Simeon Amburgey

Well, since we are talking about GAS, I hesitate to mention anything from FireSonic to keep from self-combusting. ? No seriously, I have not tried these plugins yet. In the past I have really kept the focus on instrument libraries and only recently have started looking into ways to feature effects plugins. I can tell you however, that I have already been playing around with Orbitron, and it reminds me of some of the OUTPUT Plugins that have the XY control and zones. Using Unify I have been able to insert it as an effect and Link Parameter mapped the Satellite control to my SL88 Grand's XY Joystick, which is a lot of fun. I love to get some sort of hands on control when working with anything that has multiple zones. So UNIFY is not an audio host/chainer per se so it is restricted to inserting the effects in relationship to whatever synth plugin you have on the Unify layer, still very impressive what you can do.

Here is an article I posted earlier on my website. Also hoping to get a copy for review, looks very interesting. https://praisetracks.com/?p=2155

Hey guys, Thanks for sharing the video. It was sort of spur of the moment as I had seen where the current Waverunner promotion was ending soon and wanted to share some of the libraries. I am a Cakewalker from back in the 90s and have always been so very fortunate to be a part of this amazing community. I also feel very blessed to have been introduced to so many developers over the past year who have helped to support the channel to allow me to present all of these amazing libraries and tools to all of you, Thanks again! Simeon

Westwood Instruments just released the fourth in their "Untamed Series", Viola Untamed. It is available now for the launch price of $39 until Feb. 25th. More info here: https://praisetracks.com/?p=2142

It is a beauty! Here is a short improv right after loading it up in Kontakt, lots of fun.

Yes, those libraries are a real demand in terms of space. It seems terabytes are the new Gigabytes!! BTW, you want to make sure you at least update the Synchron Pianos player. They have made what I think are some really major performance adjustments in my early tests. It should prompt you to update when you launch the standalone Synchron Pianos player.

OK, I just tried some experiments with Morphit and when I have it set to about 150% I do get some of that sparkle back ;^) This is just so very interesting, having been invested in hearing things a certain way for so long, it shows the power of how we perceive things. I do know that I have a very drastic divot in my 3k range so I know that things like that are going to affect how I am hearing things. I am actually thinking about ordering a pair of Sony MDR-7506s and see and hear how those might compare. Also there are definite profiles for these in the NX programs. We shall see, I mean hear. It also looks like Status no longer is selling the OB-1 (Open Backed). Thanks for the feedback. All the best, Simeon

Oh yeah, they are the the crème de la crème. They just are so huge and detailed in the number of dynamic layer samples and mic positions. I feel very blessed to be able to experience them.

- The Next Day - So today was a new day, with some semi fresh ears. Possibly some of the initial honeymoon excitement was affecting my perception. I did some A/B tests between the CB-1 and my trusty MDR-7504 and it really sounds quite different to me. Some intermittent tinnitus that is more prominent sometimes more than others depending on how my sinuses are doing. I created an empty project and loaded up the new VSL Synchron Bösendorfer 280VC as well as Spitfire's Abbey Road ONE to get some ideas. The MDR-7504 just have a nice sparkle to them, and it seems that the Abbey Road Studio 3 and Ocean Way NX plugins seem a little more realistic as if sitting in front of the speakers. There just seems to be more of a tangible sound field for lack of a better word. It might be due to the fact that the MDR-7504 might be a little more mid to open back. The driver is also 30mm as opposed to the 50 mm on the CB-1 so that might also make a difference in the psychoacoustic realm. Using the Sony MDR-7506 profile on the NX Rooms gave them a nice roundness, that I liked as well. So while the CB-1s are nice and round, I do miss the sparkle. Even using the Ozone 9 EQ profile it was odd not to perceive too much of a change whether enabled or disabled. So more tests and music to listen to but that is where things are today. Would love to hear more feedback from others using the CB-1 just to make sure I am in the right ballpark. All the best, Simeon

I was able to demo a pre-release of this new piano and it definitely has a different sound, being recorded in Stage B which is much smaller than the huge Synchron Stage A. (stay tuned for a livestream soon). Bösendorfer’s new and acclaimed “Vienna Concert” grand piano merges the company’s venerated traditional approach to piano manufacturing with the most recent, sophisticated engineering. The 280VC is completely modern, reimagined from scratch, while remaining true to Bösendorfer’s legendary foundations. Recorded at Stage B of Synchron Stage Vienna True all-rounder, versatile and profound Very distinct, clear, colorful sound Huge dynamic range Multiple Microphone Positions – for a multitude of timbral variations Advanced release sample technology Six pre-configured main presets 21 additional FX presets Heralded as the next-generation concert grand, the 280VC has already proven to be a true all-rounder. Compared to the Bösendorfer Imperial with its additional bass strings, wider soundboard and more orchestral sonic character, the sound of the 280VC is very distinct and clear. You can easily differentiate between the bass, tenor, and treble sections. Beyond that, its huge dynamic range makes this concert grand very versatile. It has the necessary sensitivity to offer supportive accompaniment to singers and solo instrumentalists in chamber music settings, while at the same time it holds its own against the power of a large orchestra in a huge concert hall. In addition, the 280VC boasts the qualities of all Bösendorfer concert grands, such as its diversity of sonic colors and that certain warmth inherent to fine Viennese instruments. Intro price until March 1: Standard Library: €215 (€285) /$258.58 ($342.77) Full Library: €345 (€445) / $414.93 ($535.20) https://www.vsl.co.at/en/Synchron_Pianos_Bundle/Bosendorfer_280VC

