Re: Suggestions for a new piano
aandrmusic:
There are a few end user sample sets that could provide source data without introducing the unnecessary flaws, defects, and sampling errors contained in most products... into the model. But then again, we are seeing some of these defects in the PT models/patches themselves... hence their interest in finding edited fxp's that might be possibly used to update/reset the model.
And their models are getting better. The Bluethner ...harmonically speaking, requires far less tweeking than the Steinway which requires extensive editing and still you can't get all the problems out. And the big problem with that much editing ...is that often you end up chasing your tail... much like what happens when you try to rescue a mix and after hours and hours of editing, you oversaturate yourself to the point of returning to the mix a few days later only to find it still isn't as right as you thought it was.
It is remarkable how close the PT model is to the Steinway D I sampled in the 90's right down to some interesting details and this highlights the importance of starting with a source piano that is well prepared, well tuned (with someone who can tune right there while the samples are being taken), and with a mic setup that minimizes artifacts created by mic error.
We tried averaging away the harmonic errors but it's a delicate process... averaging too much obliterates the "character" of the piano. And we found that creating a harmonically perfect piano was actually less appealing in most cases than leaving the defects. But both extremes were objectionable and so it's the delicate process of figuring out just how much to edit so you don't take it over the edge.
I would like to see more piano variety as well and fewer old clunky pianos modeled ...but it looks like these clunkers were probably an early on necessity to develop what the modeling software needed to address. These pianos can be useful for cartoon tracks (not kidding) and documentaries like the Ken Burns Civil War series where clunky pianos add to the sense of time in which the documented events occurred. So for film scoring, arranging and production, these old models can be a useful addition to your library but for today's live performance and music productions the peak demand is for an unclunky gorgeous piano.
We'll see what PT comes up with next... right now, I've located a well signatured Baldwin Concert Grand in a large warehouse... a tempting prospect.
