Synthogy just introduced Ivory 3

QuasiUnaFantasia · 2023-02-28T15:31:08+00:00

First virtual instrument is a newly sampled German Steinway D. https://www.synthogy.com/

Frédéric L

The minimum recommandations are heavy : 16GB of memory, 8 cores.

It would be interesting to play something a little demanding (100 voices typically) and see how much %CPU are used. I guess it would depend of the CPU. Giving the CPU model (ex Core i5-12600) with this measure would help to compare. (We can easilly find CPU benchmarks).

This remind me Bechstein Digital Grand which needed too much power for a i5-3330. Now, with a Core i5-12600, I have only 6 cores, but quite recent ones (the previous generation).

Joannchr

Frédéric L Actually Frederic, it is not that heavy. They have only released the software for MAC so far, and you think about it , the cheapest M2 Mac mini has 8 cores, the cheapest M1 /M2 Mac air laptop have both 8 cores, and 16 GB is the minimum you need with serious sample instruments with multiple microphones, so to cut a long story short , it runs on the cheapest current Mac products with 16 GB of Mem. That is a positive way to look at it . I could say bye bye to my beloved mac book pro 2013 🙁 as will certainly buy the product , as I was an aficionado of the American D when it was released more than 10 ago.

OlivierW

I begin to try one mic(s) close i've downloaded already.

The defaut Ivory 3 presets like the VSL defaut presets, doesn't show the potential……

i begin to play with parameters : incredible (and i use just the first mic(s) i've laready downloaded)

You can make your own Steinway 🙂 and real Steinway. Yes, the demos was bad….

The resonances are nice and very real (the Piano is in Life 🙂 ) (not for those have never played with a real Grand Piano, that don't understand Sympathetic Resonance, and prefer very clean Digital Piano sound without life ). It's a Pianoteq with real Samples. Behave like my real Grand. Connected to finger after several settings…. Hum, good , begin.

Khuja Wangtishvili

So wr are waiting for demos to listen now 🙂

OlivierW

Hum , it's Steinway Toolbox…. Hundred magical Steinway . Real Sympathetic Resonance and repedal.

all the night….

OlivierW

I discovered 5 "VRM" sustain model : you can choose the soundboard resonance

(clean resonance or little out of tune resonance like a real Piano…)

and you have left pedal real samples 🙂

No demo before Saturday…. tomorrow work, and short night 🙂

QuasiUnaFantasia

Like a few others I was underwhelmed by the demo's, but I also have come to expect pathetic demo's in support of virtual instruments (Pianoteq's demo's tend to be terrible). But the specifications required are considerably beyond my current hardware, so I'll pass. Looking forward to hearing how Ivory 3 can sound, by proper tuning of the various parameters (which by the way is an activity I have always found very satisfying).

OlivierW

Hi work on my mac mini with 16 Gb RAM.

Use Ressource like VSL Synchron Pianos.

the dynamics setting is important : in Ivory 3, 2 very good curve :

Velocity curve (with auto learn depend on your Piano)

Dynamic curve

First time i hear the real "Wood " attack of a Steinway.

theodorn

This is interesting, I totally slept on Synthogy, didn't know they had something cooking. How come I haven't seen/heard any rumours that Synthogy was about to release a new library? I follow the forums, both here and on PW, pretty well.

Ivory 3 German D could be great, just listened to the SoundCloud demo of the Chopin Ballade 52, not bad at all. For comparison loaded the MIDI file from the Minnesota Piano E-Competition for the same piece, into Pianoteq with the Hamburg Steinway Model D preset.