@Reid Rosefelt, just want to thank you for putting all of us on the track for these, it shows the power of this community and it is very much appreciated. @Hatstand, thanks for doing this in Ozone. Here is a VST 3 preset file with only the EQ module engaged. All the best to everyone! Simeon OZONE 9 - EQ - STATUS CB-1 Correction.vstpreset

So my pair arrived this morning so I had to do an unboxing video. Here is the first part of my journey, so far, so good!

The thing is the consistency of playing the notes at an expected velocity, the person playing for the sampling sessions would have to play the notes very precisely when doing the dynamic layers or things would really sound off, having some dynamic layers a little different than others would result in a somewhat unbalanced feel when playing across the keyboard. I can especially feel the differences with the SL88 Grand as it has a very wonderful response especially providing a full range experience when playing from soft to loud. I have been playing through the Spitfire Hans Zimmer Piano and it has very few dynamic layers, especially in the higher dynamics. I am thinking that once they got started in the sampling session they realized that this was probably more than they had bargained for. ;^) The sheer amount of mic positions is staggering but it is not what I would call a full dynamic range piano library, it is more of a character or specialized for a particular sound than an all around workhorse piano library. Playing as many piano libraries as I have over the past year has been a revelation of sorts in all of the various tones, dynamics and how the different techniques make a huge difference in the final product when it is under your fingers. Some libraries just sing and invite you to play while others that lack that dynamic something, something just do not inspire as much.

Here is a very interesting project on Github with measurements for just about every headphone imaginable. Here is a link referencing the Status CB-1, with lots of detail, impulse responses, EQ settings, etc. https://github.com/jaakkopasanen/AutoEq/tree/master/results/innerfidelity/innerfidelity_harman_over-ear_2018/Status Audio SM-CB1

Ding dong! UPS! Unboxing day! I am looking forward to doing some sort of unboxing with these. They are literally the first over the ears headphones I have purchased in about 30 years, so it will be insteresting to hear the differences and test them using the NX Ocean Way Nashville and Abbey Road Studio 3. Stay tuned...

Here is a cool article I just posted on my site with more info. I think it is cool that they also have an iOS version of the plugin available. This might be a sign of things to come in the industry. https://wp.me/p6Mqqs-ym

It was funny, but for my review they sent me the older version (which in all honesty I prefer the older GUI), so I am needing to do an updated review on the newer version. They did include some interesting effects similar to what NOIRE incorporated in their Particles Engine which was a nice surprise. I think the Christmas sale was the best time to grab some of their instruments, but this is a gentle way to get in on this library. What is interesting is that the Steinway they used has the MIDI retrofit that allows them to get so many consistent dynamic layers, which believe me makes a lot of difference. I cannot imagine the sheer amount of patience and endurance it would take to put one of these larger piano libraries together, it would be utterly exhausting. With VSL and their Synchron Pianos, using the piano Robot, it takes them month's of sampling almost around the clock to capture the upwards of 200 dynamic layers per key, amazing.

I pulled the trigger for the $29 promo for previous Abbey Road Studio 3 users and it does sound very good on my Sony Open backs. I can’t wait to hear the difference on the Status CB-1 coming Monday. Regarding the glitching, I am also getting it on my setup. I only had one instance of Kontakt playing Nashville Scoring Strings (also recorded at Ocean Way Nashville). I tried different buffer settings and still glitches,. Will followup with some more tests soon.

I realized I used a PayPal email that doesn’t get pushed to my main inbox, so I reached out to their customer service. They responded fairly quickly and matched up things and sent the tracking info. I would reach out to them to see if they might be able to do the same in your situation.

They sent me a tracking number.

My CB-1 will be here Monday, very excited as like I said before only have been using an open back pair of Sony’s for waayyyy too long. Also interested in trying them with Waves Abbey Road MX

No email confirmation for me as of yet.

Let me know how it goes, and if I find any new info I will share as well. All the best, Simeon

I’m in! Thanks @Reid Rosefelt and @artturner. I have been using the same Sony headphones I bought from Circuit City over 30 years ago, so I think it was time ? I am looking forward to how they sound.

I have done quite a few livestreams over the past year featuring Heavyocity and have really enjoyed using their libraries. They were very generous in providing copies for me to review and share with all of you. Here is my Heavyocity playlist. Bon a petit ?