Is this still the correct place to post user patches? I forgot to post my latest set from a couple of months ago, after I finally got around to working deeply with the two Fazioli models and tweaking some of the Bosendorfer settings (all three models).

@Mark-Schmieder said:

Is this still the correct place to post user patches? I forgot to post my latest set from a couple of months ago, after I finally got around to working deeply with the two Fazioli models and tweaking some of the Bosendorfer settings (all three models).

Hi Mark,

Yes this is still the right place for VSL piano presets. I have the Yamaha CFX, the Steinway, the Bluthner and the incredible Bosendorfer 280 VC. I absolutely welcome some presets for the latter. So yes please bring them to all of us. Thanks in advance!

Best,

Willem

OK, I'll post them right after a final review, as I keep learning more about all things VSL, but the only tweaks I would do at this point would be on the Play page, if I overlooked a feature that got added after I started programming my presets, which happens sometimes with VSL!

Here's what I've liked with Fazioli F308 full library and NI S88 mk3.

I'd love to hear how others have setup F308.

Download "00 F308 lbg.vsynpreset".

Download "VSL Synchron Piano Presets.zip"

Quite a busy day, but I am finally at a point where I have 100% confidence in how I am using all the features in this app, across all the libraries and stages. I re-did all presets based on what I learned and my conclusions from careful comparisons of settings and approaches, with only three of them being unchanged other than for turning off the already-zeroed algorithmic reverb for efficiency.

As I re-tracked all currently active projects (somewhat shy of 100 altogether out of 900 or more total), and compared before/after, my careful edits today got a sufficient confidence boost in the context of full instrumentation. These presets might not work for others, for a variety of reasons, but hopefully serve as good starting points for somebody.

One of the things that became clear for the first time, is that there is a different approach to Synchron Pianos vs. Studio Pianos. This was not as obvious to me on original release. My conclusion is that the Synchron Pianos don't have a Reverb Aux channel for Room/Plate/etc. due to room size and purpose, and instead have the algorithmic reverb via the dedicated sends. Whereas, Studio Pianos have a Reverb Aux channel available and don't benefit quite as much from the algorithmic reverb, so I shut it off as do most if not all factory presets.

The delay is quite necessary, in my opinion, and this is where I made the most changes from my original preset settings. I could have done this scientifically but decided to just use my ears and instinct instead, consulting the microphone diagrams for each library. Most of my presets had some minor phase issues that I think I have now mostly if not completely eliminated through better mic balance, delays, and in some cases perspective inversion on some mics.

Just a heads up that many of my presets are from player perspective as I do a lot of jazz and in that context one is just as likely to be in the player's perspective as not, just as drum perspective can be 50/50 for an entirely different reason: left-handed vs. right-handed kit. I tend to go for wider spread of the piano for clarity of each range, but I make exceptions in genres associated with the Caribbean.

I really only have one or two presets that are specially tailored for orchestra "Stage Right" (audience left) use, and they are labeled as such. Most of my presets are for smaller playing and listening contexts, perhaps due to having grown up with professional pianists of some note, with many concerts being held in large rooms or halls that nevertheless were in private homes (of the rich and famous).

I've been through a lot of piano libraries and choices over the years, and it wasn't until both Fazioli libraries were available for Synchron Player that I finally reached complete happiness in the rendering of my jazz pieces, which were never originated on, or intended for, Steinway grands. I grew up on Steinways and Mason & Hamlin and always have had a strong preference for the latter. The modern Faziolis are just magic to my ears, exhibiting some of the dynamic pallet of Mason & Hamlin with an incredible range of expression.

For pop, classical, musicals/broadway, ambient/soundtrack, etc., I'm all over the map with these libraries, no clear choice as it is always a per-piece decision. But knowing how most reggae/ska/calypso/etc. were originally recorded back in the day, I definitely biased towards the upright models for those pieces. Hopefully these presets will be especially helpful to people as they are 100% from scratch rather than being heavy tweaks of existing factory mixer presets from the Surround Down-mix group.

It's been a long time since I've posted a file here, and I can't find the facility for doing so at the moment, so I'll post this write-up now so I don't risk losing it while trying to figure out how to upload my ZIP of piano presets to the post (or to the forum if it can't be to the post).

Update: I found the icon for uploading. I am not a fan of the Material Design trend as I have trouble seeing or intuiting many of the icons and tooltips seem to be a thing of the past. This is the opposite of how I do my own UX/GUI work. Anyway, the file is posted now.