Galaxy Steinway

[Laurent]

“An old pot still cooks good soup”… well I believe this is an old French proverb.

We talk a lot about new pianos here.

I buy and use a lot of new pianos… some are more expressive, some are more dynamic and some have more character…

…BUT, I can’t stop playing and recording with this one. It’s still one of my pianos of choice for recording live piano-voice songs. No eq/comp needed, it beautifully fills the space leaving the centre for the lead…

With the last major upgrade, adding recorded pedal down resonance and (very nice) releases, those samples reach another dimension. I’ve also tried to add some sympathetic resonance (based on Kornel script), and with the good blend, it’s a new awesome piano.

Anyone else enjoying this piano as I am ?

:|:

[JohnGrant]

“An old pot still cooks good soup”… well I believe this is an old French proverb.

We talk a lot about new pianos here.

I buy and use a lot of new pianos… some are more expressive, some are more dynamic and some have more character…

…BUT, I can’t stop playing and recording with this one. It’s still one of my pianos of choice for recording live piano-voice songs. No eq/comp needed, it beautifully fills the space leaving the centre for the lead…

With the last major upgrade, adding recorded pedal down resonance and (very nice) releases, those samples reach another dimension. I’ve also tried to add some sympathetic resonance (based on Kornel script), and with the good blend, it’s a new awesome piano.

Anyone else enjoying this piano as I am ?

:|:

Any good demos up?

JG

[Laurent]

I don’t understand BS marketing, there is nowhere in the web any demo of this new version of the Galaxy. It’s just like if this upgrade was only a gift to existing users...

[Alexcremers]

I would be interested in hearing demos featuring the new resonance samples. It's always the same 3 demos at Best Service.

[janila]

The update brings the library to life. I practically never used it before the update but now I really like it. There seems to be some programming issues (try fast staccatos) but the sound is great.

[Olivier]

hi,

I was a fan of Galaxy. it's a good piano.

i've posted a demo of the Galaxy update ( with release) in this forum few weeks ago....

Now, i prefer the concert Akoustik Grand (Steinway D) with a new overtone script that i will post soon.

Regards,

Olivier

[Laurent]

The update brings the library to life. I practically never used it before the update but now I really like it. There seems to be some programming issues (try fast staccatos) but the sound is great.
In K2 it sounds ok. Maybe a kompakt version issue ?
I set the release trigger at 3500ms instead of 5000 in the release rack. I decrease also a bit the volume level, and it's even better...

[janila]

In K2 it sounds ok. Maybe a kompakt version issue ?
I set the release trigger at 3500ms instead of 5000 in the release rack. I decrease also a bit the volume level, and it's even better...Thanks for the hint. I only tried it out when I got it but I haven't really used it yet. I'll try that out.

[JohnGrant]

hi,

I was a fan of Galaxy. it's a good piano.

i've posted a demo of the Galaxy update ( with release) in this forum few weeks ago....

Now, i prefer the concert Akoustik Grand (Steinway D) with a new overtone script that i will post soon.

Regards,

Olivier

Well, I'm looking to purchase my first serious Steinway sample after the EW, which was my first, and the Milan, my second.

I'm looking at the Black Grand, the Akoustic, the Galaxy, and the Scandanavian one, which I can't recall the name of. It's a contest, I'm afraid, since I'm not going to buy ALL of them (much as I would like to).

What, Olivier, do you prefer about the Akoustic over the Galaxy? And how about the Black, and any others you can think of? And, please, anyone out there, post your demos, cause I can't really find much to go on.

My chief criticism of the Akoustic and the Galaxy, based of course on the the mp3s (which are few in number and inherently of limited use anyway), are that both sound to me a little "closed." My use is strictly for a recorded sound, not live.

JG

[maszat]

Galaxy is certainly a great piano, but I agree with Olivier's comment on the Akoustic grand. I like the sound of both.
The Galaxy was sampled only on every second key ( 6 notes per octave ) but the Akoustic is 88 keys sampled.

[Jake Johnson]

I really like the sound of the Galazy piano, too. I wish it wasn't almost $300, when other pianos are about $150 or so. Seems as though several shops no longer carry it---American Musical Supply, for example.

[JohnGrant]

Galaxy is certainly a great piano, but I agree with Olivier's comment on the Akoustic grand. I like the sound of both.
The Galaxy was sampled only on every second key ( 6 notes per octave ) but the Akoustic is 88 keys sampled.

