Keys, Synths & Samplers

[pbone]

I've created a couple little samples in Logic that mimic the sound of a CP-80 but I wanted to take that out of a laptop and have something that I can play live. Are there any sound modules worth looking into that are kinda cheap? Is the only worthwhile option here just running a laptop set up?

[delaware dave]

I think the Nord E2 rack had a psuedo CP-80 built into it. From their website: "..The piano section is comprised of five carefully sampled electric pianos - E-Piano Mark I, E-Piano Mark I Suitcase, Wurlitzer 200A, Mega Clavinet D6, and a custom Electric Grand Model G..(custom modified Gärbstedt acoustic grand piano fitted with CP-80 pick-ups)..." Not sure if it would meet your "kinda cheap" criteria or not.

[learjeff]

I don't know of a module. Not sure what samples you're using in Logic, but you might want to try this set from G. Sullivan. His site is no longer up, so I put up a soundfont version (his was Gigastudio) on my site: http://learjeff.net/sf/CP80-sullivang.sf2.zip Here's a sample of it: http://learjeff.net/sf/pianotest_CP80.mp3

[ClavAnother]

Electro 2 sounds like a CP, but the real magic of those pianos comes from the harmonics of the whole piano. Samples can not reproduce it. I have not played a CP1, but Yamaha says they have modeled it :idk:

[delaware dave]

Electro 2 sounds like a CP, but the real magic of those pianos comes from the harmonics of the whole piano. Samples can not reproduce it. I have not played a CP1, but Yamaha says they have modeled it :idk:

Yes, but according to Nord they are "carefully" sampled.

[AnotherScott]

I put up a soundfont version (his was Gigastudio) on my site

Cool. Once you have a soundfont, you can probably run it from an iPad with the BS-16i app. An iPad can be a pretty cheap and flexible sound module these days. Especially if you already happen to own one!

[learjeff]

I think the Nord E2 rack had a psuedo CP-80 built into it. From their website: "..The piano section is comprised of five carefully sampled electric pianos - E-Piano Mark I, E-Piano Mark I Suitcase, Wurlitzer 200A, Mega Clavinet D6, and a custom Electric Grand Model G..(custom modified Gärbstedt acoustic grand piano fitted with CP-80 pick-ups)..." Not sure if it would meet your "kinda cheap" criteria or not.

Good point: the NE2 has a CP80 that sounds a lot like the soundfont I posted (and probably better). As a long-time CP70 owner/player, I'm not a huge fan of either the soundfont or the NE2's sample set. But then, I wouldn't want a CP70 these days anyway. Playing them is a nice stroll down memory lane though. :-) The NE2 module wouldn't be cheap, but would be HUGELY useful for it's many other features. Good luck finding one, though.

[learjeff]

Cool. Once you have a soundfont, you can probably run it from an iPad with the BS-16i app. An iPad can be a pretty cheap and flexible sound module these days. Especially if you already happen to own one!

Ah, great point! In that case, be sure to snag the Splendid Grand 136 soundfont at the same location. Not the best piano for rock and rowdy blues, but great for acoustic music and the occasional piano intro (if you don't already have something better). Try the Rhodes samples, too. jRhodes3c is my favorite, since I play in stereo.

[AnalogGuy]

IMHO the soundfont set above is greater than the NE2 rack module. NE2 sounds good and it includes the wonderful autopan effect, but imo it seriously lacks the samples of soft touch. Even if I play NE2 rack with the slowest possible velocity, both Electric grand sets sounds as if played harder. NE2 rack is much better as cheap source for fantastic Rhodes samples and not to forget the sound effect set. When listening the CP-80 demo above of the soundfont set, I was stunned how greatly it was sampled, including that amazingly soft velocity layer. If anyone would like to hear how real CP-70 sounds like, here's some fantastic demos I rescued from bluesynths.com before it went down: Yamaha CP-70b demos

[mate_stubb]

If you can score an old Roland SA module like the MKS-20, the Piano 3 preset is similar sounding to CP-80 and in fact works better live IMO.

[AnotherScott]

If you can score an old Roland SA module like the MKS-20, the Piano 3 preset is similar sounding to CP-80 and in fact works better live IMO.

I actually have a P-330 I'll be selling if anyone is interested (the successor to the MKS-20... same sounds, lighter/smaller rack module)

[AnalogGuy]

The CP-70 in MKS-20 sounds just horrible!

http://www.synthmania.com/mks-20.htm

[mate_stubb]

Totally disagree. Put some EQ and chorus on it and it's instant 1980s.

[AnalogGuy]

Totally disagree. Put some EQ and chorus on it and it's instant 1980s.

Yeah, because it's the most typical sound of CP-70/80. I disagree because what I love about CP pianos is the soft and warm tone and 90% of the sample sets / romplers lacks them because it's the hard banging tone what people are expecting. Same thing with Rhodes. Most of the people wants the barking sound so most of the samples lacks the soft side (bells?) of them. What I want is this: Warm and soft CP-70

[pbone]

Thanks for the help so far, guys. I should say my budget is about $200 or less.

[ChristianRock]

Remember when guitar players would come in here with a budget of at least 300 dollars? Good times.

[pbone]

Um, good one?

[gregwar]

get the pcp bro the erm pcp-80 by prominy . . . see !!? http://www.prominy.com/elec.htm I will now go back to the closet and claw these cockroaches off my arms

[pbone]

[video=youtube;a6MP1trostM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=a6MP1trostM#t=929s[/video] Anyways not like you need to know what a CP-80 sounds like but this is an approximation of what I'm looking for. I don't need warm tonez

[AnalogGuy]

Anyways not like you need to know what a CP-80 sounds like but this is an approximation of what I'm looking for. I don't need warm tonez

Then I could recommend you something like Yamaha P50m. They usually goes for almost nothing. Good demo of it's CP sound: [video=youtube;GhdM5pdg8EI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhdM5pdg8EI[/video]