jazz Grand in Garritan Jazz And Big Band 3 would be superb. I have the software and I really like the warmth of the tone. You can hear this piano in Peter G's demos of the Supertracks.
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
On a related point: which VST soft-synth do people think gets the most authentic Grand Piano sound ?
Definitely check out -> Pianoteq
Martin
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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The Coyote Forte is pretty good. If you want to look at soundfonts, there are several very good ones out there at no cost. http://zenvoid.org/audio/http://www.pianosounds.com/ (It says site is down for a few days)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
I can't seem to get the mute function to work though. eg with a Super-Track selected in the piano channel, muting the piano using f5 'Edit settings for current bar' appears to have no effect - unlike for midi or a piano RT. Is this a bug - or am I doing something wrong... ?
Can't get it muted either via F5 ...
Martin
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Yep, Garritan jazz grand sounds very good.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Wow1, very good sounding piano and vibes, a little pricey though.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks to all for your kind replies. It's re-assuring that Martin can't get f5-mute to work with ST's either.
Maybe PG could take a look at that for an update?
And thanks for the soft-piano suggestions.
Rachael, Have you tried Pianoteq 4 as Martin suggests? It's in a different league from Forte, I think - if twice the price (for just the cut down 'Stage' version).
Thanks again - Best - Andy
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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One to try on free 40 day demo is TruePiano
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks ZeroZero.
You're right, True Piano is excellent - up there with PianoTeq for sure, and so much easier to test with the 40-day demo.
Pianoteq seems superb - but it's a pain to test because of their daft 20-minute rule on the demo. It is a tad cheaper though.
TruePiano responds to the BIAB volume control too (tho not to the BIAB panning function), whereas the Pianoteq test version does not seem to talk to the BIAB volume control at all.
To my ear, they're both in a different league from Forte and CVPiano. (I haven't tried Garritan yet Noel) - and make the new Super-Tracks a real competitor to Piano Real Tracks.
I was hoping PG-support might comment on the f5-mute-SuperTrack issue?
Best to All - Andy
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
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>>> I was hoping PG-support might comment on the f5-mute-SuperTrack issue?
Yes, will be added to the next free patch.
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Its an ear thing, subjective and depends on what you are looking for, but for a pure grand I believe TruePianos diamond module blows Pianoteq away. I worked with both for a while. IMO
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Speaking of Piano modules, I've tried many but for work other than classical, I think one of the best for cutting through the mix is Native Instruments Alicia's Keys. Highly tweakable, several mic directions, various reverbs, 12 velocity layers. Check out the demos here: http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/producer/powered-by-kontakt/alicias-keys/
Win11, Intel i7 7700K 4.2Ghz, 32Gb RAM, 2x1Tb HD, 500Gb NVMe, BIAB/RB 2026, MOTU 828MK3 audio, MOTU Midi Express, Yamaha Montage 7, DX7II, TX802, Motif XS Rack, Roland Fantom XR Rack, Oberheim Matrix 1000, VoiceLive3 Extreme, Kontakt 6, SampleTank 4.3
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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A big part of this discussion is how are you planning to use a piano part? Is it solo'd or strictly small band like a trio or 4 piece? Style of music too, is it a lot of guitar based rock or country or is it jazz based with the piano out front?
There's a very interesting thread about this on the Sonikmatter Kurzweil PC3 forum. The question was which of the PC3 pianos is your favorite on stage? There's a bunch of killer grands like the Horowitz, the Standard Grand Studio, The New York Jazz and others but the favorite according to the pol and my favorite also is the 1974 Ken Burns Upright Blues piano. Solo'd it definitely is not as rich as the dedicated studio grands but it just fits in a mix or on stage very well. I find myself playing it a lot. Many times that killer solo grand piano that a lot of piano specific synths use is simply too much for a good mix. It overpowers everything or muddies up your mix. They sound great for a solo recital though. With that in mind I find the Forte DXi piano fits very well in a mix.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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- Peter G: Many Thanks - that's great!
- ZeroZero: well that's interesting. The TruePiano demo only has the Alantis module, and that's pretty impressive. So TP's pulling ahead of PianoTeq on the back straight... But maybe I'm watching too much olympics...
- Mountainside: From the NI site, I have a sense that Alicia Keys is brighter and more rock-oriented...?
- JazzMammal - great that Forte works for you - it's a lot less $'s than the others! But in my little test here, it well behind the TP & PT medalists....
Oh dear, there I go again... But we did just have the two Brownlee brothers get gold and bronze in the men's triathlon - so maybe you'll forgive me. Brits just aren't used to winning anything much nowadays...
Best - Andy
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Andy, take a listen to the Alica's Keys demo on the NI site. The demos are very classical and jazz oriented not rock. As I said, I tried True Pianos and Pianotek and found Alicia's Keys to sound much truer if your looking for a full grand sound.
Win11, Intel i7 7700K 4.2Ghz, 32Gb RAM, 2x1Tb HD, 500Gb NVMe, BIAB/RB 2026, MOTU 828MK3 audio, MOTU Midi Express, Yamaha Montage 7, DX7II, TX802, Motif XS Rack, Roland Fantom XR Rack, Oberheim Matrix 1000, VoiceLive3 Extreme, Kontakt 6, SampleTank 4.3
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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The NI Alicia's Keys VSTi are just gorgeous piano sounds, IMO.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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First: All thanks to PG for sorting the Super-Track f5-mute issue so quickly in Build 356. That's such excellent service.
Second: my research for the best-sounding piano VSTi to use with ST's continues. Some say that Synthogy's Ivory II Grand & Italian pianos are the best. They're not exactly cheap though! Anyone here have any experience of Ivory?
Third: I'm wondering why ST's are released in the same tempo's as RTs (eg Jazz Swing at 85, 110, 140 & 190 bpm - exactly as for RT's). Afaik, midi doesn't have the same stretching constraints as RT WAV files. I've experimented with using all four swing STs at tempos up to 200, and I can hear little difference between them in terms of quality or 'fit'. Grateful for comments on that one....
Best to All - Andy
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Well, the suggested Tempo ranges are just suggestions, no?
"If it sounds good, it IS good." Duke Ellington said that.
Have Fun,
--Mac
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Enthusiast
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Quote:
.... On a related point: which VST soft-synth do people think gets the most authentic Grand Piano sound ? ...
Here is an interesting comparison. The list is not quite up to date but it gives you an idea of how different piano VSTi's can sound. (click on DETAILS - one can listen to the same MIDI File played by all pianos).
http://www.purgatorycreek.com/documents/25.html
Last edited by deltagolf; 08/10/12 12:01 AM.
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