Topic by KerriS

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  • KerriS
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  • From: Maryland, USA
  • Registered: 24-12-2023
  • Posts: 59

Topic: Hallelujah

This week's piano cover is "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. I've paired this with the Steinway B (Recording 3) preset to capture some of the lush warm tones in the lower register while still preserving brightness (but not TOO much) in the higher register. I took some liberties with the piece near the end with some free improvisation—I hope y'all enjoy!

Listen on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/kerri-shotts/hallelujah
Listen on YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=4yzLl...gJoD1jNWnY
Other platforms: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kerri...hallelujah

Mastering Chain using Logic Pro:
PianoTeq 8.4 (modified Steinway B Recording 3 preset, 70db, no reverb, key release -10db, pedal -10db, .33 condition), -2db gain adjustment
Compressor (Vintage VCA, -40db threshold, 1.3 ratio, 0.7 knee, 26ms attack, 48ms release, -12db auto gain)
Quantec Room Simulator (Based on one of the QRS Classics Concert Halls, IIRC, Quantec YardStick, 1.6s, 10^4 m^3 room size, dry 0db, reverb delay 100ms, 1st reflection -26db, reverb level -12db)
Linear EQ (Low Cut 50hz)
Normalized to -1db

Cheers,
~Kerri

Pianoteq 8, Organteq 2, Yamaha NU1X, Yamaha P515

KerriS's Website

Reply by carmelo.paolucci

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  • carmelo.paolucci
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  • Registered: 21-08-2024
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Re: Hallelujah

KerriS wrote:

This week's piano cover is "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. I've paired this with the Steinway B (Recording 3) preset to capture some of the lush warm tones in the lower register while still preserving brightness (but not TOO much) in the higher register. I took some liberties with the piece near the end with some free improvisation—I hope y'all enjoy!

Listen on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/kerri-shotts/hallelujah
Listen on YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=4yzLl...gJoD1jNWnY
Other platforms: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kerri...hallelujah

Mastering Chain using Logic Pro:
PianoTeq 8.4 (modified Steinway B Recording 3 preset, 70db, no reverb, key release -10db, pedal -10db, .33 condition), -2db gain adjustment
Compressor (Vintage VCA, -40db threshold, 1.3 ratio, 0.7 knee, 26ms attack, 48ms release, -12db auto gain)
Quantec Room Simulator (Based on one of the QRS Classics Concert Halls, IIRC, Quantec YardStick, 1.6s, 10^4 m^3 room size, dry 0db, reverb delay 100ms, 1st reflection -26db, reverb level -12db)
Linear EQ (Low Cut 50hz)
Normalized to -1db

Dear KerriS,

that's a Fantastic performance of this evergreen piece by Cohen.
I really loved the sound you've choiced as well as the parameter you've reported to get it.
Thank you so much! I wish you a great weekend !
Greetings from Italy
Carmelo
]

Reply by Pianoteqenthusiast

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  • Pianoteqenthusiast
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  • Registered: 25-10-2013
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Re: Hallelujah

KerriS wrote:

This week's piano cover is "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. I've paired this with the Steinway B (Recording 3) preset to capture some of the lush warm tones in the lower register while still preserving brightness (but not TOO much) in the higher register. I took some liberties with the piece near the end with some free improvisation—I hope y'all enjoy!

Listen on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/kerri-shotts/hallelujah
Listen on YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=4yzLl...gJoD1jNWnY
Other platforms: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kerri...hallelujah

Mastering Chain using Logic Pro:
PianoTeq 8.4 (modified Steinway B Recording 3 preset, 70db, no reverb, key release -10db, pedal -10db, .33 condition), -2db gain adjustment
Compressor (Vintage VCA, -40db threshold, 1.3 ratio, 0.7 knee, 26ms attack, 48ms release, -12db auto gain)
Quantec Room Simulator (Based on one of the QRS Classics Concert Halls, IIRC, Quantec YardStick, 1.6s, 10^4 m^3 room size, dry 0db, reverb delay 100ms, 1st reflection -26db, reverb level -12db)
Linear EQ (Low Cut 50hz)
Normalized to -1db


Kerri, really beautifully played. Nice Steinway B, bright higher tones, warm lower tones - yes. I think your Yamaha NU1X have a very good touch responsibility.   Touch response is an essential aspect of the instrument. It allows the player to create a more nuanced and dynamic sound, which can transform a simple piece of music into something truly special, as we can hear in all your pieces.

