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Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,395
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OP
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Ivory II - Studio Grands bundle (Steinway B NY recorded at Power Station, New England, and Bösendorfer 225 from Firehouse Recording Studios) is $100 Off through October, 2021.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. (falsely attributed to Plato)
Vlad,
Adult beginner
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,037
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I also got this offer by email... Would prefer some new contenders in piano VST arena, though. I think the VST producers keep stretching their vintage products quite a lot and there is little novelty. All in all, those are nice pianos
Jose Yamaha U3HKawai VPC1...plus some other DPs, synths, controllers and VSTs ![[Linked Image]](https://forum.pianoworld.com//gallery/42/full/21177.png)
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Joined: May 2021
Posts: 105
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Joined: May 2021
Posts: 105
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Last edited by mandan; 10/02/21 03:55 AM.
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,554
2000 Post Club Member
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2000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,554 |
I also got this offer by email... Would prefer some new contenders in piano VST arena, though. I think the VST producers keep stretching their vintage products quite a lot and there is little novelty. All in all, those are nice pianos It still costs $199 + VAT after "$100 off" for a 112 GB download. I have a great Yamaha CFX and a Bösendorfer, I don't have any use for this stuff.
Yamaha P-515
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,730
1000 Post Club Member
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It seems to me that there are not many here who own the Studio Grands. I do, however, and they are what I play something like 90% of the time. Some days I may play Pianoteq, and very rarely Garritan CFX Lite. The Studio Grands sound "real" to me, and therefore I prefer them. Garritan sounds "nicer", but not as real. Pianoteq is a welcome change of pace, but I don't want to listen to its sounds for more than one day in a row.
Physical instruments: Roland FP-30, and E-28
Virtual instruments: "The Experience" piano collection, NI "The Maverick", Galaxy II Grand piano collection, Synthogy Ivory II Studio Grands, Production Voices Estate Grand, Garritan CFX Lite, Pianoteq 7.5.2
Focus: 1850±100 years
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Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 470
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I don't know. I was so so so disappointed by American D, I don't know if I trust anybody on the Studio Grands.
Good reviews, but I I just don't know.
Ron
Ron
Kawai CA79
VSL (BÖSENDORFER 280VC, CFX, Steinway D-274), Modern U, Ravenscroft275, Noire, Lounge Lizard EP-4
(Not Used much) Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX, Bechstein Digital, , Auddict_Dorian_Marko, The Grandeur,, 300_Grand_Compact, Pianoteq, Synthology_American_D
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 271
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I bought these this week. Unlike many people here, I have always liked the Ivory German D and American D. But then I'm old and have a tin ear. First reaction to the studio grands was a bit of disappointment. I play 99.999% of the time with headphones and the Steinway B sounded as if I had cotton in my ears. While there are a number of parameters, with the Synthogy stuff you get the one set of mics that they've used. (Although there is a perspective switch between player and audience). In doing some online reading I found a few other complaints about the rather distant, muffled sound. But one was interesting - the poster said that going DOWN in sample levels opened up the sound. It does seem so to me. I've uploaded several renderings using a MIDI file I recorded 15 years ago with a different keyboard from the one I now have. So I switched the MIDI velocity map to the straight linear one and loaded the default "Model B Grand Piano" preset. Perspective set to Player. No other changes except for the keyset. I rendered the same file with the "24 Level", "24 Level 2", "16 Level", "16 Level 2". (According to the Ivory manual, "'2' Keysets have an alternative set of velocity switch points that favor the softer dynamics.") I've uploaded the 4 recordings. Perhaps that will help in the evaluation. If so, I could run the same file through the Boesendorfer. https://soundcloud.com/user-2030456...tudio-grands-steinway-b-different-levels![[Linked Image]](https://www.beachbunnysoftware.com/images/IvoryStudioB.png) Cheers,
Jane - expert on nothing with opinions on everything
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,730
1000 Post Club Member
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1000 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,730 |
First reaction to the studio grands was a bit of disappointment. I play 99.999% of the time with headphones and the Steinway B sounded as if I had cotton in my ears. Be sure to mess about with the velocity curve. I have had to use the "Power" curve, in order to get correct sounding instruments out of both of them. With the B this is particularly important at pp, or even p, because the Steinway B is naturally a bit muffled at these levels (as far as I have been able to discern).
Physical instruments: Roland FP-30, and E-28
Virtual instruments: "The Experience" piano collection, NI "The Maverick", Galaxy II Grand piano collection, Synthogy Ivory II Studio Grands, Production Voices Estate Grand, Garritan CFX Lite, Pianoteq 7.5.2
Focus: 1850±100 years
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Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,395
1000 Post Club Member
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OP
1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,395 |
I like Studio Grands.
Bose 225 high trebles are weak though, but this might be caused by original piano, not by sampling.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. (falsely attributed to Plato)
Vlad,
Adult beginner
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,037
1000 Post Club Member
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1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,037 |
I should confess that I had them already... And didn't remember!   I got them in a similar offer in October 2020. But I didn't like them back then and so forgot completely... So I will give them a try again. Now I am curious  ! It is true that on some VSTs I used seldomly, after some time playing others and learning some tricks, as better balancing mics, using less mics (if available), removing reverb, modifying velocity curve and other settings, I have appreciated them better on a second try. Yes, I have too many VSTs  Jose
Jose Yamaha U3HKawai VPC1...plus some other DPs, synths, controllers and VSTs
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Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,869
1000 Post Club Member
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1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,869 |
Hello, So I will give them a try again. Now I am curious ! Yes, I have too many VSTs Jose Yay! Two "new" pianos and they cost you nothing! 😁 Cheers and happy hoarding, HZ
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,084
1000 Post Club Member
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1000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,084 |
I bought these this week. Unlike many people here, I have always liked the Ivory German D and American D. But then I'm old and have a tin ear. First reaction to the studio grands was a bit of disappointment. I play 99.999% of the time with headphones and the Steinway B sounded as if I had cotton in my ears. While there are a number of parameters, with the Synthogy stuff you get the one set of mics that they've used. (Although there is a perspective switch between player and audience). In doing some online reading I found a few other complaints about the rather distant, muffled sound. But one was interesting - the poster said that going DOWN in sample levels opened up the sound. It does seem so to me. I've uploaded several renderings using a MIDI file I recorded 15 years ago with a different keyboard from the one I now have. So I switched the MIDI velocity map to the straight linear one and loaded the default "Model B Grand Piano" preset. Perspective set to Player. No other changes except for the keyset. I rendered the same file with the "24 Level", "24 Level 2", "16 Level", "16 Level 2". (According to the Ivory manual, "'2' Keysets have an alternative set of velocity switch points that favor the softer dynamics.") I've uploaded the 4 recordings. Perhaps that will help in the evaluation. If so, I could run the same file through the Boesendorfer. https://soundcloud.com/user-2030456...tudio-grands-steinway-b-different-levelsCheers, That's wonderful. I like the tones of the Steinway, but the bass is a bit shallow to my taste. I don't know why, but whenever I play a sampled piano, I wish to get a concert grand, as I can always get the sound of a smaller piano in a room if I want it so. In fact, there's a new Steinway B in the teaching assistant studio I share with 2 other colleagues and it sounds great, so long as it's in tune. Thanks for convincing me not to take up on this offer, this is better when I hear others play.  David
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