How would you compare it to the Black Grand? Also, I assume that with the Akoustic you have to buy all three pianos.

JG

[JohnGrant]

Let me say, at this point, based on the meagre demos, that I prefer the Akoustic to the Galaxy, but the difference is actually quite subtle in the end. Sure, the Galaxy has, or seems to have, a beefed up bass, but the Akoustic sounds to my ears just a wee bit more accurate. The Black classical demo, I think it's Prok Sonata, is first rate and makes the piano sound very, very good. Perhaps a bit lighter than the other two, but that's not going to bother me. What I want is a true "recorded" Steinway sound.

JG

[Laurent]

My chief criticism of the Akoustic and the Galaxy, based of course on the the mp3s (which are few in number and inherently of limited use anyway), are that both sound to me a little "closed." My use is strictly for a recorded sound, not live.
JG
Well, I'm not sure of what you qualify as "closed" (I think it's not the lid...), maybe you need some more "ambient" recording ?

For recording purpose, I believe it's like for playing pleasure, the best way IS NOT to listen to mp3. The best thing is to try the piano. Really. Well, for recording purpose it's a bit more tricky than just tasting if it's feeling right below your fingers. But still. Every recording situation have it's piano answer. It depends on what you are playing.

I can't talk a lot about the Akoustik Steinway, I have only tried it during 1 hour. It's obviously a very good sampled piano, and maybe the one to go if you are looking for a classic steinway D sound for classical music solo performance.

The Black Grand is worth to look at if you are looking for fff expressiveness, and more "character" (maybe not the most "classical")

I talked already about the Galaxy. The sound is maybe more polished than the 2 others, with less complex harmonics than the akoustik, and less character than the Black Grand. The recording (and the recording place, that you can feel, even if it's a dry recording) is great.

Bottom line : try them (or buy them all !)

[Laurent]

I really like the sound of the Galazy piano, too. I wish it wasn't almost $300, when other pianos are about $150 or so. Seems as though several shops no longer carry it---American Musical Supply, for example.
Galaxy + EW Bosendorfer 290 are sold online as a bundle for 199,95 USD

(check www..com (http://www..com/) or www.bestservice.de (http://www.bestservice.de/))

So with the Galaxy, you can get one of the best sampled Bosendorfer.
(IMHO the Emperor from the same producer is even better, but less "classical"...)

[JohnGrant]

Galaxy + EW Bosendorfer 290 are sold online as a bundle for 199,95 USD

(check www..com (http://www..com/) or www.bestservice.de (http://www.bestservice.de/))

So with the Galaxy, you can get one of the best sampled Bosendorfer.
(IMHO the Emperor from the same producer is even better, but less "classical"...)

The EW Bos is one of the first samples I purchased. So I don't need it.

The other Steinway I forgot to mention is the Ars Vista by Hans Adamson. So, really there are 4 in contention for the "top" spot on my list. Sure, I'd LOVE to have them all. But I can't justify the expenditure (to my conscience, as opposed to my naturally acquisitive and greedy ego).

Ars Vista Galaxy Akoustica Black Grand???? Which, do folks think has the most refined soft end (ppp to mp)?

JG

[Sam]

John,

I'll give you my brief review of Black Grand tho I can't compare it to Galaxy, ArtVista, nor Akoustik which I don't have. It's hard not to be knocked out when you play it; Worra's engineering is as good as anybody's and better than most, and all the layers are there, well edited, so the tonal transitions are very satisfying.

I do have a nit with this library; I would edit the volume ramps on this one so the quiet ranges play more quietly. It feels to me a bit compressed so it doesn't have the loudness range of a big piano; IMO this piano was compressed in the programming so that it's easier to record or mix. Mind you, there's nothing at all wrong with the source material, I actually think the samples are the best out there. And to put this critique in perspective, in my experience no vendor has shipped a library optimally programmed for my tastes. I play the close perspective samples and generally only like close dry samples.

BG should be a strong contender for anybody looking for a Steinway sample, Worras stuff is consistently excellent and deep. The quiet range you seek is well captured here with lots of layers.

[Laurent]

The other Steinway I forgot to mention is the Ars Vista by Hans Adamson. So, really there are 4 in contention for the "top" spot on my list. Sure, I'd LOVE to have them all. But I can't justify the expenditure (to my conscience, as opposed to my naturally acquisitive and greedy ego).