I wish I had  a NU but can’t afford it and my little ”studioroom” have no place for it. But I could achieve greater control over my performance by adjusting the intensity of my playing. This could help add texture and emotion to my playing. - But I do what I can with my M-Audio keystation 88. At least I have 88 keys   

Thank you Kerri for beautully played music again.

Best wishes,

Stig

Reply by KerriS

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  • KerriS
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  • From: Maryland, USA
  • Registered: 24-12-2023
  • Posts: 59

Re: Hallelujah

carmelo.paolucci wrote:

Dear KerriS,

that's a Fantastic performance of this evergreen piece by Cohen.
I really loved the sound you've choiced as well as the parameter you've reported to get it.
Thank you so much! I wish you a great weekend !
Greetings from Italy
Carmelo
]

Thank you! I can't get enough of this piece—it lives in my head on a regular basis, and I just don't get tired of it.

I was trying to decide on which piano worked the best (I have several preset in my Logic template so that I can audition several quickly) and when I switched on the Steinway B, it was immediately obvious that was the one to use.

Good thing Pianoteq lets me play around with so many different piano sounds... If I had to have all of these as physical instruments, I'd be in so much trouble!

Cheers,
~Kerri

Pianoteq 8, Organteq 2, Yamaha NU1X, Yamaha P515

KerriS's Website

Reply by KerriS

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  • KerriS
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  • From: Maryland, USA
  • Registered: 24-12-2023
  • Posts: 59

Re: Hallelujah

Pianoteqenthusiast wrote:

Kerri, really beautifully played. Nice Steinway B, bright higher tones, warm lower tones - yes. I think your Yamaha NU1X have a very good touch responsibility.   Touch response is an essential aspect of the instrument. It allows the player to create a more nuanced and dynamic sound, which can transform a simple piece of music into something truly special, as we can hear in all your pieces.

I wish I had  a NU but can’t afford it and my little ”studioroom” have no place for it. But I could achieve greater control over my performance by adjusting the intensity of my playing. This could help add texture and emotion to my playing. - But I do what I can with my M-Audio keystation 88. At least I have 88 keys   

Thank you Kerri for beautully played music again.

Best wishes,

Stig

Thank you so much!

I'm lucky to have an overabundance of space—in our main arts room we have my mom's acoustic upright (an old Wurlitzer) and my NU1X side-by-side. Really helps when giving lessons—one doesn't have to kick the student off their piano every time you need to demonstrate something. (I really do need to get the acoustic tuned, though... one of these days).

I've been experimenting quite a bit with the touch curve—previously I had a curved velocity response in Pianoteq, but now I've switched to an entirely linear velocity response w/ increased dynamic range--often 60-70db. I find that helps me get the dynamic response that I'm after. I will note that I'd probably go after an NU w/ a grand action if I had to do it again since one can occasionally feel like the upright action gets in the way, but those are also more expensive, take up more space, and I can't complain too much... it's been a great instrument, I've never had to tune it, and it really helps me have so much more control over my dynamics.

I'd say your 88 keys is serving you quite well given how much you are able to post here! Love how freely you share your music with us :-) And agreed on having 88 keys -- I just don't think I could ever really do with less!

(Although more would be nice occasionally. But that's WAY more expensive and space consuming... but one can dream?)

Cheers,
~Kerri

Pianoteq 8, Organteq 2, Yamaha NU1X, Yamaha P515

KerriS's Website