Piano Sound Library expansion

andreamusic · Post by **andreamusic** » Tue Jun 09, 2015 10:05 am

Hi guys,

I'm looking for a realistic piano sound to play classical music with Kronos X

could you please recomend me a realistic piano expansion for classical piano style? Is it comparable with plugins like pianoteq?

Thanks,

Andrea

genehart · Post by **genehart** » Tue Jun 09, 2015 10:46 am

kronos x already have great pianos )
try new Berlin grand EXS

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Tue Jun 09, 2015 11:28 am

I like PianoTeq a lot but it can still sound synthetic sometimes. It's hard to put into words because with some sounds or playing styles it can be super realistic. I tend to prefer Ivory overall, and I would rate Kronos as close to Ivory.

The real question is, why get a Kronos for classical stuff if you have PianoTeq or Ivory. If the main point is portability I don't think there are workstations/synths with more realistic pianos. If you'd consider a stage piano, Roland makes a V-Piano, Yamaha has the CP5 and its siblings and Nord obviously has the piano and stage series. The "best" is really mostly a matter of preference at this point. No two acoustic pianos sound the same either and most important emulation features are shared between the big names. I went with Kronos.

andreamusic · Post by **andreamusic** » Tue Jun 09, 2015 2:29 pm

Thanks!

when you use Pianoteq or other piano plugins live you need to have a proper PA system in order to reproduce the sounds (usually best quality like hi-fi) so in this situation I preferred to use my Kronos

For studio situation the plugins are ok (in my opinion) but in live situation is a completely different story where the PA system really makes the difference

I'll try the New Berlin Grand

Do you have experience with it?

Eduardo_Arg · Post by **Eduardo_Arg** » Tue Jun 09, 2015 9:55 pm

Hi Andrea:

In some way, you are right: in live situations final quality sound depends on quality PA speakers, it's distibution, power amps., mixers and sound effects.-
I don't have a Kronos (yet), but i've been using and experimenting with several Korgs (Triton, M3).- Although they are some years old, they sound great, but always using the right amp or PA.-
With my band depending on size of stage we use different PA configurations adding or not sub.- Basically we use 4 double (10' + driver) STS each side, and separately 2 o 4 Subs JBL 18 (this ones with 2 or 3 Crown XTI 2000); mixer unit Behringer x32.- With these configuration keyboard piano sounds like a true acoustic piano (managing the right level of compresor).-
Korg piano samples are very good, really much expresive and sensitive than Roland (extremelly high bass) and Kurzweill (exrremelly plane).-
Perhaps you must invest some time searching for the best PA.-
If you really want to know how best are korg piano sample, go fo a good in-ear or hi-fi headphone and check each sound this way; then you won't ask for better sound.-
Since las 15 year i've come an Korg adict.-
Enjoy your Kronos ('The Beast').-
With regards. Eduardo

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Wed Jun 10, 2015 5:51 am

Personally I think UNTIL the Kronos, Korg piano sounds were terrible. The Triton studio grand expansion (also found on the M3) wasn't completely awful but still no match for Yamaha and Roland offerings at the time. Goes to show that there's no accounting for tastes!

I don't really understand the argument that you use a Kronos because the PA at a live venue determines a large part of the sound. There is no difference between the Kronos and plugins in this respect. In fact, technology-wise, playing the Kronos SGX2 is almost identical to playing Ivory on a regular computer with an SSD.

Anyway, I don't mean to judge, just a little confused. I really like SGX2! I haven't tried the Berlin Grand yet.

AntonySharmman · Post by **AntonySharmman** » Wed Jun 10, 2015 11:35 am

Under my experience not as a sound developer but as a pianist , a waveform modeling can never approach natural
sound modeling of a piano , therefore Pianoteq stuff can never be compared with an Ivory 2 or Galaxy VSTi series ,
since natural piano and the 90% of native instruments have many natural artifacts that can't be sufficiently reproduced
by any semi-analog modeling.
Also it's too early to demand from today's workstations like Kronos similarity with Kontakt sampler script endless features ...

So UMO if you're a pianist and want a decent piano in any 88 weighted Kronos workstation then try Berlin piano or explore
"Pianos Suite" there http://pastyles.x10.mx/KronosEXs