I’m anxious to see still if maybe Modartt will model one only as a part belonging to a set of other drums, making a modern drum set.  Although I recently changed my position on the believable realism drum modeling offered at IK Multimedia.  It has since an update made substantial improvements in its MODO DRUM drum modeling software, enough for me to come into possession of my very own licensed copy.  It’s so realistic now, I just had to buy it!  And, I’m a jazz drummer.  (You know jazz drummers are mostly renowned as exclusively acoustic instrument players.)

Anyway in my anticipation before I acquired the drum modeling software, I had gotten the Waves Smack Attack.  Which is the Waves plugin I previously mentioned (above) as a possible solution to quell the punch in piano transient information.  Understandably, I just got it on a sale in a package along with Waves Torque, specifically, to use in lieu of drum modeling, since just like piano modeling, it lacks any transient shaper of its own and additionally has no way technically for me to change a pitch of a drum per se.  However it permits drum head tightening of the skins.

So, if you’re somehow still dissatisfied with the level of transient control modeled pianos permit in modeling software, or any lack thereof, both Waves Smack Attack and Torque are on a sale now until the end of the day.  The price for both is $49.99 (US). 

You get them at Waves, https://www.waves.com/plugins/torque?ut...march-2020.

The piano has great range and dynamics, but the organ is "The King of Instruments," essentially able to emulate a whole orchestra composed of strings, woodwinds, brass, and even a choral section...

....it's just so much easier for the average turn of the 20th century family to purchase a piano and place it in their living room!

;-D

Ha yeah, I like that - imagining sliders for cabinet density, resonator types, size, glass, string, pipe/wind, plastic, metal, bows, hammers - kind of a virtual box of possibilities beyond the expected. But Pianoteq is probably enough a miracle for one lifetime.

Still love returning to the vids above (really quite love the viola tones) and the related ones coming up on the Youtube side-bar, some of which are also pretty inspiring. There have been and still are some fascinating instruments.

Interestingly, in retrospect, viewing all these it becomes kind of more and more obvious why the piano kind of ends up becoming basically the default for so much repertoire.

Hey Don,

thanks for that FXP - you make really great presets, have enjoyed many.

Thanks.

That's a great sound you've created with the Bechstein, makes me wonder if there should be a 'SoundsTeq'.

Really incredible, I never imagined that such an instrument existed.

This is another advantage of being a Pianoteq user and participating in a forum with smart people.

Sounds like Modarrt needs to emulate the Viola Organista designed by Da Vinci and built by Sławomir Zubrzycki in 2012.

I love it!!! Sounds to me like a cross between a chamber organ and a consort of viols. We just need to have a 'bowed' option in the harpsichord or piano action section. Speaking of which (I think this has been posted elsewhere in the forum, but I can't remember where):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14jPvnWhdNM
(Don't try this at home).

Was it Chopin or Debussy who once expressed a wish for 'a piano without hammers'? With Pianoteq, their wish could come true!

Sounds like Modarrt needs to emulate the Viola Organista designed by Da Vinci and built by Sławomir Zubrzycki in 2012.  There is also a series of them made by Akio Obuchi, but I haven't heard samples of those models.  There were a few of this kind of automated violin built between 1500 and today under the name Geigenwerk in German or Viola Organista in Italian, but Zubrzycki is the one that has received the most attention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv3py3Ap8_Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR_-4OXJeNI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB4_o_SR2WY

Here's a default Pianoteq preset, C. Bechstein DG Recording 2:

Same improv MIDI as above and below but with normal piano preset with hammers

And here's one example (of trillions possible) with most impact and hammer response removed, with some pushed elements. It uses the same MIDI improv as the audio I linked in a previous comment with a group of edited differences. It's not clinical by any means, it's somewhat produced (by nature of killing off transients artificially will probably lead to non-reality but would be interesting to try in earnest maybe), but anyway gives a general idea of what overtones and swarming swelling tails of musical sonic mana can be 'left behind' when the trademark sounds and more sparkling tones from striking the strings is removed from a piano sound:

Hammer Horrors audio, same MIDI as above

The FXP for fun - it's one way I like using Pianoteq, replacing synth pads and making atmos, so it might be usable for others in their work.

Hammer Horrors FXP

thanks for that FXP - you make really great presets, have enjoyed many.

The forum does all that work really - when at the FXP Corner, right-click the link for your FXP there, and "copy link" then paste it in after the = sign..

This is a template for it:

[url=yourlinkhere]You can type a title between the brackets[/url]


And that template now with your recent FXP pasted in and a title..

[url=https://forum.modartt.com/file/cuferdxy]SteinwayD274ConcertGrand1 - FXP by DonSmith[/url]

That box above shows raw text - but here's what visitors will see:

SteinwayD274ConcertGrand1 - FXP by DonSmith

You can do the exact same for any audio demo you upload in the FXP corner too - and the forum software will embed the little player

Hi,

I was about to use Pianoteq to make some extremely soft recording. But I always get this 'punch', strong 'attack'.

Any ideas? FXP maybe?

Thanks

I've uploaded an FXP:
SteinwayD274ConcertGrand1
In the FXP Corner.
I'm not sure how people insert their links to theirs

Pro version.
Basic tweaks among others;
OUTPUT: Dynamics and Volume.
Gain from the Effects Panel and Soft Pedal from Voicing.

Hi,

I was about to use Pianoteq to make some extremely soft recording. But I always get this 'punch', strong 'attack'. I purchased Standard version just to be able to address this and got stuck. What I tried is to reduce hammer hardness down to 0.2. Then to raise sympathetic resonance as much as sound 'realism' allows to drown 'punch'. I experimented with mic position, pulled them all the way left and right, and punch is still there. I figured out that 'umf' is at around 80hz, so I tried to eq it down, but then maybe it sounded worse. I kinda lost critical distance after so many hours spent trying to achieve this sound.   

I know it is kinda strange idea, given that even acoustic piano professional recordings have hammer punch recorded.

My goal is extra mellow, 'cinematic' piano sound. Artificial probably. Just to not feel like being struck with medical hammer with every note. Not painful, but annoying.

Any ideas? FXP maybe?

Thanks

The sound you might be after could be this, reverb with dry/effect set full wet (fx), I used this years back on strings. You will have to play/record in real time though, playing before the beat to allow for the latency (adding this effect to already recorded piano will make it 'out of time'). You could reduce the effect somewhat, but the 'punch' as you describe it, will be increased by doing so. Edit: just played using this effect with the metronome, not as much latency as I predicted so as for playing before the beat slightly, best to see what works with the other tracks.