Hmmm...that's sounds interesting - I might have to give that one a try and see how it compares with, well, other instruments.

Cheers,
James
x

Allright James, would like to hear if you could/needed to finetune it any further after benchmarking.

Rotary1 as a Chorus+Phaser-effect? Perhaps you'd like to make it sound really fat and distorted with this dirty trick:


FAST ATTACK FENDER RHODES R1.1

Dual Voice: Classic E-piano, volume 5 + 60's E.P., volume 5

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low +6, mid +5, high -4

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: bright 2
2 - 5 Touch: light+

3 Key Settings
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 10

Reverb: Room 1

Effect: Rotary 1, speed 7

Here's the pitch to this patch:
I happen to know Matt Stedeford and have owned his Upright Schimmel piano sample collection since 2006 (also check out the theatre performances of his sister in London). By the way, at that time I also paid a visit to the Schimmel Pianoforte factory in Braunschweig.

This time, I was just wondering whether I could replicate his new 127 sample layer Fazioli's dynamic and dark mellow experience (don't care too much for the exaggerated imperfections), including the CA93/CA63's classy string resonance and half-pedalling implementation of course.

At the end of the day, I am quite pleased with the first complex sounding results, albeit forte playing seems to have a more Schimmel Upright than a Fazioli Grand like character (additional tweaking is possible, of course). For now, let's wait and see what the singer/songwriters have to say about that!


WARM & FUZZY FAZIOLI R1.0

Dual Voice: Mellow Grand, volume 5 + Concert Grand 2, volume 5

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: bass boost

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: dynamic
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 10
2 - 3 String resonance: 8
2 - 4 Key off effect: 10
2 - 5 Touch: heavy

3 Key Settings
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 8

Reverb: Stage

Effect: Delay 2, time 1, depth 2

YES, after a little tweaking and testing, this definitely is a really big, dynamic and mellow sounding GRAND now!!! Thanks, Matt.


WARM & FUZZY FAZIOLI R2.0

Dual Voice: Mellow Grand, volume 5 + Concert Grand 2, volume 5

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low +3, mid 0, high 0

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: dynamic
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 9
2 - 3 String resonance: 8
2 - 4 Key off effect: 6
2 - 5 Touch: heavy

3 Key Settings
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 5

Reverb: Hall 2

Effect: Delay 2, time 1, depth 2

In case you are in need of some Analog highpass-resonance for fast soloing:


MONOSYNTH FUNKY STUFF R1.0

Dual Voice: Clavi, volume 6 + Be3, volume 4

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: loudness

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: dynamic
2 - 5 Touch: light+

3 Key Settings
3 - 3 Layer octave: +1
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 10

Reverb: Room 2

Effect: Rotary 1, speed 4

Your Kawai doesn't have a Wurlitzer Electric Piano sound, right?...... W R O N G !


WURLITZER E-PIANO - RARE MODEL R1.0

Dual Voice: Classic E-piano, volume 6 + Classic E-piano, volume 4

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low +2, mid +6, high -6

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: bright1
2 - 5 Touch: light+

3 Key Settings
3 - 3 Layer octave: +2
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 10

Reverb: Room 2

Effect: Tremolo, speed 8, depth 10

Cool idea to layer to Wurly sounds like that.

Cheers,
James
x

Thanks, James! That Wurlitzer could work on some previous/next generation Kawai's too.

Switching back to the Grand department now: some small piano harmonics related optimisations after intensive playing are given below. You guys may have some alternative tweaks/preferences, also depending on your gear and ears.

Time for a Pinipon (or other) variation perhaps?


WARM & FUZZY FAZIOLI R2.1

Dual Voice: Mellow Grand, volume 5 + Concert Grand 2, volume 5

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low +4, mid +1, high -2

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: dynamic
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 9
2 - 3 String resonance: 7
2 - 4 Key off effect: 6
2 - 5 Touch: heavy

3 Key Settings
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 5

Reverb: Hall 2

Effect: Delay 2, time 1, depth 3

Man, you are a machine!

For my shame, I just switch the instrument on and play with the default piano sound ever since I bought it. I am sorry I couldn't contribute to this thread as I have promised at the beginning But that main piano sound is SOOOO great in its simplicity, so inspiring that when I start playing it I forget in the very first seconds there are other sounds and possibilities for layering!

Somehow that reminds me of a random preset generator:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/vst-preset-gen/

For the rest, don't worry about it. If you're happy without further exploring your CA63, then that's just fine with me.

...nevertheless, after just having installed the new firmware v1.07, why not tease CyberGene and others, who don't use custom presets yet, a little:

This time, I managed to successfully (without any sonic artifacts) layer the original Kawai Concert Grand sample material on top of itself: the first results are tempting, check it out!

