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My latest free piano library has been released on Pianobook. I recorded this Italian concert grand with 10 microphones and it's worth a download. Kontakt and SFZ formats are included.
Thanks to those on this forum and that 'other one for helping me test and providing feedback.
I have just played 5 minutes with it, but I have to say, quite impressive. Unlike some other free piano's I tried, it seems quite balanced and very playable, amazing low end as well. The velocity's seem to be well done. This is no amateur job, it sounds good, is playable, and it has a good dynamic range. Higher keys seem slightly out of tune, but that's not something that puts me off at all.
I like to play the audience mode, and turn down the close mics to make the piano less attackey.
I didn't even try the head tracking mode yet, but so far I'm impressed. It's not like I have played them all or anything, but this must be competing for best free piano.
Just tried the sfz versions that run on the free Plogue Sforzando Player and agree with WOW assessment. The Audience Perspective version is remarkably good - just absolutely great - I feel like I've been given the privilege of playing on this amazing Fazioli. This is definitely going to be my go to piano for the forseeable future. Thanks so much Dore for all the work you put into this.
Oh, and I forgot to link the intro video. You can get a sense for the piano sound at the beginning of the video. Bear in mind this is a video linked on the Pianobook community, which are mostly producers. I had to oversell the VR aspect in the video.
I own an arsenal of payed libary's that I consider the best available, and I think I'm quite picky about it, but this one actually got a spot on my home screen, which is a first for a free piano. The way you recorded the audience perspective of this exquisite piano gives a really pleasing sounding result, I would sure try to remember or write down exactly how you did that.
Dore did you ever think of making more than a hobby out of this? It seems to me you have the skills. I think if you could up the game just some more in the playability departement, (which I think is already very good for a free piano) I think you could be on to something. On top of that (even tough I haven't tried it yet) your head tracking option is unique, but promising, very innovative! I can imagine paying for this if the playability was even better, (maybe with some more well balanced layers?) and it was well integrated with some nice player, with some more reverb options and an easy way to enable the head tracking.
Thanks Dore, I really like it. I'll leave you a positive review.
I was thinking to do an experiment and try to set up player perspective with my surround speakers (without head tracking) What would you think would be the best way to do this?
I was thinking the best way would be to have one instance for left, one instance for right and one instance for middle and adjust the sliders for each accordingly. Then add an instance of audience perspective room only mic and pan it somewhere in the middle. What do you think?
If that's the best way, could you please explain how the angle sliders work (what the minimum and maximum values do)?
Also, if someone wants to use player perspective in stereo, the correct settings are to have all angle sliders in the middle? Or it it correct the way they are in maximum?
The way you recorded the audience perspective of this exquisite piano gives a really pleasing sounding result, I would sure try to remember or write down exactly how you did that.
Dore did you ever think of making more than a hobby out of this? l
This is my standard way of recording. I practiced with my personal m&h many times, optimizing workflow and technique. I built new microphones because my binaural ones weren't doing the trick. The purpose was to be able to go to someone's home, record their piano, and take down the equipment quickly. I only was at the fazioli guys house for a total of 4 hours. Recording more layers would be challenging with this time constraint.
As for making a business, I thought about it, and I don't really want to put in that effort. This may change however. Upping my game one more step as you suggested is difficult because of the law of diminishing returns. I'd love to, but probably won't. Only reason to earn money for me is to recoup my investment in equipment- maybe $800-1000 so far.
Maybe a PayPal link for donations on the YouTube channel.
Thanks Dore, I really like it. I'll leave you a positive review.
I was thinking to do an experiment and try to set up player perspective with my surround speakers (without head tracking) What would you think would be the best way to do this?
I was thinking the best way would be to have one instance for left, one instance for right and one instance for middle and adjust the sliders for each accordingly. Then add an instance of audience perspective room only mic and pan it somewhere in the middle. What do you think?
If that's the best way, could you please explain how the angle sliders work (what the minimum and maximum values do)?
Also, if someone wants to use player perspective in stereo, the correct settings are to have all angle sliders in the middle? Or it it correct the way they are in maximum?
Here's how I would do it. Remember that the six mics are aimed at specific directions. They need to be placed as speaker angles (virtually) fairly precisely as I suggested using multi encoder.
Your suggestions about using audience perspective etc won't work well. The virtual speakers need to match the recording angles.
The difference in your setup is that you need to replace the binaural decoder with a multichannel decoder that translates the ambisonic/virtual image into your exact physical speaker locations. AllRADecoder ?
In multi encoder the knobs change the virtual speaker positions In scene rotator, the knobs rotates the virtual speakers around, ie turn your head The decoder that you want should allow you input your physical speaker locations.
Someone wrote a companion app to get the headtracking/VR part working with a webcam. There are different ways of doing this, but this guy made an app that is hopefully easier to set up - I think it requires python.
something wrong with pianobook i couldn't reset my password. the email confirmation page returns "Page Not Found"
Others have mentioned to me firewall problems, such as firewalls blocking the uk extension. Or possibly use another browser by cut and pasting the url?
I have a dumb question, being new to VST technology. I have a Yamaha P515 - do I still need to get Kontakt to be able to install the Fazioli or can I just run your program on my PC and hook up my piano?
I have a dumb question, being new to VST technology. I have a Yamaha P515 - do I still need to get Kontakt to be able to install the Fazioli or can I just run your program on my PC and hook up my piano?
To use the Kontakt version, you would need the full version of Kontakt. Unfortunately, I would have to pay Native Instruments royalties if I made it compatible with the free Kontakt player.
So to provide the ability for free, I decided to make an SFZ version. You plug your piano into a computer, download Sforzando, install, and open the sfz file.
Note, that there are pros and cons to the different versions. Kontakt version has better velocity layer transitions, but the Sforzando version has better half pedaling.
Thanks - I’m not averse to buying some software. I’ll probably try both. I’ve been planning on a new laptop anyhow because I wanted to try out some virtual pianos. Once I get all set up I’ll try out your fazioli and leave a comment on the website for you
