Christmas Sale at Acousticsamples

HZPiano

Hello,

I didn't expect this one; yet planned to reserve some money for their usual August sale. This time they have that same 30% off on everything plus a 'stacking' discount on multiple titles purchased together.

I am eyeing the B5 v3 (Hammond simulator, which I'm quite sure is great) and the C7 Grand (which I can only hope I like enough, for wanting a C7 for quite some time already).

Big plus for me: everything runs in the same familiar UVI player as the beloved Modern U, and under the same iLok account & local machine licensing. Yippeee!

Cheers and Merry Christmas,

HZPiano

Hello,

Well… here's the outcome after ample consideration:

The C7 Grand is really tempting, but I also read user experiences that report a few (minor, to some) shortcomings that would quickly start to annoy me. So, reluctantly, I decided to pass on this one.
The B5 v3 is insanely good and great value for money as well. Hats off to the makers who, assisted by true Hammond enthusiasts, are presenting a wonderful emulation.

However, I would want a drawbar controller with that as well as a good expression pedal, Leslie switch and probably other keys (and bass pedals?!) than my current piano controller. So I'll start saving for the hardware and see myself purchasing the B5 v3 with it. I'm definitely fascinated by the jazzy vibes of the Hammond universe.

By the way, in the process I discovered this interesting D9X drawbar controller, see https://www.gmlab.it/ if you are interested. If you are a little handy in PCB soldering and parts mounting, it can even be bought as a kit which saves money (and inspires modding 😁 😋 ). The controller runs on c++ like code which can easily be adapted to specific needs (if one has some programming knowledge, of course) within the Arduino IDE.

Cheers and Merry Christmas,

theodorn

I'm surprised to read about these shortcomings of the AS C7, but you're probably right. I haven't noticed any big problems with it, but as we've found out before, I have a higher threshold of pain than you, when it comes to shortcomings in piano VSTs. 😆

I have three C7 VSTs, and the AcousticSamples one, is the only one that doesn't irritate me to some point. Sometimes I feel the Production Grand is just too sterile, and the Sampletekk 7CG is just too bright, and cutting, or should I say piercing to my ears.

I see myself having some uses for the Sampletekk 7CG, like in some rock piano context, but I haven't gotten to such circumstances in my musical journey yet.

Then it's the Pearl Concert Grand, but according to reviews it has some serious playability flaws, though most agree that it's sound by itself, is gorgeous.

So I would have assumed the AS C7 was the safest choice for C7s, but it seems I'm wrong. Unless you'd be willing to dish out $400 for the Keyscape collection, and thereby the C7 that it contains.

Anyhow, happy Christmas to you, other PC forum members, and anyone who reads this.

HZPiano

theodorn I have three C7 VSTs, and the AcousticSamples one, is the only one that doesn't irritate me to some point.

Hello,

There's a lot to like about the Acousticsamples C7 Grand, and from what I've heard and read I like it the best of all C7 libraries. So, your actual experience with it nicely matches this impression, which is interesting and good news in itself.

I am bordering on being over-critical, I know. Yet I read a thread on "the other forum" where someone reported it to make somewhat of a disproportionate jump from the lower velocity samples to the higher. That is something I am rather sensitive to and already discarded some other libraries for (money not well spent).

So yesterday I was very close to getting this Acousticsamples C7, that I've been eyeing for some time already, in the current sale but didn't dare risk it. I'm a little sad about this, because otherwise I suspect I might have been quite happy with it.

Cheers and Merry Christmas,

HZPiano

Hello,

theodorn, I just googled PianoWorld a bit on Acousticsamples/C7 and came across our pleasant conversation on the subject late August of this year 😲 🤭.

I often quickly forget my posts until I once again see them in front of me and then do remember those conversations of course.

Cheers and Merry Christmas,

HZPiano

Hello,

"🎵 On the second day of Christmas, somebody*) gave to me 🎶".

😲

I couldn't help myself, I ended up purchasing Acousticsamples' B-5 Organ V3 anyway, and couldn't resist adding their C7 Grand to that order as well. At sale prices plus a stacking discount, I got them for € 68,50 each.