Please supply me with your feedback, because a Shigeru Kawai preset just has to be perfect! (if you want to share your comments more privately, then you can also send me a PM).


SHIGERU KAWAI CONCERT GRAND R1.0

Dual Voice: Concert Grand, volume 7 + Concert Grand, volume 3

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low +2, mid +2, high +6

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: normal
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 9
2 - 3 String resonance: 6
2 - 4 Key off effect: 5
2 - 5 Touch: heavy

3 Key Settings
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 7

Reverb: Hall 1

Effect: none

Have you seen this thread about Electric Grands?
http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1231742/KAWAI%20EP-308,%20Yamaha%20CP-70.html

Fascinating, isn't it? If only our CA93/CA63 could do that!


KAWAI EP-308 ELECTRIC GRAND R1.0

Dual Voice: 60's E.P., volume 5 + Studio Grand 2, volume 5

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low -3, mid +3, high -6

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: normal
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 10
2 - 3 String resonance: 10
2 - 4 Key off effect: 10
2 - 5 Touch: normal

3 Key Settings
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 8

Reverb: Stage

Effect: Chorus: rate 5, depth 2

Let's call it Extended Ultra Progressive Harmonic Imaging (E-UPHI).
' From gentle & intimate pianissimo to thunderous & reverberant fortissimo!!!'


SHIGERU KAWAI CONCERT GRAND R2.0

Dual Voice: Concert Grand, volume 7 + Concert Grand, volume 3

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low 0, mid +1, high -3

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: dynamic
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 10
2 - 3 String resonance: 5
2 - 4 Key off effect: 5
2 - 5 Touch: normal

3 Key Settings
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 8

Reverb: Hall 2

Effect: Delay 2, time 1, depth 4

TADutchman, you're doing a very, very good job

I spent some time to try all your settings from the beginning, and here are my favorites:

for acoustic pianos, I really like the following sounds and they take a special place into my registration memories:

- SHIGERU KAWAI CONCERT GRAND R2.0
- my variation of BRILLIANT CLASSICAL PIANO R2.2 (of course )
- GOOD OLD VINTAGE GRAND R1.0 => try this one with Mellow Grand volume 6 + Studio Grand volume 4 (I know it is a very subtle difference but it is more dynamic with my playing touch)

for electric sounds:
- KAWAI EP-308 ELECTRIC GRAND R1.0
- FUNKY GROWL SOLOING
- INVOLVING E-PIANO
- HEAVY PROTESTANT CHURCH ORGAN R1.0
- DREAMY TREMOLO HYBRID
- MONOSYNTH FUNKY STUFF R1.0

I'm sure we are all waiting for more...

Thanks a lot for your feedback, Pinipon! You are hereby the first to be promoted to: Kawai CA93/CA63 custom presets reviewer

Other people can also earn this new title by testing all dual voice presets* of this thread (most recent Rx.x release/preset only), listing their favourites and giving their constructive comments. This should take just about one hour to complete now, but the list of presets will keep growing, so you'd better hurry...

By the way, you do not even have to own a CA93/CA63 yourself; you can also perform this testing at your local Kawai dealer, either by playing live or with a pair of high-end headphones!

*) excluding specific CA93 presets, they are voluntary.

Slightly less boomy obfuscation of the true musical pitch!


WARM & FUZZY FAZIOLI R2.2

Dual Voice: Mellow Grand, volume 7 + Concert Grand 2, volume 3

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low +4, mid +1, high +1

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: dynamic
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 9
2 - 3 String resonance: 7
2 - 4 Key off effect: 6
2 - 5 Touch: heavy

3 Key Settings
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 8

Reverb: Hall 2

Effect: Delay 2, time 1, depth 3

nice upgrade

for who have a good pair of ears and play pieces with many chords and octaves, I have found an interesting feature that can be explored : the temperament.

Try for example the RESONANT CLASSICAL GRAND LIVE 1.0 of TADutchman with the aditional settings:

2 Virtual Technician
2-6 Temperament: Equal
2-8 Strech Tune: Wide (this option can be used also with the default temperament: Equal (P.only) )

have fun!

Hello to all CA93 and CA63 owners,

Due to the really great work made by TADutchman with the audio/tuning settings, and because we have only 8 memories in the registration bank (which is not enough to me), I had the idea to make a little paper to summarize all the presets with the latest versions. A little introduction/explanation to the instument has also been made.

You have now a short document that is quick to read and use with your fabulous instrument: which is the CA93 /CA63

You can download this paper here:
http://www.attacca.eu/images/settings_CA63_93.pdf

Feel free to give any comment

Wow, nice one Pinipon!

Thanks for putting this together, and of course to TADutchman for his great work in extending the range of sound capable with the CA93/CA63.

