Now a blindfold Nord sample comparison! White grand, Italian grand, upright modern, Black upright, 3D Royal grand, velvet Grand. Which is the best sounding! And make it blind for us too with optional annotations or something?
Trust me when I say, watching this videos in this time of quarantine in my country are simply great! 😍 Shotout both of you guys! Can't wait to watch and listen for more 🙏🏽
This the guy who backed James Arthur in that beautiful wrecking ball cover... Looks like him anyway. He played a nord in that video too. I'd guess he likes nord best in this test as the keyboard is matched up properly velocity wise/mapped by nord. Rather than a vst just played through a controller that's not mapped professionally velocity wise. I still think the ravel is hands down the winner though.
Dan is the Man. Yes he uses Nords, but as he said in the Vid this was the first time with the Grand. He and Jack both toured with JA. Dan was on Drums!!!
"Hands down"? That's a lofty claim! ;-) But, yes, it is a highly-regarded VST. The Nord Grand, though, is an astounding instrument in it's own right. I bought mine after the third time trying it at my LMS; I just couldn't get over how "connected" I felt to the instrument. I have never felt that with a digital piano, before or since. I have not tried Ravel yet though.
jack & dan, me lovers, all the pianos sound great, but who cares about the samples when dan plays this good. please jack, pick his brains, let's have some inside info on his fabulous technique and feel.
Great video!! Would love to hear some comparisons of other sounds too, like Rhodes or Wurlitzer, maybe with some other keyboards like the SV-2 in the mix as well as the VSTs. Keep up the great work guys ❤️
@@AndertonsKeyboardDept, I hope that, specifically, you'll compare the Dyno Rhodes sounds, Nord vs. Keyscape. I have an NS2, and play a Piano 4 at my 3-night-a-week gig. I had planned on traveling to play a Nord Grand; COVID has taken care of that. :-( Please stay well, Jack, Dan and everyone! Wonderful playing! I'm beginning to enjoy Anderton's vids more than any other.
Here is a great showcase of Keyscape forall the grand pianos, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, Clavinet simply amazing! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-O04ic5LgEJs.html
The Ravel comes as slightly exagerated to me. I've had the honor to play a few grand pianos till now and nun of them had such a deep, everlasting reverb. The pedal noise also seemed a little bit overdone...Nord's royal grand is more traditional so to speak to a digital piano, with less ambients and less pedal noise; although Nord's samples surpasses every digital piano by a good margin. Keyscape was a little bit more balanced, something in between Nord and Ravel and maybe I would have chosen it as the winner. We should not forget however, that Nord is maybe the only digital piano who's sounds are head to head with those of the best VSTs. It's beautiful to have a piano that you turn on and enjoy without needing extra cables and so on. It's as always, a joy, A JOY! To hear you play and speak! ❤️😊
The thing is all of them are sample based. Even the nord is not “hardware generated” but has a cpu inside that plays back sampled sounds. So it is basically comparing not sw vs hw but rather three top notch sampled pianos out there. There are synthetic vsts too (ie PianoTeq) but they are not as realistic imho as sampled.
I was surprised by how amazing and realistic the Ravel plugin sounded! I especially like how the software already has a preset for reversed piano sounds.
I am trying the Ravel demo now that UAD has made it available to all users in all DAW's. The one thing missing from this review is dynamics in the playing. When you play classical and firmly play octaves, the dynamism and sympathetic resonance of the Ravel is revealing and lovely to hear, feel and experience. We don't get to see any of that here. All the pianos sound good, but the Nord sounded a bit too digital whereas the Ravel feels like a true piano in a room. Maybe that's my personal preference.
I highly suggest you to try out Garritan CFX and Vienna Symphonic Library Concert D (and CFX too).. I think they are among the best piano plugins ever made, in terms of realism!
@@josiahdelarosa1165 I dont have the piano 4 but I tried it before buying the grand and personally I prefer the grand. The keys have some reallllly nice action but it is more expensive. So I would if you could afford the upgrade! :D I've been playing more than ever since I got it!
