Topic by TyroneSlothrop

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  • TyroneSlothrop
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Topic: Which external reverb impulse files do I load?

If I download the "Altiverb (Wave) files, 24 bit, 48 Khz" impulse folder from here: http://www.samplicity.com/bricasti-m7-i...responses/

Then in Pianoteq Standard, I find I can only upload one impulse file at a time. After I've uploaded an impulse file to Pianoteq, it always says in Pianoteq "1 channel" and never gives me the option for more channels.

However these impulse files come with a few variants. For example, "M7 - 1 Halls 10 Concert Hall" contains both "True-Stereo" and "Mono-to-Stereo" options. Under "True-Stereo", there are "1 Halls 10 Concert Hall.1.2.wav", "1 Halls 10 Concert Hall.2.2.wav", "1 Halls 10 Concert Hall.1.1.wav", and "1 Halls 10 Concert Hall.2.1.wav". Under "Mono-to-Stereo", there are "1 Halls 10 Concert Hall.C.2.wav" and "1 Halls 10 Concert Hall.C.1.wav".

What is the difference between these? Since Pianoteq Standard only allows me to load a single impulse file at a time, which of these should I load into Pianoteq Standard if I want this particular concert hall model?

Finally, is there any way to get more than one channel in Pianoteq, or is this built into the impulse file itself?

Thanks!

Last edited by TyroneSlothrop (20-05-2019 11:26)

Reply by Qexl

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Re: Which external reverb impulse files do I load?

Hi TyroneSlothrop,

Pianoteq will silently load any accompanying left or right matching file if it exists.

When you load an IR file, you probably should see an info box with some details like

"Impulse loaded, 2x2 (true stereo) channels 48kHz, 2.70 seconds"

Link to an earlier thread about Pianoteq's impulse reverb file loading

Pianoteq Studio Bundle (Pro plus all instruments)  - Kawai MP11 digital piano - Yamaha HS8 monitors

Reply by beakybird

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Re: Which external reverb impulse files do I load?

I had the same question as TyroneSlothrop. What do these different choices mean? Why are there two or sometimes four choices for one reverb impulse? Is it which direction the reverb is dispersing?

Pianoteq 6 Std, Bluthner, Model B, Grotian, YC5, Hohner, Kremsegg #1, Electric Pianos. Roland FP-90, Windows 10 quad core, Xenyx Q802USB, Yamaha HS8 monitors, Audio Technica
ATH-M50x headphones.

Reply by Qexl

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Re: Which external reverb impulse files do I load?

Hi beakybird,

sure thing, in terms of stereo convolution reverb, it describe a space, left and right (think of a mic for left ear, and a mic for right ear). What we hear as reverb is just the original source (piano for example) traveling in time across space - our ears tell our brain "where" and what direction. Convolution reverb is a marvelous way to emulate reverberant spaces quite believably.

Mono may not describe true stereo reverb data but can still be well worth using and sometimes may be a preferred choice depending on what you're recording or playing.

It gets, like most things, very complex (quad files? Surround?) - but in short, stereo and quad files loaded into the convolution reverb in Pianoteq is pretty bees knees.

This Wikipedia article on Convolution Reverb is a nice starting point for more info.

There are some links at the bottom of that page to some more info and IR files to try out, and also links all over the page to other definitions and related reading.

Convolution describes a venerable mathematical function where 2 functions combine to describe a 3rd. In this thread, it's Pianoteq plus IR file(s) to create final signal.

It can be much more than just mixing Pianoteq with a reverb sound, or placing a wash of mixed signal and the more data is contained in the files, and arguably the better the quality of IR files and also internal algorithms, the more appealing or natural the results.

We can record our own IR files - but the available libraries do a great job of providing all kinds of spaces in the real world and in emulations of hardware reverb units.

I'd encourage anyone to consider trying out placing the virtual microphones in Pianoteq like they might be placed near the front row in a hall, then apply a nice hall convolution reverb and experiment with levels and mics until you feel at home

Pianoteq Studio Bundle (Pro plus all instruments)  - Kawai MP11 digital piano - Yamaha HS8 monitors

Reply by beakybird

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Re: Which external reverb impulse files do I load?

Qexl wrote:

Hi beakybird,

sure thing, in terms of stereo convolution reverb, it describe a space, left and right (think of a mic for left ear, and a mic for right ear). What we hear as reverb is just the original source (piano for example) traveling in time across space - our ears tell our brain "where" and what direction. Convolution reverb is a marvelous way to emulate reverberant spaces quite believably.

Mono may not describe true stereo reverb data but can still be well worth using and sometimes may be a preferred choice depending on what you're recording or playing.

It gets, like most things, very complex (quad files? Surround?) - but in short, stereo and quad files loaded into the convolution reverb in Pianoteq is pretty bees knees.

This Wikipedia article on Convolution Reverb is a nice starting point for more info.

There are some links at the bottom of that page to some more info and IR files to try out, and also links all over the page to other definitions and related reading.

Convolution describes a venerable mathematical function where 2 functions combine to describe a 3rd. In this thread, it's Pianoteq plus IR file(s) to create final signal.

It can be much more than just mixing Pianoteq with a reverb sound, or placing a wash of mixed signal and the more data is contained in the files, and arguably the better the quality of IR files and also internal algorithms, the more appealing or natural the results.

We can record our own IR files - but the available libraries do a great job of providing all kinds of spaces in the real world and in emulations of hardware reverb units.

I'd encourage anyone to consider trying out placing the virtual microphones in Pianoteq like they might be placed near the front row in a hall, then apply a nice hall convolution reverb and experiment with levels and mics until you feel at home

Thanks! This is good information.

Pianoteq 6 Std, Bluthner, Model B, Grotian, YC5, Hohner, Kremsegg #1, Electric Pianos. Roland FP-90, Windows 10 quad core, Xenyx Q802USB, Yamaha HS8 monitors, Audio Technica
ATH-M50x headphones.