Topic by Amen Ptah Ra

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  • Amen Ptah Ra
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  • Registered: 12-05-2017
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Topic: Have any suggestions for accompaniment interface setups with Pianoteq?

Anyone have any setup suggestions or experiences from his or her using Pianoteq to accompany another instrumentalist or vocalist or others?

I've spotted some posts from Jazz at Lincoln Center's JAZZ ACADEMY.  They seem to cover approaches on acoustic instruments, specifically:

  1. Patrice Rushen and Buster Williams, Playing Together Part 1

  2. Patrice Rushen and Buster Williams, Playing Together Part 2

  3. Patrice Rushen and Buster Williams, Playing Together Part 3

So far, the Focusrite 3rd Generation Scarlett 18i8 and the Behringer XR18 Digital Mixer are perhaps capable enough to handle a trio’s setting or something larger.  My guess is; either one of those paired with smart:EQ live might deliver on some satisfyingly intimate headphone monitor mixes, if by either latency is made a non-issue.

Last edited by Amen Ptah Ra (02-08-2019 01:25)
Pianoteq 8 Studio Bundle, Pearl malletSTATION EM1, Roland (DRUM SOUND MODULE TD-30, HandSonic 10, AX-1), Akai EWI USB, Yamaha DIGITAL PIANO P-95, M-Audio STUDIOPHILE BX5, Focusrite Saffire PRO 24 DSP.

Reply by Amen Ptah Ra

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Re: Have any suggestions for accompaniment interface setups with Pianoteq?

Today, I am as undecided about the best choice of the two (2) interfaces as I was when I originally posted.  Although I'm as inspired as anybody else is about the Pianoteq Video Contest 2019 first place winning entry "The Place where the lost Things go" by Eddie Nuenning.  It to me reenforces the proposition any upright electric bass (such as my Stagg EDB-3/4 BK Electric Upright Double Bass) is probably fine via either interface in live accompaniments to an highly nuanced performance.  Now since a bass instrument (whether electric or acoustic) can send additionally MIDI messages to a VST such as PIANOTEQ or any other, and through a software plugin —namely MIDI BASS or MIDI GUITAR II— which on-the-fly can convert audio from a guitar or bass into MIDI, it is possible and even advantageous for musicians to record qualitatively on a small budget.  Indeed, they may make up musicians considered accomplished or otherwise:

Upon whichever interface I resultantly choose, I'm planning to hook up bass tones from the Stagg EDB-3/4 BK Electric Upright Double Bass (below) and just possibly for non-acoustic instrumentations from a bassist use MIDI BASS from JAM ORIGIN, http://www.jamorigin.com/products/midi-bass/.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/9EkAAOSwz39dsg0D/s-l1600.jpg

Pianoteq 8 Studio Bundle, Pearl malletSTATION EM1, Roland (DRUM SOUND MODULE TD-30, HandSonic 10, AX-1), Akai EWI USB, Yamaha DIGITAL PIANO P-95, M-Audio STUDIOPHILE BX5, Focusrite Saffire PRO 24 DSP.

Reply by Shanesplanet

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  • Registered: 19-03-2019
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Re: Have any suggestions for accompaniment interface setups with Pianoteq?

I prefer Allen and Heath, but you would be just fine with the Scarlett. In the end,  having a WALL POWERED device with a midi in/out will not be the bottleneck of your audio chain. If you are looking for stellar recording, you may need to climb the ladder in price point a shade and aim for exceptional preamps and converters. Your latency will be depicted mostly by your computer power and how it processes pianoteq and/or the daw.  The great thing about pianoteq is that it is not converter/preamp dependant. Ive never cared much for audo to midi conversions, and typically found it just easier to play the midi into it. I use a 'prosumer' mixer with sterile preamps. Channel count is important if you mic drums or live acts. I do use specialty preamps for some things, as the mixer is sterile. HAving said that, any mid priced (not bus powered) interface, should have decent and sterile preamps. With plugins and itb mixing so prevelant, sterile MAY sometimes be the ticket. Just be sure to get one that has a 'blend' or 'mix' knob, as there may be times you want to hear pianoteq returning from the daw, at the same time as you hear the incoming preamps. I do think the scarlett and xr18 do this. Im a guy that likes faders and lotsa knobs, don't really trust any interface that doesnt work without a computer on it own. My friend had an xr18 and seemed to find it a shade finicky. Ignoring my personal issues with focusrite, I do think they are on top of their game. Fwiw, I've been using a ALlen and Heath Qu-16 (22 channels each way) with a d-snake for the drum kit (allows me to choose dsnakke or mixer per channel) for over 5 years and LOVE it. I also use an ipad to control it for live. It has querks, but i'd buy another in a heartbeat if this one quit. Debateable if its considered GREAT quality or not. Great news is you've TONS of choices nowadays, hard to go wrong!

Last edited by Shanesplanet (29-11-2019 08:01)