Dan rocks. It is a good comparison too. Might you try VI Labs Ravenscroft and Spitfire Originals Intimate Grand Piano. I like Keyscape. The additional noise effects make it "feel" like a real piano. But the piano tone is a problem for me. Too much bass and low mids. And it almost has a tone of the attack of the sample is too short. It isn't a round attack, it sounds too plastic. And yet, Dan's favorite preset does NOT have that weird attack. I truly hope that Spectrasonics will add a piano that is more in line with the Nord Grand.
What will make a difference is what mic pre's you run the hardware through into your interface. Granted a Neve pre will add something that the VST will not have.
Would be interesting for him to play something quite aggressive where he has to dig in quite a bit. This where I can normally hear and feel the quality of the software itself.
Keyscape is good, but i find some of the notes in the higher register can sound metalic on some of the other samples. Ravel is a lovely piano vst but 2 things let it down imo. Even at close setting its still too roomy. I know a lot of people find this. A vst needs a totally dry option to make it more versatile. Second problem, it can be very glitchy. I found it cut out while playing and dropped samples. I think the samples are large, but then Keyscape has some hefty samples and i find no problem with that. I really like ravel, but the problems mentioned prevent it from being a great piano, which it could be. Come on UAD fix these things with an update and it will be a fantastic piano!
At first I thought number one was the best. Then the second time through I thought number three was best. I play a Yamaha and they all three sounded better or as good as my Yamaha. I might be biased though.
ok, your VST setup (top of the line mbp+top of the line interface+optimized daw) is on the high end price-wise. it would be nice to hear one shorter less optimal comparison, with an older/i5 mbp, running with a different interface(scarlett perhaps) and logic or MS as daw, and seeing how that stacked up. would be helpful because more indicative of a novice setup, you know?
Leo Schlueter i’m running pretty much the novice set up you described as well as a nord stage 3 at fairly large venues and the VST still gives the nord a run for its money
Why you used so much reverb? Of course Nord is the second sound. This is the best combination of different colors in a dynamic performance. If you play in contrast volumes , the sound of the Nord is not difficult to determine.
What's the buffer size on the audio interface in order for it to work that smoothly without latency? 128samples? 64? I m wondering how low you can go with the uad apollo twin? Btw i hate how there doesn't seem to exist an audio interface + Computer Setup which makes it possible to load many different VSTs, including several Keyscape patches, without having to increase the buffer size ... (unless you want buffer overrun-noises). :/
In my opinion...Nord's sound is pure and dry, great for every use. Ravel was just a bit too sweet with more reverb and the velocity sensitivity on the first play was high at some parts. Keyscape was something in between and more balanced. On VSTs usually the sustain pedal noise is noticeable and you can distinguish. Great work guys, I really enjoy your videos!
Agreed, for this to be fair, those pedal noises gotta go. Too easy to know which is the VST. Hopefully they tone down the exaggerated pedal noises and we can get a closer comparison.
@@hosseinpiano The same way you record anything else in a DAW. 1. Connect an audio-interface to your computer 2.Then connect your Nord to your interface with jack-cables 3. press record in your DAW
Just one correction. 3 of the sounds were created by computer, not 2 (unless you think the Nord actually has some sort of nano-strings and hammer technology inside). The only valid difference between the 3 (other than the OS of the "computer" being used) is how the "controller" part is interacting with the "computer" part and since the Nord has to communicate with the external VSTs through MIDI instead of a direct system connection, it COULD supply a lot more control data internally which might make the internal sounds seem more responsive (also noted in the last commenters post). Otherwise this is basically the same as comparing Mac VST pianos with Windows VST pianos. As a pro keyboardist myself I do plan to pick up Keyscape pretty soon since it just has a HUGE variety of keyboards plus it integrates so well with Omnisphere. As for the UA Ravel, well after telling me they were fully supporting Windows systems now (before I purchased my UA Apollo Twin USB) they then make the FREE LUNA RECORDING SYSTEM... oh... and it's MAC ONLY. Yeah, thanks UA for again screwing over 80% of computer users. Oddly enough, the piano VST I usually find easiest to use/mix in live situations is Alicia's Keys. For some reason it just always seems to "fit". I think sometimes the more detailed piano libraries are great for solo work, but just "to much information" to work in a group context without mixing and EQ which is going to take out a lot of that extra detail anyway. And just wanna add I still enjoyed the video and don't mean for this to be a critique of your videos, just want to make sure all the info is there for viewers to see since there is are so many videos being posted these days that people are using to make purchasing decisions which include bad/incomplete/wrong information.
