Ken Pond Design Piano Noir v1.1 KONTAKT

Piano Noir is a virtual instrument sampled from a Guild & Sons square grand (or box grand) piano.

The instrument was sampled using a mid-side stereo microphone placement technique.

High quality condenser and PZM microphones were used to capture the instrument at a 48kh, 24 bit rate.

This Particular piano is a “piano forte”, constructed in 1879, leather and copper were used in the construction of the strings, giving the square grand a softer intonation than more modern pianos. One should keep in mind this is not a perfect virtual instrument, but more an authentic capturing of an aging and unique sound set.

In the piano's multi-layer velocity scheme the higher velocity ranges include key slaps and creaking artifacts.

A velocity sensitive “bell sweetener” was added to the instrument to enhance some of the lost high and low end characteristics of the instrument that have degraded over time. Some key interpolation was required as well since some keys and strings have been damaged beyond repair.

Piano Noir also includes four additional key switches that contain cinematic or ambient percussion, de-tuned tones, and sound effects derived from the same square grand and recorded in the same setting as the piano itself.

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