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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: Cinjero]
#2708554
01/25/18 07:40 PM
01/25/18 07:40 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 292 Aberdeen, UK
Rychubil
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I downloaded it as well for curiosity  I install tomorrow hopefully
Roland FP-30, Synthogy Ivory II Grand Pianos, Production Voices-Compact Grand, Yamaha Reface CP, Zoom MS-70CDR Neumann KH120, Mackie Big Knob Passive, Beyerdynamic DT-990 pro, Audio-Technica ATH-M50X, UiiSii CM5
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: Cinjero]
#2708562
01/25/18 07:58 PM
01/25/18 07:58 PM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 651
karvala
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Okay, rapid first impressions based on 30 minutes playing. It's another Production Voices piano, and it sounds like another Production Voices piano. Whether or not you think that's a good thing will depend on your opinion of their previous products. It has far more common in with the Production Grand Compact (and Yamaha C7 they did) than any other Steinway D sample I have. That's not to say it doesn't sound like a Steinway D - it clearly does and that's good - but the style of recording is the dominant feature. It's distant, which is partly because it's the outside mic perspective of course, but partly also the house style judging from their other instruments.
The good:- (1) It sounds like a Steinway D. (2) There is, always with their instruments, good clarity of individual tones i.e. minimal smudging; this and the distinctive timbre is sign of a good attack sample. (3) It more or less works out of the box without any *huge* flaws (but see below).
The bad:- (1) It sounds distant and veiled; it feels much more like playing a recording of a piano than playing an actual piano. (2) The upper register is hugely underpowered; more generally there are significant balance issues across the keyboard which undermine dynamic control and clarity. Some areas are audibly louder than others. (3) There seems to be an issue with pedal on/off samples, such that when releasing pedal and keys more or less simultaneously, you get a sudden increase in volume (presumably when the pedal off release samples kick in, and indicating that they are significantly louder for the same velocity layers, which is a significant flaw. Dialling down the release samples seems to help a bit.
I'll give more detailed impressions when I've had time to play it a lot more, but that's the initial impression. £13.79 (which is what I paid) is less than I've paid for a pizza in the past, so I can't complain. If I'd spent $99 on it, I wouldn't be too happy.
If you're thinking of buying it, ask yourself if you like their previous offerings. If you do, and you like a Steinway D sound, you'll probably like this. If you don't, then you probably won't.
Last edited by karvala; 01/25/18 07:59 PM.
Broadwood, Yamaha U1; Kawai CA67; Pianoteq Std (D4, K2, Blüthner, Grotrian), Garritan CFX Full, Galaxy Vintage D, The Grandeur, Ravenscroft 275, Ivory II ACD, TrueKeys Italian, AS C7, Production Grand Compact, AK Studio Grand, AK Upright, Waves Grand Rhapsody; Sennheiser HD-600 and HD-650, O2 amp
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: karvala]
#2708567
01/25/18 08:17 PM
01/25/18 08:17 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 292 Aberdeen, UK
Rychubil
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£13.79 (which is what I paid) is less than I've paid for a pizza in the past, so I can't complain.
 Absolutely right! Me too, I paid £13.79, less than today's shopping in The Morrisons  ...but !!! I read on email from PV, that this version expiry on 1st February 2018 
Last edited by rychubil; 01/25/18 08:55 PM.
Roland FP-30, Synthogy Ivory II Grand Pianos, Production Voices-Compact Grand, Yamaha Reface CP, Zoom MS-70CDR Neumann KH120, Mackie Big Knob Passive, Beyerdynamic DT-990 pro, Audio-Technica ATH-M50X, UiiSii CM5
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: Cinjero]
#2708578
01/25/18 08:52 PM
01/25/18 08:52 PM
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 522
Beakybird
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Posts: 522
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Hopefully, more reviews will come in tonight. $19 is ridiculously cheap, but if I won't use it? ...
Roland FP-90; Yamaha MX49; Pianoteq 5 + most add-ons; 2 Yamaha HS8s; ATH-M50X; Focusrite Saffire 2i2; For performing: Yamaha PSR-S970; FBT Maxx 2a's, Crowne Headset Mic.
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: Cinjero]
#2708656
01/26/18 03:03 AM
01/26/18 03:03 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,697 Suffolk, United Kingdom
EssBrace
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I took the plunge.
I don't like it. There's some seriously jarring velocity switching going on; one or two are utterly bizarre in soft playing.
No half pedal so I just turned the noises down.
Latency. Small but certainly very noticeable and I felt quite disconnected from it. I'm no VST veteran but I do have PianoTeq, which tonally I have come to truly hate. But it just worked utterly intuitively from the outset and the sense of connection is entirely comparable to playing a DP's native sounds. I use a Macbook Pro, 8GB RAM with SSD. So I can't imagine the computer is the issue. I used all their recommended settings.
