WAVES Electric Grand 80 Piano User Guide
- June 9, 2024
- WAVES
Table of Contents
Electric Grand 80 Piano
User Guide
INTRODUCTION
Welcome
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Acknowledgement
The Electric Grand 80 Piano samples library was recorded and produced by Yoad
Nevo at Nevo Sound Studios in London, UK. Visit
www.yoadnevo.com/.
Product Overview
An electric grand piano is a keyboard instrument that uses hammers to strike
strings, which then vibrate as in an acoustic piano. This vibration is then
converted to an electrical signal by pickups, just like in an electric
guitar. The combination of acoustic piano mechanics and electric guitar-style
pickups creates a unique sound that is immediately recognizable.
The electric grand piano was conceived in the late 1920s, when the German
piano manufacturer, Bechstein, teamed up with the electronics giant, Siemens,
to make an acoustic-sounding piano that was smaller and more portable. In the
late 1930s, RCA introduced the first commercially-available electric grand
piano, the Storytone. Many variations followed, but most used tuning forks or
metal reeds rather than strings. The true electric grand was revived in the
1970s by the Yamaha Corporation, with the CP70 Electric Grand Piano, followed
by the CP80. The signature sound of the electric grand piano is identified
with many great artists, including Hall and Oats, Toto, Rainbow, Roxy Music,
U2, Billy Joel, and many more.
Waves Electric Grand 80 Piano is based on a library sampled from a CP80. It
produces a full array of velocity and alternative samples for each key. Waves
also developed a method to recreate the ethereal sound produced by
sympathetic resonance introduced by idle strings when the sustain pedal is
pressed and the string dampers lift to release the string. The played strings
are accompanied by the light resonance of the undamped strings through
acoustic excitation and resonance correlated to the sympathetic strings. This
adds nuance and realism.
There are controls for velocity curve and formant. Beyond this, Waves added
studio-grade effects: a compressor, EQ, a quality digital reverb, chorus,
phaser, autopanner, and tremolo. These are adjustable and can be turned on or
off with a single click.
Concepts and Terminology
The term “grand piano” refers to a piano whose strings are horizontal, that
is, parallel to the floor. Its essential parts consist of:
An action, which transfers energy from the keys to the hammers that strike
strings. The action includes pedals that dampen or sustain string vibrations.
A frame and soundboard
A case that forms an acoustic chamber
A bridge for the strings
And about 200 strings
The mechanics and form of an electric grand piano are quite similar to those
of an acoustic grand piano, except that the acoustic chamber is replaced by
electronic pickups.
Waves Electric Grand 80 Piano is powered by WSE, the Waves Sampler Engine, a
state-of-the-art multi-sample engine designed to deliver solid, high-quality
performance.
1.3 Components
The Waves Electric Grand 80 Piano has one component:
Electric Grand 80 Piano Stereo
Electric Grand 80 Piano is a virtual instrument plugin and will appear under
the related selection menus for virtual instruments under all supported DAW
host applications.
Waves Electric Grand 80 Piano also has a standalone application. It uses ASIO
(Windows) or Core Audio (Mac) drivers to play through your audio device of
choice. Electric Grand 80 Piano receives MIDI data to trigger notes and
control changes.
1.4 Functional Block/Flow Diagram
QUICK START GUIDE
Insert the Electric Grand 80 Piano plugin on an instrument track in your DAW, or launch the standalone application. There are two modules with which to control the behavior and sound of the instrument.
- Use the top module to create and control effects such as tremolo, phasing, stereo imaging, chorus, and reverb.
- Use the bottom module to control the characteristics of the keyboard.
Start to play and you will quickly understand how to get the sound you want.
Navigating the presets
Electric Grand 80 presets are managed with the WaveSystem Toolbar at the top
of the window. The toolbar is also used to compare settings, undo and redo
steps, load samples folders, and resize the plugin. To learn more, click the
icon at the upperright corner of the window and open the WaveSystem Guide.
Use the Next/Previous preset arrow controls on the toolbar to scroll through
presets
INTERFACE AND CONTROLS
3.1 Interface
The Electric Grand 80 Piano interface is arranged in two sections.
Bottom The Piano module includes tone controls, a vintage-style
compressor.
Top The Multi Effects Processor provides modulation effects and reverb.
3.2 Controls
3.2.1 Keyboard Control
At the bottom is a virtual keyboard that enables you to preview the sound of a note when a keyboard controller is not available. Use a mouse or similar input device to play a note. This control cannot be automated, but it will follow any MIDI input device.
3.2.2 Piano Module
Keys Section
Vel Curve
This control changes the curve of the velocity response from logarithmic to
exponential.
When the control is set to 0, the curve is linear.
Range: -50% to +50%
Initial Value: 0
Reset Value: 0
Continuous control
Vel (in the WaveSystem Toolbar)
If VEL is checked, the Velocity Curve value changes when a new preset is
loaded. If VEL is not checked, the Velocity Curve value is not changed when a
new preset is loaded.
