SampleTekk proudly presents...the Black Grand!

The Black Grand is recorded using the finest equipment available, with a specially-designed digital recording technique to give you an unequalled performance and sound. Prepare to experience a sampled piano that delivers expression never before matched in the world of sampled instruments.

Black Grand today and tomorrow

The Black Grand stretches today's samplers to their technological limits. But we planned for the next generation of samplers, too, and designed our recording sessions to accommodate them. This will allow us to offer next-generation updates to registered users as those technologies emerge. And the best news: These updates are free! The only cost passed on to the user will be our actual CDs/DVDs production expenses, postage, and handling. We think you'll agree that's a great deal, and we are excited about these upcoming advances in sampling. We pledge to continue pushing the envelope with the Black Grand, and to challenge the next generation of samplers, too! For you, our dear client and partner in this quest, this means the Black Grand is an investment for both today and tomorrow. We appreciate your business. Let's get you registered and playing!!

How to register
Send a mail to register@sampletekk.com with your full name, place and date of purchase and the name of the product that you want to register. Simple as that! You'll have access to support services and you will know the moment we release updates and feature enhancements for the Black Grand.

Recording the Black Grand

The Black Grand was recorded at the Orebro, Sweden concert hall. We chose this excellent hall as our recording venue to allow this beautiful instrument to really spread its wings! We hope you will enjoy the Black Grand's triple-snapshot of this concertquality Steinway in its native environment.

The instrument

The Black Grand's featured piano, a Steinway D Hamburg, was recorded using SLH, SampleTekk's proprietary digital recording system which allows ultra-deep sampling of acoustic instruments with an accuracy thats impossible to achieve with traditional recording practices. We auditioned many mics and preamps during our R & D phase of development. We ultimately selected preamps from Millenia and microphones from Neumann, MG, Milab, and Rode for our sampling sessions. Each lends its own signature sound to the Black Grand, and we think you will be very pleased with the different approaches to this first-class instrument.

A bit about SLH

When playing any acoustic instrument, there's an inherent relationship between loudness and timbre. Using the piano as an example, you get a louder tone when you strike a key harder, but you also get a brighter timbre. The tone is continually variable between the softest and loudest strikesa single note is an infinity of expression. When sampling a piano, of course one cannot sample an infinite number of velocities. The instrument designer must limit himself to a practical number of samples, which must succeed in emulating this infinite range of possibility. Even five years ago (the stone ages in samplerworld) most premium pianos had two to four discrete samples per note. Today, pianos average six to eight different velocities per note. This has increased quality of sound and playing proportionately. It is difficult to record large numbers of velocities per noteIt is difficult for even the most trained player to consistently strike note after note with exactly the same strength. This is why we have developed SLH.

We developed SLH to ensure even timbral coverage through the entire instrument, while generating high numbers of usable, discrete samples. Using SLH, we have designed the Black Grand with sixteen discrete velocity layers. Both pedal up and pedal down samples were taken, along with four release samples, for a combined total of thirty-six discrete samples representing each note of the instrument! We are confident that you will find the Black Grand to be a uniquely expressive and beautiful sounding instrument, representing the highest standards of design and care in delivering a state-of-the-art sampled piano.

Whats on the CDs

Installing Black Grand
Because of its large size, the Black Grand ships on multiple DVDs. Gigastudio 2 Version Just copy all files in the folders called Black Grand Close, (or Black Grand Ambient or Black Grand Medium Ambience depending on perspective), to a folder of your choice on your hard disk. Note for Gigastudio 2.5 users: Loading the separate gig files individually will give you a poor performance. They are not meant to be used individually, but as a group. Always use the .gsp files Gigastudio 3 Version Copy the folder Black Grand Close, (or Black Grand Ambient or Black Grand Medium Ambience depending on perspective), from Disc 1 to your harddisk. On Disk 2 you will find a folder called More Black Grand Close Files, (or More Black Grand Ambient Files or More Black Grand Medium Ambience Files depending on perspective). Copy the files within this folders to the folder Black Grand Close, (or Black Grand Ambient or Black Grand Medium Ambience depending on perspective), that are on your hard disk. HALion/Kontakt/EXS24 Version On the first DVD you will find a folder called Black Grand. Copy that to your hard disk. On the following DVDs you will find folders called More Samples. Copy the files within those folders to the folder Samples that are on your hard disk. In the folder Black Grand that you have copied there are several files. The files that end with .nki are the Kontakt files, .exs are the EXS24 files, and .fxp are the HALion files.

Playing the Black Grand

Nothing much to it, load up Black Grand and play. The biggest problem our tester's reported was lack of sleep due to Black Grand addiction! The only realtime controller function, besides the obvious, is the modulation wheel. You can adjust the relative level of the release samples via the mod wheel position. Depending on your mix, reducing the level of the release samples can sometimes simulate distance. Raising them can enhance intimacy. Experiment for yourself to find out what's right for your mix.

The Perspectives
You can choose between three different perspectives. These are from different microphone placements, and give you three unique sonic photographs of this splendid Steinway. Be sure to try each one, and learn its personality. You will find different uses for each.