Can't say I liked the Ivory 3 German D more, different from the Pianoteq HB Steinway, but not necessarily better. Listened with a speaker system that is more geared towards TV use, movies and such. Have yet to listen in headphones, and that may change my opinion.

theodorn

Have to add that Synthogy has done well to keep the size down, only 42 GB (required disk space, at least). The hybrid approach (modelled + sampled) has something to with that, am I right? At least they're not forcing their customers to buy a new SSD for this new library, like a certain other company, the first letters of it's name being VSL.😉

OlivierW

i continue to try : i love the close mic(s) (not in the website demos)

and the PPP are incredible (after tweak the dynamic modeled curve….) first real Steinway PPP (not show in official demos)

Frédéric L

42GB is a common magnitude of disk used by sampled pianos. I guess the modelling deals with resonance. Sample interpolation (like in v2) is also a way to have a distinct timbre per velocity like we have on a modelled piano. It can decrease the disk usage.

pipAT

Sounds a bit like Garritan Steinway. Wish to see new Garritan and VIlabs products. Then, let's see what have been improved over these years about sampled piano libraries.

OlivierW

not bad but not full agree with Sustain Ivory 3 modeling in upper register (to low compared with a real piano in default clean soundboard preset).

I still prefer my VSL D-274 (Ribbon + condenser + Room mix) + Pianoteq 8 sustain modeling/ repedaling / sympathetic resonance soluce….

I investigate why. Perhaps the close Ivory 3 are good, but not as good than the Ribbon and Real Steinway VSL D.

Ivory 3 not bad after several hours to tweak, but i've to spent more time to sound as good than VSL D-274 with my 59 velocity tweak and Pianoteq 8 resonance fix.

So, need more time before potential video and a feeling… about Ivory 3.

danno858

OlivierW Do you have this set-up for Windows too? Or only MAC?

Joannchr

OlivierW Did you feel something special with respect to the 'continuous velocity' ?

johanibraaten

OlivierW

It's interesting to read your impressions Olivier, thank's for posting.

Will Ivory 3 refuse to run on lesser specs than announced as minimal by Synthogy or is it possible to run it on older Macs?

OlivierW

Continuous velocity work well. It's the Soundboard resonance modelling that disturb me. The Steinway D sound is better than Pianoteq, but i think the resonance in Pianoteq 8 modeling better than Ivory 3 in upper register.

But i think the most important in modeling and sampling is to choose the right real Steinway and how is regulated and tuned.

I will make more this week-end. Ivory 3 is a good product. But still prefer VSL-D274 with velocity fix + Pianoteq 8 for resonance in a DAW. ( modeled + sampled like Ivory 3)

Perhaps i will prefer Ivory 3 in next days, after more tweak……

Joannchr

OlivierW

OlivierW thank you for sharing . Also do you know if the new interface is listening to several midi sources? It is a limitation in the 2.5 engine as you cannot add separate pedals via an USB adapter ( that’s when you want to change the pedals on your digital piano) unless you load the VST in a DAW.

Khuja Wangtishvili

@OlivierW
Please remember, that you are comparing right now one complete VST vs mix of two top-notch solutions. Yes I know VI Labs claims that it should be god-like and blah blah.
But still, you are comparing reference sampled piano with reference sampled + reference modelling technology, therefore I would just expect Ivory3 to be worse. Other thing is, whether you like that particular piano that has been sampled.

I really miss Grotrian concert grand to be in VST. That could be fantastic piano. As was proven many times, it does not actually count whether the piano is Steinway or your gradma whatever (see Noire), as long as the product is of very high quality so people will buy it. Ravenscroft is almost unknown acoustic piano company, yet everyone knows their VST and it is still regarded as one of the best on the market.

QuasiUnaFantasia

Khuja Wangtishvili I really miss Grotrian concert grand to be in VST. That could be fantastic piano.

Hear, hear! It's my favourite Pianoteq instrument, and the (few) recordings I have heard from Grotrian's have sounded gorgeous; a very distinctive, and pleasing tone.

Calling all Grotrian owners in northern California: talk to Dore! 🙂

HZPiano

QuasiUnaFantasia Hear, hear!

Indeed!!

Currently my favorite upright:

(Grotrian-Steinweg G-132)

Boy Oh Boy, What a beautiful sound, and What a gorgeous playability.

Cheers and happy Grotrians,

Joannchr

QuasiUnaFantasia I love it too, It has indeed a very particular character , quite different from the usual Steinway D sound. This is an underrated brand, IMHO.

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