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Topic: Total Eclipse of the Heart isolated piano - double tracked?  (Read 888 times)

Offline peashow

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I recently started trying to figure out the actual recorded piano part in Total Eclipse of the Heart. Most of the sheet music and YouTube videos out there are completely different from each other, which is expected. However, after finding the isolated piano on YouTube, it seems that every notation resource is not even close to what is really being played. The real thing is much more full sounding, with the majority of the right hand chords being 4+ notes and the left hand frequently hitting 3+ notes. 

I sliced up a few parts and dropped them into a web-based notation program, but it seems to be showing things played that are almost physically impossible. I also notice a difference in left and right channel panning, in which the left channel has more low end and the highs are in the right. I also suspect some harmonics resulting in false positive notes.

Does anyone think that the piano was double tracked in this recording, or is Roy Bittan just way more talented than I'm giving him credit for?

Also, does anyone know of any sheets for this song that are closer to the actual recording?  I swear I'm hearing left hand jumps similar to Chopin or Joplin.

Isolated piano part -
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6yNkNOsZVi4

Offline anacrusis

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Re: Total Eclipse of the Heart isolated piano - double tracked?
Reply #1 on: November 05, 2021, 06:58:56 PM
I listened to the YouTube link, and it sounds like it's played, and playable, with two hands, but I'm not entirely sure. Maybe some parts were double tracked.

I wouldn't trust an online tool like too much, especially when the sound quality in the video is not create. I'm not sure how good AI:s are at figuring out the exact notes in complex piano textures.

Offline perfect_pitch

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Re: Total Eclipse of the Heart isolated piano - double tracked?
Reply #2 on: November 06, 2021, 12:52:29 AM
It's definitely playable with two hands only. Lots of octave jumping in the RH though - a lot.

Possible use of the Sostenuto pedal though which helps the bass ring through cleanly without over blurring of the normal pedal.
 

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