The actual sound of the piano is nice although it is a bit brighter than I expected it to be. I think the sustain and resonances are rather good but I'll never fire it up again due mainly to the latency.
Roland RD-1000 | Nord Piano 3 | Dexibell Vivo P7 | Yamaha CLP 645
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: EssBrace]
#2708731
01/26/18 04:31 AM
01/26/18 04:31 AM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 292 Aberdeen, UK
Rychubil
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Full Member
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What does it mean "Expires - 1 February 2018"? https://m.imgur.com/gallery/mIrr3ZP
Roland FP-30, Synthogy Ivory II Grand Pianos, Production Voices-Compact Grand, Yamaha Reface CP, Zoom MS-70CDR Neumann KH120, Mackie Big Knob Passive, Beyerdynamic DT-990 pro, Audio-Technica ATH-M50X, UiiSii CM5
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: Rychubil]
#2708738
01/26/18 05:15 AM
01/26/18 05:15 AM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,697 Portugal
toddy
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The file will no longer be available for download after that date.
Roland HP 302 / Samson Graphite 49 / Akai EWI
Reaper / Native Instruments K9 ult / ESQL MOR2 Symph Orchestra & Choirs / Lucato & Parravicini , trumpets & saxes / Garritan CFX lite / Production Voices C7 & Steinway D compact
Focusrite Saffire 24 / W7, i7 4770, 16GB / MXL V67g / Yamaha HS7s / HD598
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: Cinjero]
#2708742
01/26/18 05:31 AM
01/26/18 05:31 AM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 292 Aberdeen, UK
Rychubil
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Full Member
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Thanks toddy 
Roland FP-30, Synthogy Ivory II Grand Pianos, Production Voices-Compact Grand, Yamaha Reface CP, Zoom MS-70CDR Neumann KH120, Mackie Big Knob Passive, Beyerdynamic DT-990 pro, Audio-Technica ATH-M50X, UiiSii CM5
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: bSharp(C)yclist]
#2708745
01/26/18 06:11 AM
01/26/18 06:11 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,371 Sweden
TheodorN
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(3) There seems to be an issue with pedal on/off samples, such that when releasing pedal and keys more or less simultaneously, you get a sudden increase in volume (presumably when the pedal off release samples kick in, and indicating that they are significantly louder for the same velocity layers, which is a significant flaw. Dialling down the release samples seems to help a bit. This is exactly what happens with PV Kawai Estate Grand for Sforzando, and I've talked about it before. A bit irritating, that twirp which barks at you when releasing pedal and keys. This does not happen in the Kontakt versions of PV Studio Grand LE, and not in Prod. Grand 2 Gold, which leads me to conclude this is a Sforzando related problem, in the PV scripting. Probably a silly question, but I'm guessing I can get this and the free player and use it similar to Pianoteq? The similarity is also that you can load MIDI files into Sforzando, and record as audio (not MIDI like in Pianoteq) what you play. Apart from Pianoteq, Sforzando libraries and Garritan CFX, which is based on the same Aria engine as Sforzando, are the only VSTis I know of, in which you can record audio and play MIDI files.
My YouTube channelCasio PX-5S. Garritan CFX. Prod. Voices: Grand 2 Gold, Concert Grand Compact, Est. Grand, Studio Grand LE. NI Giant. Galaxy II Blüthner Baby Grand. AcousticSamples C7. AK Studio Grand. Sampletekk Black. Kontakt 5. Reaper.
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: EssBrace]
#2708802
01/26/18 10:10 AM
01/26/18 10:10 AM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,051 Milano
newer player
1000 Post Club Member
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1000 Post Club Member
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Posts: 1,051
Milano
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There's some seriously jarring velocity switching going on; one or two are utterly bizarre in soft playing.
The actual sound of the piano is nice although it is a bit brighter than I expected it to be. I think the sustain and resonances are rather good I also thought the overall sound was good. I didn't find it quite so jarring but hear a bit of mic phasing which is tough to address with only a mic pair just outside the piano. Plus there are no ambient mics to mix in some room smoothness. I will run this in my DAW and add some reverb or room effects and see how that helps... Latency. Small but certainly very noticeable and I felt quite disconnected from it. I'm no VST veteran but I do have PianoTeq, which tonally I have come to truly hate. But it just worked utterly intuitively from the outset and the sense of connection is entirely comparable to playing a DP's native sounds. I use a Macbook Pro, 8GB RAM with SSD. So I can't imagine the computer is the issue. I used all their recommended settings. Funny, I thought the latency performance was quite good and aided by very little dead space at the beginning of the samples. The recommended settings are rubbish. Please open Sforzando again, click on TOOLS>PREFERENCES. -- Set "sample rate" to 44.100KHz -- Set "buffer size" as low as you can get --Click OK ** You may need to exit Sforzando a few times to reset and lower "buffer size". After a few tries I got it to 48 on a good but not great laptop.
Last edited by newer player; 01/26/18 10:12 AM.