Ars Vista Galaxy Akoustica Black Grand???? Which, do folks think has the most refined soft end (ppp to mp)
Well I own this one to, and I use it mainly for soft ballads. If you search the forums, you will find dythirambic reviews about it. Beautiful harmonics make voicings rich and complex. It's a great value for money.
This a Steinway B (the 3 others are "D").

Again, all thoses pianos are good, but they do have their own character. The best is to try them.


About the BG :

I do have a nit with this library; I would edit the volume ramps on this one so the quiet ranges play more quietly.
Strange, I'm doing exactly the opposite. I'm raising the volume of soft layers. Maybe this depends on the version (24bit Kontakt in my case)



And to put this critique in perspective, in my experience no vendor has shipped a library optimally programmed for my tastes.
That's my experience to. I may add : for my tastes and my keyboard !
.

[Sam]

Strange, I'm doing exactly the opposite. I'm raising the volume of soft layers. Maybe this depends on the version (24bit Kontakt in my case)


Hmmm, interesting. Anyway, I play the GS version, & I think it must be 16 bit. I suppose there's no way the programming is the same; I wonder if the programming is done by hand or if the translation was automated and ought to be equivalent? I wonder if the samples are the same but the 24 bit has better resolution in the tails? (Shouldn't make too much difference on normalized samples & I assume the samples were normalized and then just volume adjusted in the programming? Haven't had time to check or do much programming lately unfortunately.)

So many questions. So Worra, how close are the GS & K2 versions? (& sorry everybody for the thread hijacking...)

[JohnGrant]

How about the virtual grand? Is that ever happening in GS?

JG

[ohernie]

How would you compare it to the Black Grand? Also, I assume that with the Akoustic you have to buy all three pianos.

JG

LOL! At that price it's more like you get all four piano's.

Ernie

[JohnGrant]

LOL! At that price it's more like you get all four piano's.

Ernie

What price are you referring to? How much is Akoustic?


JG

[ohernie]

What price are you referring to? How much is Akoustic?
JG
Sorry, I realize now I have might have a special situation. Going rate is around $290. I bought it from a store I do a lot of business with so I got it for substantially less.

Ernie

[JohnGrant]

Still wondering about Adamson's Virtual Grand. I've done extensive mp3 comparisons (for what they're worth) and the spaciousness, dynamic range, and "realism" (in a purely recorded sound sense of that word) seems very, very good to me.

Is the Kontakt software built in, or must I upgrade from Kompakt to K2? Given that I actually HATE Kontakt, is a GS version in the works? Hans? Anyone?

JG

[JohnGrant]

Well, I have the answer to my question, in part. Yes, it comes with NI so I don't need to buy the program I don't like.

Listened to a very well played schubert piece on the Virtual. Beautiful in the upper end, especially single note passages.

Chords in the bass definitely give the piano a "crowded" or "compressed" sound (but only in the bass) , a bit as if the mic was overpowered down there when big, loud chords are being played. This may not be the sample, but something inadvertently added afterwards. It may be something I can overcome.

Also, a bit of unusual string resonance in the midrange, as if a few extra strings were sounding, or vibrating sympathetically, in the background.

I like a lot the ringing tone in the upper register when notes are hit hard. I don't think that's captured quite so well in the Steinway D's out there. Maybe it's a 'B' thing.

JG

[Laurent]

As far as I now Virtual Grand is not available for Giga.
It comes with a customised kontakt player with a lot of settings and tuning options. In particular, you can adjust the bass presence.
One advantage of this piano is that it's not only nice samples : It has been extensively produced with lot of different settings, alternate mappings, and even "recording style" presets that are very instructive (even if you don't use it!)

[fozzy]

JohnG,

ArtVista's "Virtual Grand" is, imho, a must-have piano library. It's comes with the the Kontakt player. It's beautifully produced and recorded, in that inimitable way that Hans' has with pianos, it sounds and feels great. I'm using it now for a piano project. I'm pretty picky about piano samples and I use them mostly for classical and jazz. All the same, the price of it makes it almost a no-brainer. The "Krall" and "Rubinstein" pre-sets are my favorites.

[JohnGrant]

Hope this isn't too crude a question, Fozzy, but do you have Black Grand and if so, how do the two pianos compare? Of course, they're different Steinways, but in terms of usefulness for classical and Jazz recordings, especially where the ppp-p range is concerned?

JG