The Close Perspective

The Close perspective was recorded with the microphones placed very close to the strings. Normally, this isnt the way you would record a classical piece, but you will find that this perspective gives you a great presence and brilliance. Try this version for an in-your-face pop or jazz sound, or for bold and aggressive features. Definitely reach for this version first on a live performance. It has the raw edge needed to cut through a pounding rhythm section, or to back up a powerful vocalist. The more live your playing space, the more likely that the Close Perspective instrument will work for you.

Microphone placement for the bass side, close perspective. MG UM30

Microphone placement for the midrange and treble side, close perspective. Milab DC-96B

Medium Ambience Perspective (Mid)

The "medium" perspective is taken using two microphones placed at a moderate distance from the instrument. This perspective works well for both classical and acoustic jazz recordings, where the perception of some room in the tone is desirable. Don't be afraid to try this version in places where you might consider the Close Perspective to be ideal. Sometimes a little distance on the piano can actually make it easier to bring up in the mix. Every mix is different, and the ultimate choice is always going to be a mix thing.

Microphone placement. Medium Ambience perspective. Neuman KM84

Ambient Perspective (Amb)

The "Ambient" perspective is normally the preferred configuration for recording a live classical piano performance, such as a recital. The microphones are placed at a sufficient distance let the tone fully engage the room. You might even say that the room is really the featured player here, as much as the piano. As a player, you are responding as much to the way the instrument is acoustically interacting with the room as you are to the piano itself. You might want to start with this piano if you are seeking to emulate the sound of a piano being played onstage with other instruments. Try it for solo piano work as well. Ultimately, again, only the final mix and mood you're trying to achieve can inform your decision.

Microphone placement, Ambient perspective. Rode NT5

The Patches
Each Black Grand perspective has ten different patches, each one providing you with a different set or subset of the full sample set. Since the Black Grand has so many discrete samples, we can further fine-tune the instrument by shaving samples off the top or bottom of the rangeyet still have enough samples mapped to give a fully-expressive playing experience. Once you have found the best perspective for your task-at-hand, you can further refine the match by experimenting with the different patches. Sometimes, you may find that less is more in a particular setting! Black Grand perspective 1 This is the main patch. It has sixteen velocities pedal up, sixteen pedal down, and matching release samples. The different velocity layers have been laid out to provide you with a good dynamic response and a well-balanced piano. Black Grand perspective 2 This patch is similar to the first one, but has the boundaries velocity layers equally laid out. This is a good patch if you want to experiment with different settings for the velocity curve on your midi keyboard or a good patch to start with if you want to make your own modifications.

Black Grand perspective 3 This patch is a bit mellower than the standard patch--the two highest-recorded velocities have been removed. Black Grand perspective 4 An even mellower patch than Perspective 3. Here the four loudest velocities have been removed. Black Grand perspective 5 You guessed it! Mellower and mellower This has the top six layers removed. Black Grand perspective 6 Call him Mr. Mellow. The top eight velocities have been removed. This is for the soft, laid back romantic playing. Black Grand perspective 7 The other way around! This gives you a brighter tone, since the two softest pianissimo recordings have been removed. Black Grand perspective 8 Yet a bit brighter. If you need to be heard above a crowd, this is the one to play. Black Grand perspective 9 See the pattern? The six lowest velocity layers have made room for the brighter ones. Black Grand perspective 10 Banned in seventeen different countries! Smokes crack for breakfast. Kills cockroaches at distance of fifty feet. Cuts through stainless steel. Will slice a guitar player in half!!!

Attention: Gigastudio 2.5 users!

Since Black Grand uses all four ports, you need Gigastudio 160. There are workarounds using third party products. Check out the Black Grand resource page at www.sampletekk.com for more info. Black Grand HV.gig Contains the top velocity layers Black Grand MV.gig Contains the middle velocity layers Black Grand LV.gig Contains the low velocity layers Black Grand Release.gig Contains the release samples The .gsp This is the file you should use. It loads up the 4 gig files in your Gigastudio.

Note: Loading the separate gig files individually will load only a portion of the Black Grand. They are not meant to be used individually, but as a group. Always use the .gsp files!

Other Gizmos
The only realtime controller function, besides the obvious, is the modulation wheel. You can adjust the relative level of the release samples via the mod wheel position. Depending on your mix, reducing the level of the release samples can sometimes simulate distance. Raising them can enhance intimacy. Experiment for yourself to find out what's right for your mix..

System Requirements
The piano is big--no doubt about that. It will place great demands on your playback system. Some of the different patches are more or less demanding on your system. We could make even smaller versions, but then it wouldnt really be the Black Grand. Be sure to stay tuned to the Black Grand resource page at www.sampletekk.com for the latest updates and patches. Gigastudio 2/3, Kontakt or HALion 2.0/3.0 16 or 24 bit

System minimum (16 bit version): Pentium III 800 GHz with 1 Gb RAM System minimum (24 bit version): Pentium IV 1GHz with 1.5Gb RAM Recommended: Pentium IV 1.4GHz with 1.5Gb RAM DVD Reader