I was curious if anyone has created an FXP of the Elton John "piano" sound. Although there has been much talk of the sound on the forum, I could not find anything that recreates it. Maybe it is not possible with the current tools, I don't know. I really don't mean to get into a discussion if it is a good piano or bad piano, real or not real; it is what it is. Anyway, here is a current link of what I am trying to recreate: https://youtu.be/0JQQPErc-BA?t=49m30s
Hello Mr. Scorpio, and welcome to the Pianoteq forum!
If one were to attempt an Elton John piano, we should start with the Pianoteq model Yamaha 9' Grand. I believe the specific model is a Yamaha CFIII. Notice in the video that the piano's lid is completely closed; this implies that the microphones are positioned on a crossbar that is inside the closed piano case. (There are commercial stereo microphone setups available for this very use inside of a grand piano whose lid is closed.)
The resulting sound comes from microphones being positioned extremely close to the strings (and quite possibly picking up noises from the hammers and piano's action). Any reverb you might hear ... must be generated by the person who mixes the sound in the venue.
Without creating an .fxp, myself, here are some first approximation suggestions to duplicate such an effect.
1) Choose the YC5 piano model by Pianoteq.
2) Close the piano's virtual lid.
3) Position two microphones "inside" the closed lid, placed either parallel to the keyboard, or perpendicular to the keyboard (in which one would be near the hammers and the other would be approximately 2/3rds down the length of the piano).
4) Reduce the dynamic range to under 20dB.
5) (Optionally) Raise the three hammer hardness sliders, such that they produce a harder sound.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Joe
I usually use a Poultec EQ and a Teletronix LA-2A (external plugins) to obtain that sound. As for the preset I start instead with the D4:
Set the unison width to 0.95;
Increase Hammer hardness to 0.40, 1.05 and 1.65;
On the spectrum profile lower the first overtone slightly;
Decrease hammer noise to 0.90;
Set Impedance to 0.90;
Decrease sympathetic Resonance to 0.80;
Increase Duplex Scale to 1.10;
Set Dynamics to a value between 30 and 35 depending on the song;
Use C414 for mics and increase the Stereo Width a lot;
On the Equalizer (not Eq3) lower slightly (1,5 db not more) the mid frequencies and increase the upper frequencies (around 3db)
Choose a reverb like plate or broceliande and adjust to taste.
The rest is done by the FXs above. This is the closest I've been able to get so far.
My opinion is that Elton John's piano is some sort of acoustic, electronic hybrid. I say this after hearing him live in the arena in Honolulu. I was in the nose-bleed section at $95.00 a ticket. It's amazing that he can captivate such a large venue for an hour and a half all by himself.
My opinion is that Elton John's piano is some sort of acoustic, electronic hybrid.
Absolutely. Read this: http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2022162/Re:_Elton_John's_Yamaha.html#Post2022162
Greg.