Formant
The Formant control changes the sound character but not the pitch. Each step
equals a half-tone. That means that when set to -12, the piano sound character
will be lower by 1 octave, but the pitch will not change.
Range: -12 to +12
Initial Value: 0
Reset Value: 0
Discrete control, 25 steps.
Mix Section
Main
The Main control is the sampled sound of the E.Piano, without the mechanics
and the release keys sounds. It controls the Main
samples level in the overall mix.
Range: 0–100 %
Initial Value: 100%
Reset Value: 100%
Continuous control
Key Up
Key Up is the sound of the keys while releasing.
It controls the Key Up samples level in the overall mix.
Range: 0–100%
Initial Value: 25%
Reset Value: 0
Continuous control
Mechanics
The Mechanics control is the sampled sound of the E.Piano mechanics without
the Main and the Key Up sounds. It controls the
Mechanics (thump) samples level in the overall mix.
Range: 0–100% Continuous control
Initial Value: 25%
Reset Value: 0
Pedal
Pedal is the sampled sound of the mechanical sustain pedal press and depress.
It controls the Pedal samples level in the overall mix.
Range: 0–100 %
Initial Value: 35%
Reset Value: 0
Continuous control
Comp
The Comp control influences the mix of the internal compressor. Turning the
knob clockwise increases the level.
Range: 0–100%
Initial Value: 50%
Reset Value: 0
Continuous control
Sustain Resonance
Sustain Resonance is a simulation of the sympathetic resonances of un-played
strings that are undamped when the sustain pedal is pressed. The Sustain
Resonance control adjusts the level of sympathetic resonance simulation in
the overall mix.
Note: Sustain Resonance is heard only while the sustain pedal is pressed. Next
to the control is an activity LED that lights when resonance has been
activated by the sustain pedal.
Range: 0–100 %
Initial Value: 35%
Reset Value: 0
Continuous control
Tone Section
Bass
The Bass control is a low-shelf filter at 203Hz, which can be decreased or
increased by +/-18dB.
Range: -50 to +50
Initial Value: 0
Reset Value: 0
Continuous control
Mid
The Mid control is a bell filter at 900Hz, which can be decreased or increased
by +/-18dB.
Range: -50 to +50
Initial Value: 0
Reset Value: 0
Continuous control
Treble
The Treble control is a high-shelf filter at 1.875KHz, which can be decreased
or increased by +/-18dB.
Range: -50 to +50
Initial Value: 0
Reset Value: 0
Continuous control
Output Section
Volume
Controls the output gain level after plugin processing.
Range: 0 – 10
Initial Value: 7
Reset Value: 7
Continuous control
Limit
Turns the output brickwall limiter On or Off.
3.2.3 Effects Module
FX In/Out
The FX IN/Out switch toggles all effects module sections on and off. When the
FX module is again turned on, each section will return to its previous state.
Tremolo Section
Tremolo On/Off
The Tremolo button turns the Tremolo section on or off.
Range: Off, On
Initial Value: On
Switch On/Off
Tremolo Rate
Tremolo Rate provides control over Sync rates (such as ¼) or Free rates (in
Hz), using the same knob.
The middle position,12 o’clock, is the slowest Free value. Turning the knob
clockwise from this position increases the rate from 0.25Hz to 28Hz.
When the knob setting is less than 12 o’clock, values are defined with respect
to the host. Turning the knob counterclockwise increases the Tremolo rate
through music note duration values related to the host’s BPM: 1/32T, 1/32,
1/32D, 1/16T, 1/16, 1/16D, 1/8T, 1/8, 1/8D, 1/4T, 1/4, 1/4D, 1/2, 1/2D, 1,
2/1.
2/1 equals one cycle in 2 bars.
Scaling: Custom.
Range: Sync 1/32T-2/1; Free 0.25Hz-28Hz
Initial Value: 1/16D sync rate
Reset Value: 1/16D sync rate
Continuous control
Tremolo Depth
The Depth control increases or decreases the amplitude level.
Range: 0–100
Initial Value: 60
Reset Value: 0
Continuous control
AutoPan Section
AutoPan On/Off
The AutoPan button turns the Autopan section On or Off.
Range: Off, On
Initial Value: On
Switch On/Off
Autopan Rate
Autopan Rate provides control over Sync rates that relate to the host (such as
¼), or Free rates (in Hz) that can be set independent of the host BPM, using
the same knob.
The middle position,12 o’clock, is the slowest Free value. Turning the knob
clockwise from this position increases the rate from 0.25Hz–28Hz.
When the knob setting is less than 12 o’clock, values are defined with respect
to the host. Turning the knob counterclockwise increases the Autopan rate
through music note duration values related to the host’s BPM: 1/32T, 1/32,
1/32D, 1/16T, 1/16, 1/16D, 1/8T, 1/8, 1/8D, 1/4T, 1/4, 1/4D, 1/2, 1/2D, 1,
2/1.
