Does anyone use HD1 for piano, organ, etc?

[carmol]

I find still useful even HD-1 pianos,
the acoustic ones are less realistic
but in some circumstances they can cut better in the mix,
furthermore I like some HD-1 e.pianos more than
some in ep-1.

Removing those sounds would be a modest
convenience IMHO.

[shawnhar]

I don't buy the idea that you would ever not want the most detailed and expressive sounds possible, even when buried in a mix.

Sure, a lower quality sound might do ok in such a situation, but a better sound will always be better.

Consider that ultimate example of layering different sounds, the symphony orchestra. The second clarinet is playing in unison with two other clarinets, the bassoon, two horns, and a giant string section, so even the most expert listener cannot distinguish his individual tone. But it would be a nonsense to say this player needs no skill, or might as well use a cheap student clarinet, or should not bother to play expressively! For the best sound, top orchestras hire the best musicians they can afford, who play the best instruments the best way they know how.

Of course the specific kind of expression used in ensemble playing is very different to when playing solo (just like the mix for an ensemble instrument will use EQ very differently to on a solo sound), but nuance of expression and richness of tone are still worth having...

[Kevin Nolan]

I'm an OASYS user (and will acquire a Kronos soon) - so I have only the HD-1 options for pianos. Some things to bear in mind:

EXs2 Piano is a 500MB Piano and is very respectable. It’s clearly not the quality of the SGX Piano – but depending on the project, or for purposes of variety – do not dismiss EXs2. It offers a viable alternative. With proper management in EQ, HD-1 parameter Pitch Stretch, paly-back at correct sound levels and clever use of Effects such as Piano Body / Dampner and Reverbs, it's up there with other workstation offerings. As with all keyboards, you get out of it what you put into it. so it's far from irrelevant.

Secondly – note that there are already OASYS Expansion packs released by Korg free of charge about two years ago with about 700 HD-1 programs – and these are exquisite. The are called:

EXI_XPansion
HD-1_XPansion_Sounds_Vol1
HD-1_XPansion_Sounds_Vol2

Sharp - could these be put on the Korg download section given they are free of charge?

Get these packs!! They are as good as it gets, programming wise on OASYS/Kronos. There are many excellent electric pianos – (I witnessed Herbie Hancock use some of these on stage – if they’re good enough for him, they are good enough).


Thirdly, for CP80 pianos – you have no choice on Kronos but HD-1 – check out excellent CP80s in the OASYS expansion packs; and about a dozen CP80 programs I make available at http://www.knect.ie/OASYS.html


Overall, HD-1 is a robust engine for a workstation. The reasons: uncompressed samples (unique in workstations), an extensive collection of samples and genuinely exquisite Korg programming. Overall, you have a deep well of sound samples for instruments and sound design - especially when implementing Vector Synthesis, Wave Sequencing and when layering in Programs with other EXi's or in Combi's. Overall, HD-1 is far too good to be ignored or dismissed.


Kevin.

[cello]

Overall, HD-1 is a robust engine for a workstation. The reasons: uncompressed samples (unique in workstations), an extensive collection of samples and genuinely exquisite Korg programming. Overall, you have a deep well of sound samples for instruments and sound design - don't ignore it or dismiss it.

Absolutely spot on Kevin - totally agree.

PS - the packs Kevin mentions are currently downloadable from www.korgusers.net in the OASYS section.

[SanderXpander]

I don't buy the idea that you would ever not want the most detailed and expressive sounds possible, even when buried in a mix.

Sure, a lower quality sound might do ok in such a situation, but a better sound will always be better.

Consider that ultimate example of layering different sounds, the symphony orchestra. The second clarinet is playing in unison with two other clarinets, the bassoon, two horns, and a giant string section, so even the most expert listener cannot distinguish his individual tone. But it would be a nonsense to say this player needs no skill, or might as well use a cheap student clarinet, or should not bother to play expressively! For the best sound, top orchestras hire the best musicians they can afford, who play the best instruments the best way they know how.

Of course the specific kind of expression used in ensemble playing is very different to when playing solo (just like the mix for an ensemble instrument will use EQ very differently to on a solo sound), but nuance of expression and richness of tone are still worth having...

Then obviously, you don't have a lot of experience in mixing. While it's nice to have realistic sounds, sometimes you spend a lot of time trying to eq and gate certain artifacts away that are nowadays part of "detailed" samplesets. To use your example; if I were doing a symphony orchestra arrangement on a workstation or DAW, I would want that second clarinet to be in tune and have a basic clarinet timbre, but not a lot of valve noise or breath sound. I'd just spend time EQing it away to have it mix right. Even though it might sound more realistic in a solo situation.

In the same vein, when I'm playing some rock 'n' roll piano in a loud band situation, I'd much rather have a sample that has a basic piano timbre and cuts through the mix than one that has all the resonance and bass and artifacts (piano body resonance, damper resonance, key sympathetic resonance). They would only muddy the sound. Which is exactly the complaint of many people about the SGX piano in a loud band situation.

[burningbusch]

PS - the packs Kevin mentions are currently downloadable from www.korgusers.net in the OASYS section.

Unfortunately, it appears you need to be a registered OASYS user in order to download these. I'm am registered with the Korg software synths at that site but still cannot gain access to the OASYS downloads.

Busch.

[cello]

PS - the packs Kevin mentions are currently downloadable from www.korgusers.net in the OASYS section.

Unfortunately, it appears you need to be a registered OASYS user in order to download these. I'm am registered with the Korg software synths at that site but still cannot gain access to the OASYS downloads.

Busch.

Wasn't aware of that Busch - thanks for the info. Perhaps then Kevin's idea of making them available here at KF is good one?

[Kevin Nolan]

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