What is the role of the Delay effect in the presets?
Ok, I know what a delay is, but specifically in these piano presets, why is it used (especially since the reverb module has a predelay function)?
Also, if I choose to use an external reverb instead of the factory one, should I better cut off the Delay effect?
Thanks,
Predelay in reverb is not the same thing as delay, per se, since delay has multiple taps.
The way I think of it is that the delay within 'Effects' fattens up the overall sound without pushing other elements.
It's a nice way of quickly being able to dial up a more weighty piano sound, or "Mix" it down to get a lighter sound - without altering other components which more aggressively affect the overall realism. In the end, the elements all hang together so this is a nice quick and easy tool which is relatively effective and harmless to the overall sound.
If you hook it up to the same millisecond (or some mathematically related variant) you can possibly minimise its presence without turning it off which could thin out the sound. Pianos these days mostly have more than one string so maybe it began from there as a part of a way to boost the thickness of the unison effect or something else in the Pianoteq engine? Just guessing about that but..
Eg. If the delay is set to 20ms, try setting the reverb pre-delay to 0.020 seconds to line up.
Perception around this is never purely about the mathematical exactitude alone - with certain reverbs and mic settings etc. all add more variance, colour and timing issues - but it pays to comb through things like exactly lining up (and slightly blurring out) these kinds of numbers. Some exact numbers all lining up can compound towards an ever more unrealistic (tube or elevator) effect, so always keep your artistic ear open for that and adjust some fuzz into the mix if it is something you're likely to enjoy doing
I suppose not every piano preset will need the delay but I think of that delay as helping to keep a full body sound without pushing other elements of the engine beyond realism. You can certainly "Mix" it down or up with the slider if you want - rather than kill it off or edit it too much.
Yes you are probably right.
In my experience, with headphones at least, I can close the delay without problem. I don't find it necessary to the sound for a realistic playing experience.
Have a good day