Piano Poll

Grobles87

@WaveMachineLabs said:
Lyra is only included in Auria Pro. But you can upgrade Auria to Auria Pro if you're interested.

Lyra is a streaming sample player with support for EXS and SFZ samples, so you can load some of the world's best piano libraries in it. For example, we just tried a huge 12GB Fazioli grand piano from Imperfect Samples and it works great. Pretty amazing to hear that kind of piano library on an iPad.

Rim

Could you go a little more in-depth on the process to import the piano into the ipad? How did you go about doing it? Was it complex or easy? And would it be techically possible to load other pianos as well, for example Galaxy Vintage D?

WaveMachineLabs

It's typically just a matter of copying the EXS files (and the accompanying samples folder) into Auria's "Sampler Instruments" folder. You can do this using a third party utility like iFunBox. There's also a way to do this completely from the iPad using apps like AudioShare, but that's a bit more involved.

I haven't tested every single library out there, but as long as it's EXS, SFZ or SF2, there's a good chance it'll load and play in Lyra.

Rim

Littlewoodg

The possibilities for Lyra are wide open, I wish @WaveMachineLabs you hadn't mentioned the Fazioli piano from Imperfect, cause now I'm getting that "target acquired" feeling again...

Pre Lyra, the Bechstein A190 in CMP is a personal favorite, it sounds like the one I used to know and love...

Grobles87

@WaveMachineLabs said:
It's typically just a matter of copying the EXS files (and the accompanying samples folder) into Auria's "Sampler Instruments" folder. You can do this using a third party utility like iFunBox. There's also a way to do this completely from the iPad using apps like AudioShare, but that's a bit more involved.

I haven't tested every single library out there, but as long as it's EXS, SFZ or SF2, there's a good chance it'll load and play in Lyra.

Rim

Guess I now got quite a bit curious, so I have a few more questions. You said you have not tried every sample library, but which ones have you tried? Any recommendations on some that work well? And how stable is the ipad when playing them? Any noticeable latency when you play them?

JohnnyGoodyear

@theconnactic said:
Lyra's the best by far. Very large high-quality sampled piano libraries, and the ability to load even higher-end EXS ones. I think iGrand would be second, but the gap is not small.

Toast

WaveMachineLabs

As far as piano libraries, I've only tested Fazioli, the two that come with Logic/Garageband and the ones I include free in Lyra (Salamander and a few others). Maybe other users can talk about the libraries they've tried.

Lyra is a zero latency player, so it's really only the latency of the iPad's audio system (128 samples minimum).

Rim

theconnactic

Well, the software is already there Time for Apple to step up their game at least in the storage side. I have a meagre 64GB iPad Air, but even 128GB is kind of underwhelming now with the potential of AP...

[Deleted User]

There are a million free EXS files around. I also created myself a few which i might share in the future. But no piano!
So i think there would be many to try and a lot to add.
Of course there are also some great libraries which are sold in this format. At least this opens a big world to Auria Pro!

WaveMachineLabs

There are plenty of free SFZ pianos available, and Lyra plays these too. For example, Salamander is a 1.2GB free piano, and I also include 6 other free pianos in Lyra.

Not meaning to hijack this thread. If you need more info about Lyra, please ask in a new thread.

Rim

MusicInclusive

Excellent info. Rim @WaveMachineLabs - thanks!

[Deleted User]

@WaveMachineLabs said:
There are plenty of free SFZ pianos available, and Lyra plays these too. For example, Salamander is a 1.2GB free piano, and I also include 6 other free pianos in Lyra.

Not meaning to hijack this thread. If you need more info about Lyra, please ask in a new thread.

Rim

I posted the original thread and have no problems with you discussing Lyra pianos on here. After all, my thread was an attempt by myself to get an idea where different iOS Pianos fit in the iPad world. If by having Auria Pro, we can add more depth and variety, it would be nice to know in this thread.

theartwebreathe

Just posted about a beautiful, free piano by Ivy Audio that works great in Auria Pro's Lyra sample player! Might just edge out iGrand for me:

https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/11617/beautiful-free-sfz-piano-to-use-in-auria-pros-lyra-sample-player

oat_phipps

I'd like a sampled upright on par with the Module Ivory IAP quality. If anybody has it, does the CMP IAP meet that criteria?

