HYRID PIANO DEMOS

the next generation

PMI is using the latest developments in sampling software to bring the sampled piano to a new level of realism and expressiveness.
Holy Grail in Kontakt 2

All aspects of the piano sound, that were previously impossible to recreate with samples, are now available to the pianist:
- Sympathetic resonance;
- Sostenuto and softpedal;
- IR-based ambience and stereo imaging;
- IR-based body resonance;
- Seemingly unlimited dynamic range and responsiveness;
- 24bit samples for pristine audio quality;
- Total freedom of tuning;
- Surround Sound Mixing

 


Sympathetic resonance: the holy grail of piano sampling…

"And all strings
Which are touched in Love
Must sound."
Mechtild of Magdeburg (8 centuries before Steinway made it's first grand piano)

PMI finally has the technology to make accurate reproduction of the sympathetic resonance of the non-struck piano strings possible. By using scripting technology this very important effect that was missing in sampled piano libraries until now has become “unleashed”.

The principle behind sympathetic resonance is simple enough:
When a key is pressed on an acoustic piano, the strings for the keys which are already pressed vibrate sympathetically. The fundamental and overtones of the struck string generate vibrations in the corresponding non-struck strings that start to "sing".

Every note played is going to excite all the other open strings and change their overtones very dynamically. Previously every note on a sampled piano always used to stand alone and play the same every time.

The resonating of non-struck strings is called sympathetic resonance and adds the brilliance and life in a real piano. Sympathetic resonance in PMI piano libraries is achieved by using scripts in Native Instruments new Kontakt 2 flagship sampler. A set of resonating string samples is "activated" by a piece of artificial intelligence that reproduces the sympathetic resonance phenomena with extreme accuracy. 

For this effect 2 components are used:
- one is for the sympathetic resonance of the non-struck strings using a script that triggers the resonances;
- one is for the body resonance of the piano. A convolution engine excites a resonance model of the ENTIRE piano harp, exciting the string resonances that have a harmonic relationship with the keys struck. Pushing through a "chromatic" piano body impulse, the tone exciting the impulse will determine which of the chromatic resonances will have impact on the sound. If you play an "A" you only hear resonances related to "A" up its overtone series. The frequency components which go "un-excited" will simply disappear underneath the overall sound and be unnoticeable.

The sympathetic resonance is using Kontakt 2’s unique scripting possibilities. These scripts (like the one pictured below) have an interface which allows ultimate control over each generated harmonic as well as integration with sustain, sostenuto and soft pedals. The script below was created by Olivier Frappier (www.audiolivepro.com).

Convolution-based and recorded “sustain” resonance

All ‘pedal down’ and ‘release/staccato resonance’ elements are created with convolution impulse models (i.e. more than half of the traditional digital samples can be left unused!) and with traditional sample based recordings. Overall responsiveness is greatly improved. The traditional limitations of sample based pedal dynamics, continuously varying note release have been transcended, with far greater dynamic accuracy, playability and sonic detail.

Dynamic Range

An amazing dynamic range and responsiveness is achieved by using multiple velocity layers. The Gold Bundle pianos (EMPEROR and OLD LADY) use up to 26 recorded dynamic nuances for each key! Instead of sampling a piano by capturing a single overtone series for that strike velocity and then using a lowpass filter for lower velocities, PMI piano libraries have all velocity variations recorded. The use of Low-pass filtering does not capture the way the overtone series really progresses with strike velocity and also does not capture degrees of sound from the transient of the hammer strike, which is the loudest part of the sound. The big multi-strike sample sets created by PMI are giving an incredible smooth response that is almost un-distinguishable from a real piano. This ensures a seemingly unlimited dynamic range and responsiveness.

IR-based ambience and stereo imaging
Convolution technology makes it possible to “sample” a room or hall, a microphone or even an effect processor and “impose” that sample on other sounds. This is done by using Impulse Responses. An Impulse Response captures the true acoustics of a performance space. Convolution reverbs, also known as "sampling reverbs", let's you put any audio signal inside an acoustic space of your choosing, such as different concert halls, a performance club, a soundstage, a church, an intimate room or other spaces. It also allows precise control over an instrument's position on stage and the listener perspectives in the audience. Kontakt 2 comes with a convolution unit that can be placed on the output channel or inside an instrument for flexible control over the ambience and stereo imaging. Impulse responses from microphones “impose” the typical characteristics of these microphones on any other signal. This enables the user to –say- change a piano recorded with an AB set of omni-directional tube  microphones into a piano sound recorded trough a MS-set of condenser microphones. Impulses from existing hardware processors “impose” the exact effect as the actual hardware effect would do. The creative possibilities are limited by the imagination of the user only!

24bit samples

24 bit samples are used for pristine audio quality. All PMI piano libraries are available in true 24 bits audio quality. The increased bit depth results in a much wider dynamic range than the 16 bit cd-audio quality previously used in sampling. 

Total freedom of tuning

One of the most important aspects of piano technology is perhaps the tuning of the instrument. Piano tuning is like a science of it’s own and piano tuners have years of experience and knowledge that were used while sampling PMI’s pianos. Additionally NI Kontakt2 offers extreme new possibilities. Non-traditional tunings are as simple as selecting them from the tuning menu. Individual tuning systems can be set up using either a special script or using a graphic editor. These two options combined with PMI’s extreme attention to every detail during the recording process ensure that PMI pianos are always “in tune” with your music.

Sostenuto and softpedal

All 3 pedal are now fully implemented. Having all the pedals available at all times gives the pianist complete control over his performance.