Soundpaint Instruments?

QuasiUnaFantasia

Anyone heard of them? They seem to be giving away a sampled 1928 Steinway:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w2l30QD5iM

Ralphiano

I listened to most of the video and did not hear any piano sounds that impressed me.

QuasiUnaFantasia

It put me a bit off that they were much more interested in morphing sounds than in actually playing longer stretches of music with a single clean piano sound. It's as if their target audience are not pianists, but synth players.

HZPiano

Hello,

QuasiUnaFantasia It put me a bit off that they were much more interested in morphing sounds than in actually playing longer stretches of music with a single clean piano sound.

My brother brought it to my attention this afternoon. From watching some videos, I have the same reservations.

Still, I'm currently downloading it and if there is anything interesting to say about it, I will jot a few impressions here.

Cheers and a happy weekend,

HZPiano

Hello,

HZPiano I'm currently downloading it and if there is anything interesting to say about it, I will jot a few impressions here.

In short: I tried it and then swiftly uninstalled and deleted it.

Currently, Soundpaint is public beta software comprising of a free proprietary engine with a free piano library as a sort of 'starter pack' into their new Soundpaint realm. Further instrument and/or effects additions are individually paid purchases. The ideas behind this small company are amiable, as it seems.

If you just want to mock around with some audio software technologies, well, you can.

If you are even half-serious about piano playing, it is completely unusable, with a sub-sub par sound and lacking virtually all adjustments and for instance pedaling options we need and love in our proper virtual piano libraries.

If you like a sound leaning towards the synthetic, you are much better off with Pianoteq.

If you are after the best approximations of a full, rich, authentic piano sound and behavior, and much-needed playability and adjustability, like me, then all of us here know where to turn to.

For me, the top-two are VI Labs' Modern U (my daily lovely study piano) and VSL's Blüthner 1895 (which will still have to remain on my wish list for some time to come).

As a final thought: I keep being amazed how virtual instruments can be presented online as amazing and great sounding, while they actually are…

Cheers and happy healthy purchase*) decisions,

*) This one is a free download, but anyway.

magicpiano

HZPiano If you are after the best approximations of a full, rich, authentic piano sound and behavior, and much-needed playability and adjustability, like me, then all of us here know where to turn to.

...a real acoustic grand piano? 😁

vagfilm

Thanks for confirming the overall suspicions...

Del Vento

Yes, thanks for the review!

QuasiUnaFantasia

Thanks also from me. It appears the software is even worse than I had anticipated from the video announcement of it.

theodorn

They say there's no such thing as a free lunch. If we replace the word lunch with VSTi, this saying will still be just as true.

Pianissimo

also there is the fact that we have a plateau since the release of Galaxy Vintage D, 11 years ago, so every new vst will be increasingly boring to try.

theodorn

Just to clarify, by VSTi, I meant a usable VSTi. Not sure what qualifies as a VSTi without the word usable in front of it. Could I record myself on my Samsung mobile playing a grand piano, and release it as a VSTi?

There are lots of free VSTis, but I don't think I could use any of them for practice. Salamander Grand comes close, but not all the way, in my opinion.

HZPiano

Hello,

Simeon Amburgey has a fine quality about his way of being that makes everything sound, look, appear great and fun. I think he is courageous in his spontaneity and self-expression, and I really admire that! On the other hand, on some occasions like the Soundpaint one, my own experiences and conclusions didn't match Simeon's. (Other cases have been the Hammersmith and some Production Voices titles.)

In any case, for whoever likes to watch and listen for themselves:

https://youtu.be/k2Z5BYvguNE

Cheers and happy explorations,

magicpiano

I like the above video because I see Chewbacca in the background. 🐻

HZPiano

Hello,

magicpiano I like the above video because I see Chewbacca in the background. 🐻

Yes, I like that as well. He's a special guy.

Cheers and may the Force be with 'bacca,

Pianissimo

Reverb and effects apart, is this "morphing" something potentially good? Midi doesn't know if you are going to play a single note or a chord, but after you have played them, the midi knows it and could morph quickly a "single note sample" into a "chord sample"?

HZPiano

Hello,

Pianissimo is this "morphing" something potentially good?

I have no idea! It is not at all my cup of tea.

But because this engine can be downloaded for free, you may be able to judge it for yourself?

Cheers and happy morphing,

Frédéric L

The only morphing I have read about on their site is velocity morphing. Typically there is a sample at velocity 10, and at 30, playing at 20 triggers both with a 50%/50% blend.

HZPiano

Hello,

Frédéric L The only morphing I have read about on their site is velocity morphing

Which is completely common nowadays in piano VSTi land, I guess.

Cheers and happy playing,

Frédéric L

HZPiano I am not that sure. With Kontakt, I can go inside the mapping editor : crossfade zones should be coloured darker, and I have found no such crossfade, even on newest libraries (NI Noire), or Pearl Concert Grand which would better benefit of crossfade (8 levels).

With other virtual pianos like VSL, it is hard to say : their files are closed, and the amount of layers would make difficult to listen velocity gaps.