[Deleted User]

@theartwebreathe said:
Just posted about a beautiful, free piano by Ivy Audio that works great in Auria Pro's Lyra sample player! Might just edge out iGrand for me:

https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/11617/beautiful-free-sfz-piano-to-use-in-auria-pros-lyra-sample-player

Thanks for that

@oat_phipps said:
I'd like a sampled upright on par with the Module Ivory IAP quality. If anybody has it, does the CMP IAP meet that criteria?

Sounds pretty good, but I'm no expert.

Reid

If you have Auria and are considering upgrading, Lyra and the Fabfilter Twin 2 are easily the equal of any $15 synth on the app store.

MusicInclusive

OK. Some feedback on the Auria pianos I've checked out so far in Lyra. These are my personal opinions and not intended as negative criticism. Just trying to give an honest assessment.

I tried the standard supplied Grand - not bright enough on the top end for my taste and the stereo separation feels odd - not enough cross-soundboard resonance emulation - feels like a collection of disconnected notes.

I tried Salamander - too dark for my taste, not enough resonance esp. in the bass.

I'll check out the others as time permits perhaps.

nick

@oat_phipps said:
I'd like a sampled upright on par with the Module Ivory IAP quality. If anybody has it, does the CMP IAP meet that criteria?

The sound quality is very good and it is very nice to play, but check out the sound in the preview to see if you like the character of that piano. It is quite different from the uprights in iGrand for example.

Littlewoodg

In my innocence I've always assumed the relative size of the files were indicative of quality of the instrument. Comparing CMP, Module and iGrand, iGrand and Module come up short. My ears tell me the same. (Grand pianos are my focus, but the uprights in question seem to follow the general scheme, size/ears)

Salamander on Lyra is closest to CMP size wise (the IAP for the Bechstein and Jazz pianos on CMP is about 2.6 GB, Salamander is 1.2 GB) and my ears tell me the quality between CMP and Salamander is comparable. I get that the #s part of this is guesswork, different types of files etc

That Salamander is free on Lyra, and that Lyra can load 15 GB pianos is just nuts, in a great way.

That you can have a virtual Bechstein A 190 on your iPhone, that's pretty great too...

MusicInclusive

That's good to know @Littlewoodg - I've always held off getting CMP on the iPad - again, primarily because I use other far better sounding pianos than any I have obtained on the iPad thus far IME and IMO and didn't want to spend the money on CMP - and if the quality is comparable to Salamander, I'll continue to hold off. Others have said it's good, but if it's not really any better than Salamander it would likely fall significantly short of my expectations I would think. Again - not intended as negative criticism or cynicism - I'm actually genuinely expressing thankfullness !

WaveMachineLabs

Keep in mind that the Grand Piano sample that's preloaded in Lyra is a tiny 3MB piano, not really comparable to any serious piano (every included sample adds to the overall size of Auria, so that's why there's only a very basic piano preloaded). The other pianos available for free download are freeware pianos made by third parties, so quality varies. To do any true comparisons, you'd need to get some multi-GB piano instruments and load them into Lyra.

Rim

MusicInclusive

Right - agreed Rim. I think that would be the approach to take moving forward for me if I were to use the iPad for piano. However, using the iPad for piano hasn't been my first choice because of both sample quality and sample rendering before now (as well as relative cost for a single instrument in the case of CMP *** ). I've preferred to use desktop / keyboard / real piano instead since I already have better sounding choices and since I'm already sat at a full 88-key keyboard then Still - I thought it was worth evaluating and it has been. As I say - nothing negative intended - just my own personal preference and observation.

*** Having said that, a contrary example is the Ruckers 1628 app for which I've found no comparable equivalent desktop relative low-cost sample set - it's beautiful! And - like most people, and different to the commonality of having a piano, I don't own an actual harpsichord either

Littlewoodg

@WaveMachineLabs said:
Keep in mind that the Grand Piano sample that's preloaded in Lyra is a tiny 3MB piano, not really comparable to any serious piano (every included sample adds to the overall size of Auria, so that's why there's only a very basic piano preloaded). The other pianos available for free download are freeware pianos made by third parties, so quality varies. To do any true comparisons, you'd need to get some multi-GB piano instruments and load them into Lyra.

Rim

Thanks to your earlier post, that's probably going to be the Fazioli for me...

Edit, massive download in progress, I told em Mr. Buntinas sent me.