Thank you for all your effort with these videos. This channel has become one of my very favorite instrument review go-tos. It helped me with the decision to purchase my Casio 5000 and now I'm about to pick this one up (currently on sale for $85 USD, btw!). You bring much knowledge to these reviews, articulately expressed, and to the point. They hit all the important marks of what I want to know about an instrument. Plus the fact you can play really sets this channel apart from the pack!

@MerriamPianos

4 ай бұрын

You're very welcome! Thank you for the incredibly kind words about our channel. We're very happy to hear that you've found the content and info helpful. Thanks so much for supporting! :)

Fantastic review, you covered all the areas of interest, thanks.

Well done, comprehensive demo of this new, impressive VI. Enthusiasm comes thru clearly, yet balanced by alternative choices. Likely purchase, after careful consideration. Many thanks !

Thanks for this video, it has opened up the VST landscape still a bit more!. It is amazing how technology brings to your MIDI controller so many wonderful sounds

@minty_fresh2444

2 жыл бұрын

Like your video Much so much I love your video so much

Great well-made review! Cheers!

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! :)

15:27 I feel your vibe. Great video🎹🎶

Thank You!

Thanks for the vid

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! Thanks for tuning in! :)

Thanks for another great review Stu! I bought this library early on and returned it for reasons I'll describe in a sec, but I really think it's a great library if you don't mind a few caveats that might be sorted out later. Some thoughts and things to note, primarily about the Modern Grand: * There is no half-pedaling or even repedaling. This was the deal-breaker for me; repedaling at least I consider to be basic behavior and even though I'm far from an advanced player, you do run up against it quickly with classical music even as an adult learner playing exposed solo pieces. But Skybox told me they will let me know when these features arrive, so it does seem like they are working to program that in. I will gladly buy this library again if so. * There are 16 velocity layers, which like VSL is one of the few actually sampled with a robot. I appreciate that there is ton of dynamic range in both the lows and the highs. The robot actually calibrates itself by measuring the lowest possible velocity to produce a sound. * I'm normally not a huge fan of the Yamaha grands, but I absolutely adore the sound of the Modern Grand. Fact is most of us don't play on perfectly regulated 9 foot grands, and Hammer + Waves just sounds so incredibly authentic, with just enough imperfection to provide realism without being annoying to play. *There's no una corda. That said, given the depth of sampling and effects here, I think skybox could come up with a convincingly good 'simulated' una corda. I've been able to do so just tweaking the settings, so all you'd really have to do is script than into the soft pedal. *Skybox was extremely good about handling the returns, so you can feel safe with their return policy. One of the few VSTs to offer one. I know some might think I'm being nitpicky about pedaling given how much Skybox offers. I realize it's not really aimed at classical players either. But I actually bought it just because I loved the sound and I liked the idea of the robot sampling. Now that it's available with separate bundles, I might give it another try and simply wait until those features are implemented.

@The-Organised-Pianist

2 жыл бұрын

@Napilopez - Seems totally normal to me that you want re-pedalling & 1/2 pedalling. I was amazed when I first learned it was unavailable on some VSTs (never used 1 yet). If anyone were to claim these techniques were just for those who play 100% classical, I'd disagree. Trying to train yourself out of using them whenever your ears / experience told you they were needed would be weird! Mind you, as Stu seems to find this VST great, I guess he can put up with that sometimes & transitions depending on whether it's there. Another flexibility to learn, I guess. For me, it'd be instant deal-breaker. I do play classical quite a bit but that VST sounds fun for all sorts of stuff I'll cheerfully re-pedal & 1/2 on!

@napilopez

2 жыл бұрын

@@The-Organised-Pianist I guess for me one of the first things I noticed when I played on a real piano was the ability to modulate the pedal, and it just kills the authenticity without it. But some playing styles don't mind, and of course, many digital piano owners don't even have continua pedal ability. But yeah, repedaling in particular kept on becoming a problem in pieces when I was trying to achieve a more blended sound. Here's hoping that update comes sooner rather than later.

@The-Organised-Pianist

2 жыл бұрын

Time on acoustic pianos, if available, is likely to be a huge benefit musically, especially in early years of piano playing. The more we listen to all the effects possible & experiment, the richer our expressive options get - like lots of colours on a palette. Ears train to notice subtleties. That helps us respond creatively & appropriately to all kinds of musical contexts. How sound 'thickens' or 'thins' in response to sustain pedal, at various pitches & when applied / released at different times, is rewarding to discover. Let's get the best from our opportunities & never stop listening really attentively.