Apart from a few mapping bugs which make setting up my keys and controls a bit difficult (but not impossible) right now, the B-5 Organ V3 is succulently interesting and enjoyable if you're into those Hammond Jazz (or perhaps Gospel) vibes. This emulation is, to my knowledge, one of only two proper ones, the other being the B-3X from IK Multimedia which costs at least three times as much (outside bundle deals). Both sound gorgeous.

To be honest, I was apprehensive about the C7. And indeed, it is somewhat basic and it does have its quirks and imperfections that I'd rather not find. In quality of sampling and scripting it isn't on the level of VI Labs' Modern U which has of course become my benchmark.

But, to my relief, the overall sound is pleasant and musical; I like it more than any other C7 library I've heard examples of. I certainly see myself playing it for Jazz and improvisation. In fact, yesterday it invoked some spontaneous improvisations in me, which I see as a good sign. It can make some noise! With this C7, set up similarly as I have Modern U, it seriously raises concern for neighbors while playing 😁.

Cheers and All the Best for 2022,

*) That was me, but that didn't fit the rhythm of the sentence 🤭.

theodorn

Congrats on your new VSTis. Happy new year to you, and many enjoyable hours of playing these two, and all of your sample libraries.

HZPiano

theodorn and all of your sample libraries.

Thank you 🙂.

Three, at the moment, possibly four if I keep NI Noire for experimental fun.

In any case, this month I totally broke my own "just one good piano" rule. Oh well, I can always sell to myself that the Hammond is no piano 😁.

Best wishes!

theodorn

Do people who follow the just one good piano rule, actually exist? 😀 That said these two AcousticSamples libraries are pretty good choices.

As an owner of the C7 Grand, I wouldn't recommend anyone to pay more than around $70 for it, as this small library isn't up there with the top dogs, but for $50 - $70 it's a very viable option.

Yes, it has some quirks but for a few GB, it's pretty amazing that it has even the playability it has, so per gigabyte it's very efficient.

I'm not after an organ VST, would like to have a good church organ to be able to practise hymns, but the church organ in Kontakt 5 is enough for that, as I play church organs very seldomly.

I am interested in the Modern U from VI Labs, considering the praise it gets, but no plans af of yet to get it.

HZPiano

theodorn Do people who follow the just one good piano rule, actually exist? 😀

Hello,

For most of this year, I thought I actually existed. As it seems, now I no longer exist… 😲

And as for recommendations to anyone else, yes, 70$/70€ tops is really all the money for the C7, even already somewhat steep; the normal list price certainly is too much for what it is.

Funnily enough, the Hammond emulator has a list price which is 10€ below the C7, and is much more value for money in my eyes/ears. I'm still in the process of ironing out all the quirks in the MIDI mapping of the many controls and manuals, but the bits of nice fat, biting, swinging Hammond vibes I get during testing bring big grins 😁 to my face that don't wipe off easily.

Cheers and a happy Swing,

PS Get Modern U (unless you just don't need it). It will definitely remain my primary piano. Today I played the C7, Noire and Modern U directly following eachother, playing the same two pieces on each. With Modern U, I got immersed in the lovely sound and accurate response and could thus really concentrate on the nuances I tried to deepen in the two pieces. With the other two pianos, I got derailed repeatedly by the quirks and silly erratic happenstances the VSTis produced. This reminded me once again how good Modern U actually is.

MrGr

The AS B5 organ vst needs a somewhat modern CPU though. Just be aware of that. Every keypress plays back a bunch of samples, so you easily have 100+ polyphony. And it's only running on one CPU core… for example, my old Intel Core i5 750 couldn't handle it.

HZPiano

MrGr The AS B5 organ vst needs a somewhat modern CPU

Hello,

Funnily enough, at the time you posted this I was doing further tryouts with the B5, now that I have a non-piano keybed to test it with as well.

My 10-year old PC with 64 bit Windows 7 professional (built it myself) just about handles it, but if I go crazy with it a bit more (like you do with 'expressive Hammonding' 😋) it does run into trouble at times.

I might (just might) try it on my more powerful second PC (also 10 years old, homebuilt) one day.

The C7 Grand and B5v3 both show quite a few more bugs and sampling problems (C7) than I would like to see.

Cheers and happy playing,