I believe Jack was referring to input lag. He was asking Dan if there was a noticeable difference in playing, between the two running through a computer and the one on being “on board” on the Nord. Dan couldn’t tell if the sound was coming from the computer or the Nord (sonically or input lag wise).
All of the sound engines here are being driven by Midi..including the Nord Grand.. there is no wizardry here regarding “internal connection “ other than (the apparently unnoticeable) reduced latency
The most intelligent comment on this subject ever. People can’t comprehend the this hardware is a computer. I switched to midi a long time ago except for analog synthesizers.
Whilst software pianos are great, they aren’t really going to match the velocity against the weight of the keys like the Nord. I play software pianos a lot and 9 times out of 10 have to turn down the pedal noise(too loud and too mushy almost like an over emphasised gimmick) and more importantly having to tweak the velocity levels and curve to match the weight of the keys. Software companies need to style their user programs to suit a) a weighted keyboard b) semi weighted. And c) cut out the over use of reverb. Nord has far more attack, and it’s reflected in his playing. He ended up playing to suit the patch , not playing the same passage for each instrument.
@@NegativeReferral yes keyscape and other good vsts allow you to change the vel curve at the tone generator end but you need to spend the equivalent price of a nord for an i9 mac with 8cores and 32GB ram and 4TB storage and then cope with computers in general and all the apple security updates. I find a well balanced piano to play like the vi labs ravenscroft 275 is actually very similar to the nord in terms of balanced sound. Less is more and it is not as resource intensive on cpu and ram.
@@wilkopiano Or you can buy an 800$ Mac Mini or build yourself a hackintosh since that's all you need unless you're running incredibly heavy and complex projects as a producer. I have a Nord for live playing, but also a ton of VSTs on my 500€ hackintosh: never had any issues with any songs I worked on, since I'm a semi-professional player at most.
@@andy5178 yes, i have known people to do that. But i9 9th gen intel cpu mac is needed realistically for keyscape, ravel and komplete 13. Mac minis have slow storage and x1 chips not yet fully tested with all vsts. I have an i7 10800k 8 core PC with 3000mhz ddr4 32GB ram with m2 nvme ssd storage and it copes ok with keyscape and komplete. But mac mini x1? Personally if i was to recommend a mac it would be to wait for the x1m chip and all vst tone generator producers to test everything with apple. PC for now and heightened DAW costs, eg cubase or avid or reaper if you really are on a budget. For laptop the i7 10875H 10th chipset 8 core is best like lenovo legion 7i or msi creator laptop 15 , or asus rog strix g15, or razer blade 15 10875h with nvme. Use camelot as alternative to mainstage(apple) in a live setting. Carrying pc towers on gigs is a no no
It's is also important note that the results might differ if you used a calibrated keyboard profile for the vsts! Sometimes the feel is extremely different and it could affect the preference! Great video!
Sorry but there was no reverb "on" in Keyscape. I own that and in order to have the reverb "on" the word reverb is in yellow, which wasn't as you can see.
more comparision among digital pianos or vsts or actually anything piano related would be great. there arent really much comparison videos like this in youtube. busting some myths might be also great
The problem is that the Nord and its sound are optimized for each other. The others need to be tweaked to fit the Nord keyboard response. This has a huge influence on sound, feeling and dynamics.
Roy van den i agree with you. Maybe if a Kawai vpc 1 would be the master keyboard the conclusion will be different. Maybe not. This 3 sounds are top. White grand is also a good one
I had 2, 3, 1. I had Keyscape at number one at first and after he brought out the nuances of the high register I chose the Nord. I’d still buy the Keyscape cause I get more. Wasn’t too interested in the Ravel. I’d rather play The Grandeur by NI.