Thanks for the demo! For what it's worth, their website indicates that there are 16 velocity layers per key "captured by proprietary robotic automation." (That info is in the first panel of a auto-advancing carousel.)

@JoeLinux2000

2 жыл бұрын

I can't find their website.

@Instrumental-Covers

2 жыл бұрын

@@JoeLinux2000 I sent you the link for the website, but it was deleted. Maybe some type of automatic deletion when there is a link outside the channel. But you can search for "skyboxaudio". WHAT'S INCLUDED Hammers + Waves Complete includes premium deep sampled recreations of: Modern Grand - Yamaha C6 - Grand Piano Obscura Grand - Yamaha C6 - Felted Grand UX Upright - Yamaha UX3 - Upright Piano Suitcase 73 - Fender Rhodes - Electric Piano EP200A - Wurlitzer 200A - Electric Piano Relic Upright - Schaff Bros - Upright Piano Muted Relic - Schaff Bros - Muted Upright Piano Dulcitone - 1898 - Dulcitone J Celeste - Jenco Celeste J Toy Piano - Vintage Jaymar Toy Piano They even have a video showing the microphones around the piano.

Stu I see your playing an M Audio controller. In other videos you were using a Roland. Why the switch? Great videos again!

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

I would have to ask Stu as to why he is using an M Audio controller in this video, but, as most musicians can attest to, one instrument is never enough! ;)

❤concert of a Keyboard and a Human

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

:)

Are we hearing the direct sound from the plugin or captured by the camera (sound coming from a speaker)?

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

The sounds you are hearing in these VST review and comparison videos are taken from a direct line out. :)

I don't own any VSL librarys. You had mentioned VSL and when I pulled up their site I couldn't figure out which VSL piano you referred to having had pulled alongside it. (maybe you meant you several...) I apologize but I haven't watched the entire video. My main purpose was to see how effective this is as a realistically warm piano. I have Pianoteq 8 and it is nice but perhaps sometimes lacks warmth or expression in some hard to define ways.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

The great thing about VST plugins is that there are a lot of different options to choose from to acquire virtually any piano sound you can imagine. Unlike actual pianos, they don't take up any real estate too! ;)

I use this library as standalone demo for now, but wanna buy it.. But it doesn't appear in my vst library in fruity loops studio. Is it because it's a demo version or it's something else? Thanx much for any input🙏🏻

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! I have never used this VST in conjunction with FL Studio, so I can't really comment on the issue unfortunately. Perhaps, it is a limitation of the demo. Hopefully, one of our amazing community members that has experience with FL Studio can chime in and assist.

@EduardRitok

Жыл бұрын

@@MerriamPianos Thanks for your reply!that would be great! In the software itself I could not find any dll files that could be imported to vst library, but it would be amazing to be able to use hammers and waves piano in piano roll to ensure proper rythm sync while mixing :) Recently I started making uplifting trance and I love to mix piano sounds in.And this plugin has huge potential ❤️ I love it

Do I need to learn how to play a keyboard in order to create a sound with my music?

@MerriamPianos

4 күн бұрын

Hi there! Not necessarily! You can also program and control VST plugins by inputting MIDI notes within a DAW.

@soulman213

3 күн бұрын

The midi /daw is something I have to learn

This piano has a more modern sound than some of the more piano only focused plugins. It’s a bit more raw sounding too right out of the box, giving it a really front and center sound. It’s actually more fun to play than to record with, it’s just really a players piano plugin. Oddly enough it has not appeared in any of my recordings yet, still think the garritan just at the end of the day sits better in mixes.

