CVP Emulator

[dancaputi]

Does anyone know of a software product, commercial or otherwise, that comes close to emulating the CVP's on-board software?

I'm considering selling the CVP and buying something like a Disklavier or MidiPiano (my wife is pushing for a true acoustic piano for our little future Horowitz) but I would miss things like Guide function, Styles and Accompaniment, interactive score display, etc, etc...

A lot can be done with a MidiPiano, an XG Tone module, and some good software on the PC, but, not only would the seamless ease-of-use advantage be compromised but I'm worried most of the performance enhancing features (i.e. "real-time" gimmicks) would be absent from this type of setup.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

- Dan C.

[Midi Magic]

Well Dan

For a techie like you, it would be like giving up your PC and going back to pen & paper.

At the best, you can buy a portable keyboard, maybe a second hand tyros or a black-box of backings. However, and I don't know for sure, but can the DKV send split keyboard. You would need this to play along with styles.

Not to sure how you would get the guide lights to work. I have seen Midi to light boxes but these are only 8 channels and are for mains / disco use. No doult it could all be done with a couple of Pic chips, that's if you want to program them.

If it were me, I would have both, but then I don't have that much money. The DKV is not something you would want in a block of flats / appartments as you CAN'T turn it down, well not by much anyway.

[Midi Magic]

Hi

The only PC based program I can think of is Band In A Box. I don't know if you can control it from an external keyboard.

[Andreas]

Hi Dan,
it´s a difficult situation you´re in. There is no software which can replace your cvp functions, especially the styles and the autoaccompany function you won´t find anywhere. Band in a box is a nice program which I used together with my QY70Sequenzer as accompaniment for my P250, but it´s nothing compared to the CVP styles and tools.
If you have to change because of your little son, I can understand your wife, because I myself wouldn´t give a CVP to a child either, especially when it is beginning to learn to play piano.
CVP for a child is like a Ferrari for a Learner in driving. There are way too much functions and sounds for a child who hasn´t learnt to play piano yet. So for this a real piano is way better.
I myself have both, a Yamaha upright for classical piano playing and the CVP to play with a band at home and with all the nice voices like hammondorgan rhodes, synth etc.
If you must sell the CVP and you want to play with autoaccompaniment, there is only one way: the QY100 Sequenzer by Yamaha together with a midikeyboard. But then you`ll need some studiomonitor speakers. But the QY100 has only the XG voices and only 120 styles with only two variations, one ending and so on. I presume that this would be frustrating for you if you´re used to the CVP.
Another possibility would be a stagepiano (because it needs less space than CVP) like the brandnew Roland RD700SX and the QY100Sequenzer for the styles, but you need monitorspeakers too.
The other way is indeed a secondhand tyros, which can be stored easily away, if you don´t play, and you have all you´re sounds and styles you´re used to from your cvp. The only disadvantage is the toylike keyboard with only 61 not weighted keys...
Probably this is an alternative for you:
http://www.lionstracs.com/index.php?module=Static_Docs&func=view&f=/features.html
Hope you´ll find a solution!
Regards;)

[Midi Magic]

Dan

What I want is a realy good PIANO sound module. You see, I don't play my CVP that often, but I do listen to it via Yamplayer. So I could sell the CVP and buy a sound module but it must have a piano as good, if not better, then the cvp and of course, it would need all of the XG voices as well.

[mikemilton]

Consider
http://www.synthogy.com/pages/ivory.html

I think you will find id outdoes the CVP sounds but one still needs a good controller

m

[Midi Magic]

Hi

I just listened to the demos, sound very good indeed.

[davidwaller]

Dan

If you go for a Disklavier the acoustic effect is excellent as it is a real piano with some electronic add-ons. It pays all the backing stuff I make on the the CVP very well.

We have a Disklavier Grand as well a CVP 309. I can sound like an orchestra with the CVP but I have to play the Disklavier with skills learnt over years of piano practice.

Persuade your wifr to let you ahve one of each

Regards

David
:)

[Andreas]

Hi David,

why did you choose a Disklavier in addition to the CVP and not a normal Upright? Has the digital Grandpianovoice the same quality as the CVP309 ones?

I myself wanted also a real piano in addition to the CVP307, but I chose a Yamaha P121NT and I am happy to have a real acoustic piano without any bells and whistles.

What kind of experience do you have with your Disklavier?

[tomtomsf]

There is PC software available that enables you to play Yamaha styles from your computer by using a MIDI keyboard. It's pretty amazing, and cheap. You can look here:

http://www.1manband.nl/omb.htm

Tom G.

[dancaputi]

Thank you all for the thought-provoking responses!

Midi-Magic: you're absolutely right, it would be a step backwards as far as technology. That is the main reason I won't do it unless I can find a complete way of emulating everything (and then some!). I was half-thinking that if I couldn't find the perfect software, I might just have to write it myself. I think you "nailed it" with the guide lamp question. But what about...
Anyone ever play with SmartKey on the Disklavier?

Andreas: Listening to your latest sequences, I would have to respect your opinion on styles and composition tools above anyone else - thank you. What's the "lionstracs" link about? (I couldn't seem to get to the site).

mikeminton: 32Gb of sample data - Wow! ... But I don't see the PC version yet and, yeah, a good controller would be key.

davidwaller: both huh? Your name should be davidwallet. Actually, that IS the right answer IF we had the space. Do you have room in your mansion for us? ;)

tomtomsf: OneManBand looks very cool. I'm going to make a point to download the demo version this weekend. Looks like the kind of software I would've wrote (except I would spell "tekst" with an 'x' :D).

- Dan C.

[Andreas]

Dan,
the link with lionstracs seems to be broken at the moment. I give you another link, that you can see what this computerbased keyboard system is about:
http://www.pro-music-news.com/html/04/e40219li.htm
Hope you´ll find a satisfying solution ;)
Regards

[wally]

There's a section in the CVPUG FAQ: Can't I build something like a CVP by connecting a keyboard to various modules?

Might be worth a read.