Pianoteq studio is all I need) I don't think any other plugin has even got near to it's customization potential. Especially the custom tuning and custom temperament options
I just love the resonance and sustain on the Ravel. Its so warm.... People keep falling in love with the bright cutting piano lately. I know its a band mix thing for cutting through. But the true definition of piano, is SOFTLY. Pianissimo is very softly. Especially as a stand alone solo instrument. We tend to forget that or where the instrument comes from. Was never made to cut like most bright piano patches today. The Keyscape Cinematic patch is a good example of a solo piano filling up the soundscape with warmth and space. The simple RAVEL does that naturally with its res.... Then dial up the reverb. I mean... Nord is great and all, for gigging, recording etc. But price wise. ..? Anything can be EQ'd obviously. That being said.... It sucks RAVEL is exclusive to a certain card and DAW. I hope that business idea changes. I'd take a RAVEL & Keyscape and play them with a new Fantom ( w/V-engine). Lots of options.... No lotto winnings yet for that expense 😳
I’m with you on preferring the warm sweetness of the Ravel, but I can’t help but be pedantic - piano, as in the instrument, is short for pianoforte. “Where the instrument comes from” isn’t about softness, but about the ability to play with dynamics in general (as opposed to the harpsichord).
It's interesting, clearly what we hear into the Desk is different to what they were hearing in the room. I preferred either of the soft instruments to the Nord.
Another great Anderton's video. Thanks for showing off Dan's skills. As Dan mentioned, they are all good- personal preference at that level. Looking forward to more videos with Jack and Dan.
I remember once I was trying to get best sound out of a piano VST using better speakers etc., but it was not sound right. One friend told me then, "a real piano sound don't need expensive speakers, otherwise people would not listen to it through their transistor radios!". The point is, most of these gigabyte piano samples simply don't sound right. Nord has achieved the closest sound to a real piano, I don't know how, but they did it. People can talk about the sample size, etc. but Nord sound natural.
All sound good, but the only on that sounds like a real piano is keyscape. Personally the fake harsh mid frequencies of the other two drive me crazy. But I'm used to playing and hearing a real piano.
Beautiful! I'd love to hear a comparison with a classical pianist at some point. I think the different uses would likely end up with a different sound.
Another amazing video Jack, lovely hearing Dan's playing again. The Ravel sounded glorious to my ears, much better than the Nord)my 3rd place), did the live monitors not sound so good?
Well, even if it would be inferior. It is still interesting for knowing the gap between the contenders. Also putting some really low quality piano sounds in the test would make the test more valid. Anyway great work and a pleasure to listen to the playing 😄
Well the VSTs are software pianos and the native Nord is playing software pianos... so as long as the sample or modelling is of high enough quality there's going to be very little difference surely. Weather the software sound is housed in a physical box with a keyboard attached or not makes little difference. I think the take-away from all of this is that whatever solution you choose you're going to be happy with the result.
That was so incredibly helpful. Thanks a bunch for putting that together. Can I ask you what speakers you are running the keyboards through within the studio room?
Somehow I recognised Keyscape immediately when I heard the first note. I'm not much of a advanced VST users but I've stuck around with Keyscape long enough that I guess I hear his own character 😂!
I’d like to see, well hear Yamaha and whichever is their best electric/stage/work station at the moment. But against their Yamaha concert grand. Best of course as well as their Bösendorfer which is a little more mellow. And up against a couple of vst.
I think I might slightly prefer the keyscape over ravel, but with keyscape being almost 10x the cost with the ua sales, I have a hard time thinking it'll be worth the extra expense. I do appreciate how the ua has a 14 day trial and wish keyscape would offer the same.
And then you get the Grand, realize the action is crap, the samples start at mp and fast notes will trigger completely unintended loud notes out of nowhere. But you'll never hear that from the guy who's selling it.
Can a computer in a keyboard sound better then a keyboard connected to a computer? Sure, and it can also sound worse. They are exactly the same! You can get Keyscape to work on that Nord Grand and you can get the Nord Grand software to work on your computer!
What does he mean with it being a computer making the sounds on VST? They are sampled instruments aren't they? So it is not from computer, it is from pianos?
I can hear the foot pedal on the first one, loud and clunky but piano sounds good. Second sounds good but too precise, more digital? Third is between the two. My guess is #2 is the nord
Damn, I so wish you’d included Alicia’s Keys in the instrument choice. It’s my favourite, but I’d just love to hear your opinion...It never get much internet RU-vid “Love”
Great piano sounds. I use Nord Stage 2 Kontakt library, somehow there is a delay in sending the MIDI message from my controller anytime I press my sustain pedal. Still trying to figure out why ...