@Instrumental-Covers

2 жыл бұрын

I own the Garritan CFX full edition. I have mixed it with other instruments and compared the results with the same mix, but using the CFX built-in in the Yamaha DGX 670. The results are identical. I sent the mix to a friend who owns an audiophile speaker system, and she was unable to detect any difference. In both cases, the CFX was the lead instrument. I agree with you that the Garritan is better for mixes, but it has too much room reverb even with the close mic only in the player's perspective. The CFX in the DGX 670 was sampled even closer and it is more suitable for a live piano. This vst piano is a Yamaha C6. WHAT'S INCLUDED Hammers + Waves Complete includes premium deep sampled recreations of: Modern Grand - Yamaha C6 - Grand Piano Obscura Grand - Yamaha C6 - Felted Grand UX Upright - Yamaha UX3 - Upright Piano Suitcase 73 - Fender Rhodes - Electric Piano EP200A - Wurlitzer 200A - Electric Piano Relic Upright - Schaff Bros - Upright Piano Muted Relic - Schaff Bros - Muted Upright Piano Dulcitone - 1898 - Dulcitone J Celeste - Jenco Celeste J Toy Piano - Vintage Jaymar Toy Piano

This sample library is choosing a 212 cm (6'11") semi-concert Yamaha C6 as the main piano. Not too many seem to choose smaller pianos. Another example is Alicia's Keys, which is a Yamaha C3 Neo. By the way, the Yamaha C6 is relatively old (probably started around 1994). The 2005 Yamaha S90ES synthesizer/digital piano had as the main sample a $250,000 handcrafted Yamaha S700, which was a 7'6" semi-concert grand piano.

@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12

2 жыл бұрын

Yamaha still makes the C6 as the C6X right?🎹🎶

@Instrumental-Covers

2 жыл бұрын

@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 The Yamaha C series is very old. According to Yamaha, it was released in 1967. They released the CX series in 2012. I assume the CX series is the successor of the C series. 🎧

@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12

2 жыл бұрын

@@Instrumental-Covers thanks. So does that meen that the G series existed along side the C series? Also what are the differences between the 2 besides no sostenuto on the G series?also I know this is off topic, but is using a zoom recorder the right way to record a piano? Sorry for all the questions🎹🎶

@Instrumental-Covers

2 жыл бұрын

@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 The two series existed along, although I guess that would be a very general statement. The current G series (GC1, GC2) and the C series (C1X-C7X) both have sostenuto. There were several differences between the C and G series, and I think it will be best if you check out some of the Yamaha piano forums, because it will be a better resource and more details than I can manage to write in a few sentences. Regarding the zoom recorder, I guess it is OK for some general purpose recording. One issue, in my opinion, is that the microphones are very closed together, so it will provide an almost mono piano sound. I think Kawai used to do that in all their digital pianos, until they started with the CA78 to offer the 5-microphone sample. Kawai implied in their website they use an X/Y microphone setting, except on the CA78, CA98, CA79, CA99, NV5, NV5S, and AURES, which is what those zoom recorders have. So, Kawai owners that don't have access to the new sample in the high end models have to live with a narrow field stereo sample. That would be alright for live piano, so your left/right samples are close and I expect not to suffer bad phase cancellation when using a keyboard amp. But for home piano use, I would not recommend it, because the piano will not be very open and expansive, especially if you want to use stereo headphones.

@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12

2 жыл бұрын

@@Instrumental-Covers I'm a bit surprised that the G series has the G1 all the way up to the G7 just like the C series wile the GC series only has the GC1 and the GC2. Update I just came back from the forums. I'm still a littel confused, but if I rememver correctly the differences are in the scail desine the rim desine, and the G series is 1 inch shorter than the C series🎹🎶

Thanks again for your videos. Good and serious reviews! They really help us. BTW: I bought this VST 3 days ago and it is almost unusable, some notes (same velocity) sound really louder. Some presets have really very low dinamic range, they sound always loud no mater how soft I play on my Roland FP-10. I use Logic and an Imac. I wanted to say this just in case anyone is thinking on buying these VST. The bad thing is that I can no return it and have my money back. Regards from Germany

@MerriamPianos

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for tuning in and for the kind words! We're glad you enjoyed the reviews. I am sorry to hear that you weren't satisfied with the VST. Naturally, some VSTs are more sophisticated and responsive, which leads to an overall more authentic approach. Furthermore, every player will gravitate towards a different VST for the musical experience it provides. Thankfully, there are a lot on the market to choose from. :)

@marianogringaus

7 ай бұрын

Thanks Stu for the reply. Regards@@MerriamPianos

@marianogringaus

6 ай бұрын

Good news. Thanks the comment of one of your followers here, I could know that yes, I could return the software back and receive the refund. Thanks