2/1 equals one cycle in 2 bars.
Scaling: Custom.
Range: Sync 1/32T-2/1; Free 0.25Hz-28Hz
Initial Value: 1/2 sync rate
Reset Value: 1/2 sync rate
Continuous control
Pan Depth
Controls how far the panning extends from the center.
Range: 0–100
Initial Value: 33
Reset Value: 0
Continuous control
Phaser Section
Phaser On/Off
The Phaser button turns the Phaser section on or off.
Range: Off; On
Initial Value: On
Phaser Mix
Controls the level of the Phaser effect.
Range: 0 – 100%
Initial Value: 25%
Reset Value: 0
Continuous control
Phaser Rate
Phaser Rate provides control over Sync rates that relate to the host (such as
¼), or Free rates (in Hz) that can be set independent of the host BPM, using
the same knob. The middle position, 12 o’clock, is the slowest Free value.
Turning the knob clockwise from this position increases the rate from 0.01Hz-
22Hz.
When the knob setting is less than 12 o’clock, values are defined with respect
to the host. Turning the knob counterclockwise increases the Phaser Rate
through music note duration values related to the host’s BPM: 1/32T, 1/32,
1/32D, 1/16T, 1/16, 1/16D, 1/8T, 1/8, 1/8D, 1/4T, 1/4, 1/4D, 1/2, 1/2D, 1,
2/1.
2/1 equals one cycle in 2 bars.
Scaling – Custom.
Range: Sync 1/32T-2/1 / Free 0.01Hz-22Hz
Initial Value: 0.03 Hz free rate
Reset Value: 0.07 Hz free rate
Continuous control
Phaser Depth
The Depth control controls the Phaser feedback.
Range: 0–100
Initial Value: 53.5
Reset Value: 0
Continuous control
Chorus Section
Chorus On/Off
The Chorus button turns the Chorus section On or Off.
Range: Off, On
Depth
The Depth control influences the dry/wet mix of the signal into the chorus and
determines how much the module oscillator will influence the delay. The chorus
engine contains four delays and four oscillators.
Range: 0–100
Initial Value: 25
Reset Value: 0
Continuous control
Reverb Section
Reverb Mix
Controls the balance between the dry and wet signal, and also controls the
amount of reverb added.
Range: 0% (dry) to 100% (wet)
Default: 30%
Reset Value: 0 (dry)
Continuous control
Reverb Predelay
Controls the amount of the delay between the dry and wet signals.
Range: 20 ms–180 ms (milliseconds)
Initial Value: 55 ms
Reset Value: 55 ms
Continuous control
Reverb Time
Controls the reverb time, up to 6 seconds.
Range: 0.4sec–6 sec
Default: 2 sec
Reset Value: 2 sec
Continuous control
Reverb Damp
Increases the level of the high frequencies during the decay as a factor of
the reverb time.
Range 0.1 – 2.0
Default: 0.8
Reset Value: 0.8
Continuous control
Meters
Meter Scale
Peak meter: -30 dB–0 dB, showing a VU meter scale calibrated for 18 dB of
headroom (0 dBVU = -18 dBFS).
Split Meters
Separate left and right meter indicators.
Black: Left
Green: Right
Tune (in the WaveSystem Toolbar)
This control changes the tuning reference for the entire piano.
Range: -100 to +100
Initial Value: 0
Reset Value: 0
Continuous control
CHAPTER 4 Electric Grand 80 Standalone Application
The Electric Grand 80 application can be used as a standalone instrument. It requires ASIO drivers for Windows or Core Audio for macOS. Electric Grand 80.exe (Win) or Electric Grand 80.app (Mac) loads the Clavinet instrument and configuration preferences dialogs. Set up the standalone application from its File menu:
- All Notes Off Sends an All-Notes-Off MIDI command to the Electric Grand 80 synthesizer. This is useful in cases of “stuck” sustaining notes.
- Preferences Displays the Preferences dialog for the Audio, MIDI, and User Choices configurations.
PREFERENCES
Output displays the audio devices available on the system.
Test plays a sound if the outputs are configured correctly.
Active Output Channels allows selection of audio outputs from the selected
device.
Sample Rate displays and sets the sample rate.
Audio Buffer Size displays and sets the buffer size, which influences
latency.
*In Windows, sample rate and buffer size cannot be changed from this panel.
To modify these settings: close the application, adjust sample rate and buffer
size with your driver’s control panel (link shown below), and then relaunch.
Active MIDI Inputs displays a list of available MIDI input devices on the
current system. Select the MIDI device for receiving MIDI data.
Tempo: Sets the tempo for all relevant plugins. By default, tempo-based Waves
plugins are in a “tempo listen” state. Their tempo rates will fix to this
value.
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>