Cheers,
James
x

Thanks, guys.

Now, let's continue the Quest for new Harmonics: bells & basses this time!


BRUTAL BASS BÖSENDORFER R1.0

Dual Voice: Studio Grand, volume 6 + Mellow Grand 2, volume 4

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low +3, mid +4, high +3

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: bright1
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 7
2 - 3 String resonance: 5
2 - 4 Key off effect: 9
2 - 5 Touch: light

3 Key Settings
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 9

Reverb: Hall 1

Effect: Delay 2, time 1, depth 3

What about an amped non-percussive Electric Grand with warm and smooth sustain?


YAMAHA CP70/CP80 ELECTRIC GRAND R1.0 (CA93 only)

Dual Voice: Modern E.P. 3, volume 6 + Mellow Grand 2, volume 4

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low -6, mid +6, high -6

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: mellow2
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 10
2 - 3 String resonance: 10
2 - 4 Key off effect: 10
2 - 5 Touch: light+

3 Key Settings
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 9

Reverb: Stage

Effect: Tremolo: rate 4, depth 4

About one week ago, I told TheJourney that I would do a Roland HP series and a Yamaha CLP series emulator in order to demonstrate the CA93/CA63's unique tweakability.

Well, here is the Roland version; you might even like it...

Keywords: over-processed piano sound, dynamic decay, muffled pianissimo, harsh mid-high freq fortissimo (including duplex scale), sounds best from a distance.


ROLAND HP307 EMULATOR R1.0

Dual Voice: Studio Grand, volume 7 + Studio Grand, volume 3

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low +5, mid -3, high +5

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: dynamic
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 8
2 - 3 String resonance: 8
2 - 4 Key off effect: 8
2 - 5 Touch: heavy

3 Key Settings
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 9

Reverb: Hall 1

Effect: Delay 2, time 1, depth 2

Do you need a drink now or after detuning?


PUB PIANO SING-A-LONG R1.0

Dual Voice: Mellow Grand, volume 6 + Mellow Grand, volume 4

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low +1, mid +2, high -6

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: dynamic
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 6
2 - 3 String resonance: 6
2 - 4 Key off effect: 4
2 - 5 Touch: normal

3 Key Settings
3 - 3 Layer octave: +1
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 9

Reverb: Stage

Effect: none

...and here is the Yamaha version!

Keywords: dynamic 2008 DP sound with key-off samples, bright attack fortissimo, tinny timbre, close enough for jazz (pop & classical).


YAMAHA CLP370/CLP380 EMULATOR R1.0

Dual Voice: Jazz Grand, volume 7 + Mellow Grand 2, volume 3

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low -3, mid -2, high +1

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: dynamic
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 5
2 - 3 String resonance: off (CLP370) / 4 (CLP380)
2 - 4 Key off effect: 6
2 - 5 Touch: normal

3 Key Settings
3 - 3 Layer octave: +1
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 9

Reverb: Hall 1

Effect: Delay 2, time 2, depth 2

Improved balance and control of this huge Grand:


BRUTAL BASS BÖSENDORFER R2.0

Dual Voice: Studio Grand, volume 6 + Mellow Grand 2, volume 4

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low +3, mid +3, high +4

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: normal
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 7
2 - 3 String resonance: 5
2 - 4 Key off effect: 10
2 - 5 Touch: light

3 Key Settings
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 9

Reverb: Hall 1

Effect: Delay 2, time 1, depth 5

I'll be leaving on a business trip for a few days: this is an invitation to post your hints & suggestions in the meantime...

Here are some slight optimisations, the yamaha emulator update will follow shortly...


ROLAND HP307 EMULATOR R1.1

Dual Voice: Studio Grand, volume 7 + Studio Grand, volume 3

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low +5, mid -3, high +2

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: dynamic
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 7
2 - 3 String resonance: 5
2 - 4 Key off effect: 8
2 - 5 Touch: heavy

3 Key Settings
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 9

Reverb: Hall 1

Effect: Delay 2, time 1, depth 3

...quite some 'bright light' changes this time:


YAMAHA CLP370/CLP380 EMULATOR R2.0

Dual Voice: Jazz Grand, volume 9 + Mellow Grand 2, volume 1

1 Basic Settings
1 - 3 Tone control: low -2, mid -2, high +2

2 Virtual Technician
2 - 1 Voicing: bright1
2 - 2 Damper resonance: 5
2 - 3 String resonance: off (CLP370) / 4 (CLP380)
2 - 4 Key off effect: 6
2 - 5 Touch: normal

3 Key Settings
3 - 3 Layer octave: -1
3 - 4 Layer dynamics: 5

Reverb: Hall 1

Effect: none