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: newer player]
#2708804
01/26/18 10:14 AM
01/26/18 10:14 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,697 Suffolk, United Kingdom
EssBrace
3000 Post Club Member
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3000 Post Club Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,697
Suffolk, United Kingdom
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Funny, I thought the latency performance was quite good and aided by very little dead space at the beginning of the samples.
The recommended settings are rubbish. Please open Sforzando again, click on TOOLS>PREFERENCES.
-- Set "sample rate" to 44.100KHz
-- Set "buffer size" as low as you can get
--Click OK
** You may need to exit Sforzando a few times to reset and lower "buffer size". After a few tries I got it to 48 on a good but not great laptop.
Okay, many thanks. I'll have a go. My experience with software instruments is almost non-existent.
Roland RD-1000 | Nord Piano 3 | Dexibell Vivo P7 | Yamaha CLP 645
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: Cinjero]
#2708815
01/26/18 10:45 AM
01/26/18 10:45 AM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,697 Portugal
toddy
3000 Post Club Member
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3000 Post Club Member
Joined: Sep 2011
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Portugal
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Latency. Small but certainly very noticeable and I felt quite disconnected from it. I'm no VST veteran but I do have PianoTeq, which tonally I have come to truly hate. But it just worked utterly intuitively from the outset and the sense of connection is entirely comparable to playing a DP's native sounds. I use a Macbook Pro, 8GB RAM with SSD. So I can't imagine the computer is the issue. I used all their recommended settings. Funny, I thought the latency performance was quite good and aided by very little dead space at the beginning of the samples. Depends on which note, and how hard you're playing it. C#2 played forte (but not p or ff) is way behind its neighbours. That is disconcerting and there are other slight inconsistencies - some characterful, others annoying. Apart that, it's got a nice presence this piano, and it is a good companion to the Yamaha C7. Good for €15.
Roland HP 302 / Samson Graphite 49 / Akai EWI
Reaper / Native Instruments K9 ult / ESQL MOR2 Symph Orchestra & Choirs / Lucato & Parravicini , trumpets & saxes / Garritan CFX lite / Production Voices C7 & Steinway D compact
Focusrite Saffire 24 / W7, i7 4770, 16GB / MXL V67g / Yamaha HS7s / HD598
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: EssBrace]
#2708819
01/26/18 11:03 AM
01/26/18 11:03 AM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,051 Milano
newer player
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Milano
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Okay, many thanks. I'll have a go. My experience with software instruments is almost non-existent. EssBrace - ask any questions here or feel free to PM me. Sforzando is good software and easy to use. Jason incorporated some nice "effects" in the player that are worth checking out. Just click on "snapshot" and pick something like "Classical Recital". (Update to latest Sforzando player if they don't work). Won't do any more tweaking until / unless Jason sends some script updates.
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: Cinjero]
#2708824
01/26/18 11:13 AM
01/26/18 11:13 AM
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 522
Beakybird
500 Post Club Member
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500 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 522
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Does Sforzando work with other VSTs?
Roland FP-90; Yamaha MX49; Pianoteq 5 + most add-ons; 2 Yamaha HS8s; ATH-M50X; Focusrite Saffire 2i2; For performing: Yamaha PSR-S970; FBT Maxx 2a's, Crowne Headset Mic.
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: Beakybird]
#2708830
01/26/18 11:25 AM
01/26/18 11:25 AM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,875 France
Frédéric L
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France
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Does Sforzando work with other VSTs? What do you mean ? Sforzando is a VST, and the DAW can load many VST, but this is a characteristic of the DAW, not Sforzando which won’t be aware of the other VSTs.
Yamaha CLP150, Bechstein Digital Grand, Garritan CFX, Ivory II pianos, Galaxy pianos, EWQL Pianos, Native-Instrument The Definitive Piano Collection, Soniccouture Hammersmith, Truekeys, Pianoteq
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Re: Steinway D Concert Grand
[Re: Cinjero]
#2708835
01/26/18 11:34 AM
01/26/18 11:34 AM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 651
karvala
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Joined: May 2017
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That's correct, but just to be clear in case the meaning of the question was slightly different, Sforzando can load some other software pianos - essentially anything in aria format. Some old soundfont-based pianos (going back to the early 2000s) can also be converted and used in it. So, for example, the Garritan CFX actually works fine in it, because it's also based on Plogue's aria player. By contrast, you can't load anything that uses UVI Workstation or Kontakt Player, because they're in a different format.
Last edited by karvala; 01/26/18 11:35 AM.
Broadwood, Yamaha U1; Kawai CA67; Pianoteq Std (D4, K2, Blüthner, Grotrian), Garritan CFX Full, Galaxy Vintage D, The Grandeur, Ravenscroft 275, Ivory II ACD, TrueKeys Italian, AS C7, Production Grand Compact, AK Studio Grand, AK Upright, Waves Grand Rhapsody; Sennheiser HD-600 and HD-650, O2 amp
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