Get Real Piano - using a midi file to trigger and record Yamaha Grand

[richbatsford]

hi Folks

I recently came across https://getrealpiano.com who offer what I thought was quite an exciting service. You send them a midi file and they use it to trigger a Yamaha Grand which they in record, so they can then send you back a high quality audio file.

Im keen to know if anyone has used this service or has any opinions on it.  Im thinking of using it for my next album.

thanks

Rich

[forte88]

Do I understand this correctly?
The midi plays an accoustic grand piano like a midi instrument?

[perfect_pitch]

I've seen them in action... Yeah, it's pretty impressive. You have Disklaviers which can play all sorts of Midi data...

But that's for people who CAN'T play piano.

[richbatsford]

yes forte88, youve got it.

For people who might want to record on a digital at home, but have that transferred to the recording of a live grand, could be pretty exciting.  Not everyone has regular access to a grand.

cheers

Rich

[j_menz]

How do you "play" a piano that has different sound, qualities and acoustic environment to the one you are actually hearing?

[forte88]

How do you "play" a piano that has different sound, qualities and acoustic environment to the one you are actually hearing?

That's a valid point and it ties in with what pp wrote and my previous topic. Why don't great pianists record on a midi instrument like a disklavier, there's a lot of information that goes missing when one just hears the audio. Also composers could learn from the playing styles and write it into the composition like composers in the past started doing with embellishments.
Perhaps it's cheating coz you don't have to be a great pianist to write the type of sound you want your composition to have, but then again it's said Schubert couldn't play the Wanderer fantasie either

[perfect_pitch]

there's a lot of information that goes missing when one just hears the audio.

What do you mean? I think if the human ear is subtle enough to hear something like a mosquito flying close by, or the phone ringing from 50 yards away - our ears are sensitive enough to pick up the subtle nuances of each individuals playing when we hear a recording.

[quantum]

I'm wondering what the advantage of this would be to using virtual sampled pianos?  In the case of the latter, you have direct access to recorded samples of an acoustic piano and can hear and play them in real time with your MIDI keyboard.  You would know immediately the sound you were producing. 


On a somewhat related note, MIDI over IP has some interesting possibilities.  Such as real time playing of a piano in a location that is physically separate from where the performer is located. 

[richbatsford]

Hi Quantum

The possible advantage is simply that it may sound better - Ive heard a few different sample sets and none of them have ever quite been to my liking.

Also, if they do as good a job as they say with the recording, it might save any issues with mastering.

Thats what Im hoping anyway ..

cheers

Rich

[forte88]

What do you mean? I think if the human ear is subtle enough to hear something like a mosquito flying close by, or the phone ringing from 50 yards away - our ears are sensitive enough to pick up the subtle nuances of each individuals playing when we hear a recording.

I mean with midi you'd know exactly how a good pianist played a piece and performers as well as composers could learn something from this.

[pianoplunker]

hi Folks

I recently came across https://getrealpiano.com who offer what I thought was quite an exciting service. You send them a midi file and they use it to trigger a Yamaha Grand which they in record, so they can then send you back a high quality audio file.

Im keen to know if anyone has used this service or has any opinions on it.  Im thinking of using it for my next album.

thanks

Rich

I have used midi files in recording studios in the same manner.  This seems to be a very convenient way of doing everything online with just an upload and download and the cost of an engineer/recording for $200.00 flat rate is very reasonable. The only concern I have is not hearing the adjustments while they happen and providing my feedback as we go. Instead this service seems to be input/output with no ability for the user to say "hey, too much reverb there.."  I could be wrong about that since I have not used the service.

[pianoplunker]

I'm wondering what the advantage of this would be to using virtual sampled pianos?  In the case of the latter, you have direct access to recorded samples of an acoustic piano and can hear and play them in real time with your MIDI keyboard.  You would know immediately the sound you were producing. 


On a somewhat related note, MIDI over IP has some interesting possibilities.  Such as real time playing of a piano in a location that is physically separate from where the performer is located. 

For people who are familiar with midi sound banks and samples there is probably not much of an advantage especially since they probably already have equipment needed to do it themselves. I think this would be an advantage for someone who does not have equipment or ability or knowledge of how too handle midi files. Professional recording is a science by itself.  I like your idea of midi over ip - it could be much faster.

[forte88]

What do you mean? I think if the human ear is subtle enough to hear something like a mosquito flying close by, or the phone ringing from 50 yards away - our ears are sensitive enough to pick up the subtle nuances of each individuals playing when we hear a recording.

I think I see what you mean, that you could use a computer to produce sound like this that no pianist could ever match. What Deepblue was for chess this could be for pianists. You could get the clarity of Gould playing a Bach piece without the decades of perfecting technique to play it like that.

I wonder if anyone had the idea to use this, get a friendly reporter to write about this enigmatic piano prodigy who shuns the limelight but has made some amazing recordings

[richbatsford]

I think this would be an advantage for someone who does not have equipment or ability or knowledge of how too handle midi files. Professional recording is a science by itself.  I like your idea of midi over ip - it could be much faster.

I can handle midi files to some extent but am attracted by the real piano, and the professional recording process.   If I could find a sample set for midi I really love, that might be a better option, but thats for another thread.

Good point you made about the variability involved in the adjustments they make to velocity, I suppose one has to trust them to some extent to know what works on their instrument.   Also, they do say that if youre not happy with their first response, reasonable requests for changes will be accommodated at no extra charge (tho I dont know for sure if that includes changes to the midi data)

cheers

Rich

[pianoplunker]

I can handle midi files to some extent but am attracted by the real piano, and the professional recording process.   If I could find a sample set for midi I really love, that might be a better option, but thats for another thread.

Good point you made about the variability involved in the adjustments they make to velocity, I suppose one has to trust them to some extent to know what works on their instrument.   Also, they do say that if youre not happy with their first response, reasonable requests for changes will be accommodated at no extra charge (tho I dont know for sure if that includes changes to the midi data)

cheers

Rich

For what it is worth I have heard the Yamaha with a midi trigger attached. It was quite beautiful.  It could very well be worth it if you want to hear your midi file in a real piano

[richbatsford]

For what it is worth I have heard the Yamaha with a midi trigger attached. It was quite beautiful.  It could very well be worth it if you want to hear your midi file in a real piano

thanks mate - I may give a track a try when it comes to my next album, in which case I'll post it up to see what people here think.

cheers

Rich