Tascam GigaPiano Sound Library for GigaStudio

Manufacturer's Description for Tascam GigaPiano Sound Library for GigaStudio

GigaPiano delivers over a gigabyte of rich, stereo samples result in the most realistic sampled grand piano available anywhere. GigaPiano encompasses multiple velocities, rich soundboard resonance for damped staccato, as well as undamped pedal down samples for unparalleled playability.

Words from the designer of this legendary instrument...
"The GigaPiano is the world's first gigabyte-sized instrument designed specifically for GigaSampler.

Wink's piano, (at Austin Recording Studio) is a Yamaha Concert Series Grand with real ivory keys. Yamaha stopped using real ivory a few years ago when they realized that the world's population of elephants was not reproducing themselves fast enough to keep up with the demands for Yamaha pianos.

I really like the sound of this Yamaha... It's very smooth and consistent from low range to high range with a very even sounding midrange.

The piano is about 15 years old and Wink keeps it very well maintained in its own room. I've told Wink many times that no matter what, I get first dibs on that piano when and if he ever sells it (probably never).

Some of the Artists who have made popular records with this piano include:

Asleep At The Wheel, winner of 3 Grammy Awards (Tribute To The Music Of Bob Wills, Western Standard Time, 10), George Strait... Triple platinum RIAA Award winner (Big Balls In Cowtown), Dr. John's Production of Marcia Ball, Angela Streili, and Sarah Brown (trio), Dolly Parton (Wild Texas Wind Soundtrack - made for TV movie). Many other solo piano projects we can't remember.

I've sampled the piano a few times before... but not to the extent that was done for THIS recording. Back then, I did not have the luxury of a gig's worth of RAM... so as a compromise, I settled for just 12 notes (yeah, I know it wasn't much, but for back then it sounded pretty darn good). However, this recording takes a GIANT LEAP over what was done then. One of the great things about this piano is how it resonates when the damper pedal is down. To me, it sounds like free spirits in ethereal clouds.

The mics that were used to record the Piano were (2) Audio Technica AT-4033 condensers connected to Canare Star Quad mic cable (with Neutrik Gold Connectors) into a pair of Jensen Twin Servo Mic Pre's. The pre's output was then sent to a set of 20 bit Philips A/D converters though additional Canare Star Quad cable. The 20 bit digital was sent to an AdB Multi Wave Pro 24 bit transfer card to the computer's hard disk. Dave Govett did all the edits using the 20bit original source to produce the files to be imported into the sample editor (the GigaSampler Instrument Designer).

There was also an additional stereo mic placed a bit farther away from the piano for a little bit different sound perspective. This mic (an AMS SoundField Mark V) was recorded directly into it's own Philips 20 bit converter through a pair of Sontec Mic Pre's and is phase coherent to the primary mics."

- Larry Seyer zZounds is an authorized dealer of Tascam products.