Anyone familiar with EW steinway?

[jonathansorensen]

Thank you for following through Jim. I appreciate it. I'm not sure why we're getting a different experience. That's definitely the site and I do log in each time. I have posted for help twice, once a week and a half ago and once yesterday and neither post has shown up on the forum. I have also searched the forum for a similar issue and have to do the anti-spam thing (I tried to attach a screen shot here but it wouldn't upload). Anyway, it's not a huge deal, just every time I ask a question or do a search I have to fill in the primary color of the box or the 3rd and 4rth letter of the name.

I did finally find someone else who was having the problem with Play and their solution was the same, they had to reduce the buffer to 256, render the file to audio, then continue. The problem is that in a mix, I often adjust the midi instrument within the play engine as opposed to just eq'ing or compressing so I have to unfreeze the file, adjust (with the i/o clicking under the strain) with the reduced buffer, then render the file again and hope it doesn't need tweaking again. It's not prohibitive but definitely a barrier to the workflow that I would like to solve at some point.

BTW, does anyone have experience with LA Scoring Strings?

Best,
Jon

[jonathansorensen]

Ok, now I'm going to test it. I just emailed this directly through my account with EW to support (not the forum but directly to EW)

"Hi,

I've been having playback problems with the Steinway piano in the platinum orchestra package. When a chord is quantized and locked to a grid, i.e. all notes punch at exactly the same spot, if the buffer on my soundcard is set 512 or higher, the notes flam. Sometimes the timing of a part is so far off, it doesn't sound like the same part. If I reduce the buffer to 256 or lower, it plays back correctly.

I can't always use a lower buffer as a workaround because sometimes my system is loaded and it can't support the lower buffer. I have updated play. I have uninstalled Kontakt because I heard there are compatibility issues. I have all cubase updates. I have searched your support forum and help info but found no solution.

Is this something you've come across?

My system:
Cubase 5.5.3 (64 bit)
Windows 7 home (64 bit)
HDSP hammerfall soundcard 9632
Intel dual quad core i7, 920 at 2.67

Thanks,
Jon
Louden Music"

This will be a scientific, if somewhat anecdotal, test of their customer service, let's see what happens.

JS

[jdstamper]

Hey Jon,

Your note to support is well-stated. And a revelation here ... all this time, we have not been talking about the same piano. I didn't realize you were using the Orchestra Steinway B, while I am using QL Pianos Steinway D.

I did a search for your issue on the EW forum, and I agree, I couldn't find anyone having the same problem.

Another thought ... I often have problems with EW notes sounding, at the right times or sounding at all, if I have a busy project (say more than 20 tracks, or more then 5 soft synths loaded, or using lots of effects, etc ...) ... So I will work out my part with EW running in solo, or turn off all effects, and then when I bounce (or render) the notes to an audio track, they all sound fine. I have a fairly new & powerful PC, but EW software always seems be more demanding (or finicky perhaps) than any other soft synth I've used.

Jim

[jonathansorensen]

That's what I'm gathering. It's a good midi engine with lots of options but is a little finicky. The problem definitely comes up when I have 5-10 instances of VSTs, Toontrack open. At this point, I think there may not be a specific fix, just a matter of a workaround . . .

Best,
Jon

[jonathansorensen]

And this is why I say customer service with E/W absolutely sucks. It's now the 24th. I got a single automated response by email saying they would follow up and with links to their FAQs which I've already been through. Now it's the 24th and not a word from them. This is what it is like every time I deal with E/W. Again, good midi engine, very good library. Customer service is non-existent.

Jon

Oh and BTW, I tried to post my question twice and it has not shown up on the forum.

[matto]

LOL most would not agree with the "good midi engine" assessment...
Their sounds are great (some moreso than others), but at least 9 out of 10 composers find the PLAY engine to be, uhm, subpar to put it mildly.

I own LA Scoring Strings and love them. Probably the most versatile string library money can buy.
Check this topic:
http://forums.taxi.com/topic30175.html

[jonathansorensen]

@Matto,

Yeah, I'm still inexperienced enough with midi that I'm probably not pushing into the controls and articulations where you really find out how powerful the engine is. A couple of people recommended LASS and with my experience with EW customer service, I'm regretting that I didn't go that route. Hmm, live and learn . . .

Jon

[jonathansorensen]

Yup, it's the 2nd of November and still no response to my support ticket . . . these guys suck. That' is my unequivocal opinion.

JS