Latest recording & need software recommendation

Hello Rachel,

I have owned and tried a number of DAWs over the past 25 years.  Also as a classically trained pianist and pipe organist, I have one and only one PC-based DAW that will do everything you wish, regarding midi:  Digital Performer 8, by MOTU.

In fact, DP8 does allow you to graphically edit note release values (that normally default to note-off velocity = 64), and you can draw in any type of pedal release speeds you wish.

Currently, I also use Logic Pro, but it's confined to the Macintosh platform; ironically, if I need to perform some slight midi tweaks, also of the type you've mentioned, I export my files either from Pianoteq midi recordings or from Logic Pro as standard midi files, and then import them into Digital Performer 8 -- with zero hassle, and perform those little tweaks that transform already decent performances into great ones.

Incidentally, I have made demos of Rhapsody in Blue and others for East West Quantum Leap Pianos, in the past -- before encountering Pianoteq.  One of my pet gripes for EWQL pianos was that certain velocity ranges involved out-of-tune unisons.  While preparing my demos for Nick Phoenix of EWQL, I was constantly going in and, for example, avoiding note-on velocities of a certain note G, say, between 77 and 84.  Digital Performer (then version 6) was my go-to DAW to exorcise all of those velocities for certain notes that were out of tune!  (There were seemingly dozens of velocity ranges for untold numbers of individual key notes whose tuning was incorrect!)  DP6 to the rescue.

I am not associated with MOTU in any way; however, I give this DAW my highest recommendation -- in terms of midi editing ease and capability of any PC based program, bar none.

Cheers,

Joe

Reaper does just fine all the things you need (just head out to the pre-release section of Reaper forums where Reaper 5 beta is available, you will notice it takes care of note-off editing as well - this is new in Reaper 5!). And of course you can edit all the MIDI CC data (like sustain pedal)!

It's an affordable solution, but extremely powerful - people always seem to dismiss it because of the price, but that's quite wrong. You cannot say it doesn't do what you want until you've explored it more in-depth. It sure does everything you need.

BTW that's a mighty fine recording you've done there in the first post!

That is governed by the note-off velocity curve in Pianoteq

I am not 100% certain, but I think if the note-off is not sent by the controller, it's probably supposed to be either 0 or 64...

What's your MIDI controller?

I think Reaper probably assumes note-off = note-on for previously recorded material (when opening a project done in Reaper 4, or a MIDI file produced by a different DAW that has no note-offs)...

Hi Rachel - that Intermezzo mp3 is indeed very nice.  I can't offer much in the way of advice on the PC daw scene but I use a MAC and Logic Express.  I open two different PTQs one with one of the vibraphone presets and one with a D4 preset and one with the resident acoustic bass from Logic Express.  That's about all I do in the way of multi-voice.

Lanny