Hi all,

I am considering purchasing a JV1010 sound module which includes the "Session Card".

I know that personal favorites are highly subjective (especially when it comes to acoustic piano samples) but I would like to get feedback and opinions of what you think are the best realistic acoustic piano samples (Roland JV sound cards/patches or "other brand) for playing solo piano (jazz & classical styles).

Thanks,

- Scott

Scottyee,

It really depends on what kind of stuff are you playing. The first few patches from the Session board "St. Concert", "9 ft. Grand 1", "9 ft. Grand 2" and "Euro Classic" are all very nice ones. Overall, I like the "St. Concert" for general modern style playing. "Euro Classic" is much darker and more suitable for more classical works. In my opinion, these few patches are much better than the original JV presets. However, the PR-A "64voicePiano" is a patch programmed to have very prominent timbral changes with velocity changes - quite an interesting patch in deed.

Alesis Quadrasynth Plus has a GM "Grand piano" patch with very impressive mid-lows although its treble is fairly thin sounding. The new Yamaha P80 stage piano has a very impressive "Classical piano" patch with even more realistic mid to low range piano sounds. Its treble sounds good too except the samples are a bit too short and its sounds are a bit too accurate - you need some very minor tuning defects (almost unperceivable to an average person, but good piano technicians can hear them well) to sound like a real one. Yamaha's extreme treble keys are on the brighter side, just like their own acoustic grand pianos sound characteristics due to the use of softer wood in the piano rim - more suitable for jazz than classical works.

Paul Ip

for Roland the "St. Concert" sounds better than the rest. But if I can only find the 30 meg sample that Yamaha use for their midi grand, I'll buy it.