Topic by dondascher

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Topic: Trying to eliminate strange noise

Here is a specific sound / noise I am trying to eliminate from my piano sound.

I am keeping things as simple as possible so as to be able to duplicate it.

I have selected C3 Close Mic and strike the "C" which is 1 octave higher than middle "C" with a sharp short stike and hold it while at the same time applying pedal.

I hear something that sounds like something cycling in the background.

Anyone have any thoughts on what this could be and how I can rid myself of this ?

Don

Last edited by dondascher (19-12-2011 17:50)

Reply by LTECpiano

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Re: Trying to eliminate strange noise

Hi Don

Try two things first.  Toggle the Reverb off.  Then slide the Unison Width to 0.00 so now things that generate other resonances are minimized.  Then continue the hunt with other parameter controls.

Good Luck,

Lanny

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Reply by Philippe Guillaume

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Re: Trying to eliminate strange noise

Don, it could be that what you call cycling is the beating produced by the harp resonance (sympathetic resonance between the hitten note and all other strings). In that case, you may want to reduce the sympathetic resonance, and maybe the duplex scale resonance. Note that you have the same behavior on an acoustic piano, eventually louder.

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Reply by dondascher

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Re: Trying to eliminate strange noise

Let me pinpoint it even further.   

If I play that note sharply and hold the key down ... with no pedal ... I do not hear that sound I am trying to get rid of.   I hear the sound of note sustaining and slowly decaying and that is fine .. but nothing else.

However,  if the pedal is down prior to my hitting the note, then I hear that sound.   It sounds like metal scraping on metal in a cycling type of pulsing nature.

If becomes particularly noticeable if I hit the key repeatedly while the pedal is down.

If is quite pronounced so it cannot be missed.

It would be comforting to me to just get someone else to acknowledge that they hear it too.

Don

P.S.   I have tried the options mentioned above with little (if any) result.

Reply by Philippe Guillaume

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Re: Trying to eliminate strange noise

Don, did you try to push the 2 sliders "sympathetic resonance" and "duplex scale" completely to the left? Does it make a difference (it should)?

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Reply by dondascher

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Re: Trying to eliminate strange noise

Philippe Guillaume wrote:

Don, did you try to push the 2 sliders "sympathetic resonance" and "duplex scale" completely to the left? Does it make a difference (it should)?

I thought I did but I tried it this time and now it definitely eliminated that special sound I was hearing.

After a few more different scenarios it turns out that the Sympathetic Resonance is the one that actually matters.

Well, good.   Now, I have something to work with anyway.

Thanks.

Don

Reply by Philippe Guillaume

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Re: Trying to eliminate strange noise

OK, fine. BTW, the sympathetic resonance is what makes the use of the sustain pedal difficult  in an acoustic piano, more difficult than with a standard digital piano. If not used properly, the sound may quickly become muddy. One thing that pianists do on an acoustic piano is to press the sustain pedal down just a few milliseconds after pressing down a chord that needs to be sustained, reducing thus slightly the amount of resonance for a better musical articulation.

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