Berlin Grand struggles

[pedro5]

Adding a possible(?) point of interest.....
Many of my piano voices use the dual EXi method.....a variation of the Japanese ones and German Grand etc.
Most have similar settings though,but at different volume levels (avoiding any chorus effect etc).

The result is quite pleasing in that they have complementary tones, especially with judicious eq settings which enhances the overall sound…..for me,that is.
One drawback being that there can be a reduction in polyphony when used in a Combie,but is not a problem as a Programme.

As most sounds are subjective,more so with pianos, it may not suit the purist player (listener),nor offer any sort of solution,but perhaps worth trying for experimentation purposes.

[chris321]

Sounds interesting for me - do you have sound examples? Would you share your configuration settings in detail?

[Dniss]

I feel the same thing playing it sometimes, almost as if the notes are getting choked.

Yess that!

I find myself playing harder like I would on a real piano.

[pedro5]

chris321

I don't have any sound samples,but willing to share my main(current) piano as an example.
Please note it may not sound well on your system,nor any other,as we all have different gear etc.

Use it as a starting point and adjust all settings to suit !!!
Experiment,trial and error time…..being the fun part.

I'm still tweaking and adding various permutations as an ongoing project…15 plus pianos and rising .

Other members have already posted their own EXi settings (not all dual versions,though)…but I can't find them directly on the forum as they were added within a different topic.
Perhaps those who contributed may re-post their settings…??

Some prefer to use the combie set up to provide volume adjustment,but I use the Control Surface route then save as a prog etc.

Example.

EXi 1

Rudess Japanese C
Volume 72
Release Time +20
Velocity Bias +35
Velocity Intensity +45

EXi 2

German Grand D Dark 1s
Volume 38
Release Time +32

Velocity Bias and Intensity same as EXi 1


IFX Stereo Graphic 7EQ (to suit).
MFX Stereo Compressor Wet.
TFX 1 O-Verb 6
TFX 2 Stereo Exciter/Enhancer 55

Have fun !!

Best Wishes.

[chris321]

pedro5
thank you for shareing your settings! Will try it this weekend.

[GregC]

chris321

I don't have any sound samples,but willing to share my main(current) piano as an example.
Please note it may not sound well on your system,nor any other,as we all have different gear etc.

Use it as a starting point and adjust all settings to suit !!!
Experiment,trial and error time…..being the fun part.

I'm still tweaking and adding various permutations as an ongoing project…15 plus pianos and rising .

Other members have already posted their own EXi settings (not all dual versions,though)…but I can't find them directly on the forum as they were added within a different topic.
Perhaps those who contributed may re-post their settings…??

Some prefer to use the combie set up to provide volume adjustment,but I use the Control Surface route then save as a prog etc.

Example.

EXi 1

Rudess Japanese C
Volume 72
Release Time +20
Velocity Bias +35
Velocity Intensity +45

EXi 2

German Grand D Dark 1s
Volume 38
Release Time +32

Velocity Bias and Intensity same as EXi 1


IFX Stereo Graphic 7EQ (to suit).
MFX Stereo Compressor Wet.
TFX 1 O-Verb 6
TFX 2 Stereo Exciter/Enhancer 55

Have fun !!

Best Wishes.

weighed or unweighed keyboard ?

[pedro5]

I have a Kronos 73.

Just a note for anyone trying this out....don't expect a revolutionary change in sound and not be disappointed with the results.
Some may like it...others won't.
After all,it's only another tweak and will need several attempts to produce something useful.

Best Wishes.

[GregC]

I have a Kronos 73.

Just a note for anyone trying this out....don't expect a revolutionary change in sound and not be disappointed with the results.
Some may like it...others won't.
After all,it's only another tweak and will need several attempts to produce something useful.

Best Wishes.

I am enjoying your EXi combination. Nice work !

[pedro5]

Thank you for the feedback.
I'm pleased you like the example....although I can't be credited for its total originality because another forum member posted the Velocity Bias/Intensity settings as a starting point and I progressed from there.
The permutation of these,together with other tweaks, are worth experimenting with.

Be careful though,the end results will be a vast number of pianos........(I enjoy most,but still keep tweaking and adding more).

How many pianos do we really need ??

Best Wishes.

[HankKeys]

The release is too fast. I can edit this in the SGX-2 Engine, but when I do so the bass notes release way to long.

One trick you might employ is to a duplicate the EXi1 Berlin Grand and put it in EXi2. Now split the two EXis edited with different release times.

Busch.

This is what I did in the end. Thanks for the hint. Also, a little pad or a wurlitzer at a very quiet volume will help with the sustain issue.
But all this is against what I want from a great piano sound, namely having all this IN the sample, not having to do workarounds.
The German grand comes closest to this idea, so I will have to continue tweaking with this one.

[Ottawa58]

There was something always bugging me in the back of my mind while playing the Berlin. After reading this, I set the release to +20 and I'm very happy with it now. Thanks everyone!

[JimH]

I also don't like the initial decay of the Kronos pianos (although the release never bothered me). Compare these pianos to the Yamaha S90ES (S700 sample) or the Pianoteq. These ring out more where the Kronos pianos sound more, as you say, choked. Not that this is specific to Korg or Kronos---I hear a lot of sampled pianos like this. I do like the clarity and high end of the Kronos pianos, though.

[aron]

JimH,

Yes, this really affects how you play and hold chords. The S90ES had a really great piano. When I play the Motifs that don't have this piano, I enjoy playing them a lot less. You are right, many keyboards do not sustain as well. After the initial attack, they just kind of die out.