I want my piano to sound like my piano.

[DunedinDragon]

The wording of your questions is a little confusing, but that is to be expected if you’re still learning about using Live. But it’ll help to get some clarification on things.

First you mention recording ‘your’ piano. I’m not sure what you mean by this? Do you already have a piano that you use outside of Live? Do you prefer to be using audio from that piano? Or using midi in Live to trigger a software piano?

When you say you see a piano with a lot of notes, and a piano with 9 notes, I’m not sure what you’re referring to as notes? Notes as in the sounds triggered by keys? Notes like presets? I’m curious because it would help me get a better idea of what you’re looking at and maybe how to help.

With the Suite version of Live there are one or two additional pianos I believe. Another upright which is more recent, and a grand from a few versions ago.

Thank you for your response. Sorry about the delay. (Xmas vacation)

Let's see. So yes, I have an actual acoustic piano that I play. I am a pianist. I thought I would be recording it using the DAW, tweaking here and there, sending the piece to be mastered and then submitting the music to Spotify. Things just aren't working out as easily as I thought they would. It seems most people have no clue what I'm talking about, and I think I'm starting to learn why. VSTs... ?

I never in a million years thought that midi would play any part in my recording process. I never purchased a digital piano for that reason. My piano is loud, dynamic, vibrates when I pound away. I can't get that from a midi piano. So, yeah, I just sort of assumed that the piano I stuck the microphones on would be what I would be hearing from the DAW and was a bit shocked when it wasn't. (I put other info in my other replies here.)

Piano with 9 notes. - So in my current trial version of Ableton Suite, In the Samples section there is an Upright Piano Sample that I can choose from. Like C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, G1, G2, G3, G4 etc... Why are there options? Why don't I just choose 'Upright Piano' and be done with it? I don't understand which specific section of the piano matters?

Learning how to record my actual piano and using the DAW is taking months when I thought it would take a couple of weeks. Mostly because I don't understand WTF this stuff is or why. I've been thinking about hiring a local tutor, but I'm just trudging ahead since I guess there is no rush at this point and it's already been several months of setting up the studio and learning something so simple as what 'gain' means etc...

OK, that's good to know that there are more piano samples in the actual version of Live Suite. I most likely will be purchasing 3rd party VSTs in either case, I think I just chose The Grandeur for the grand piano sound which I think I can merge (layer?) with some other piano samples to make it brighter or whatever.

So much to learn. I've spent days and days watching YouTube videos just to see what these different VSTs actually sound like before I waste my money.

Thank you so much !!! for taking the time with your answer and your willingness to help. I really appreciate it!

If what you're trying to do is create a sample set from your piano with the sound and feel of your piano I'm not sure Ableton is necessarily the best tool. You may want to look into Soundpaint as they have created a very powerful engine specifically targeting creating samples. They also have a great set of videos that will walk you through the process of creating your library. They aren't a DAW, but they can be hosted within a DAW for recording. Something like that might be more what you're looking for and the price is incredibly cheap...like FREE along with a free Vintage Steinway Grand Piano sample library.

[msanjelpie]

In addition to videos and tutorials suggested by others, I recommend reading the chapter on Live Concepts in the online user manual. It might help answer many basic questions.

Thank you. I hadn't got that far yet... was still in Chapter 3 when while following those directions got stuck on the whole real piano vs midi device problem (figured out yesterday in another post.)

Thanks again!

[msanjelpie]

So I did some Google video searches and I think if you watch enough tutorials and try to follow along and remember the process of several in a row, you might have a basic understanding. I’d recommend watching the vids on a separate device then your music computer just so the screen isn’t busy and interrupting your steps.

The searches that seem closest to the mark are either:
Recording microphone into Ableton live
Recording guitar into Ableton live

An example of one that cuts to the chase is this:
https://youtu.be/kDgLGLhXpvk?si=jHPKxnCluPwQ_EWA

There are a couple ways people might do it. Plus the interface you use and the driver software might have slightly different setup procedure. For the audio interface, if it isn’t working as expected you can probably search vids specifically for the model of interface you have.

Yes, after typing in the Google search "How to record an instrument in Ableton" yesterday that was one of the videos I found that helped me to actually record my piano in the program using the correct 'arrangement' view. There was another one with a guy recording his own guitar that was equally helpful. Between those and my son helping me get all the settings chosen correctly once in that view I was finally able to record. Thank you very much for doing that research!!

[msanjelpie]

The wording of your questions is a little confusing, but that is to be expected if you’re still learning about using Live. But it’ll help to get some clarification on things.

First you mention recording ‘your’ piano. I’m not sure what you mean by this? Do you already have a piano that you use outside of Live? Do you prefer to be using audio from that piano? Or using midi in Live to trigger a software piano?

Let's see. So yes, I have an actual acoustic piano that I play. I am a pianist. I thought I would be recording it using the DAW, tweaking here and there, sending the piece to be mastered and then submitting the music to Spotify. Things just aren't working out as easily as I thought they would. It seems most people have no clue what I'm talking about, and I think I'm starting to learn why.

If what you're trying to do is create a sample set from your piano with the sound and feel of your piano I'm not sure Ableton is necessarily the best tool.

You may want to look into Soundpaint as they have created a very powerful engine specifically targeting creating samples. They also have a great set of videos that will walk you through the process of creating your library. They aren't a DAW, but they can be hosted within a DAW for recording. Something like that might be more what you're looking for and the price is incredibly cheap... like FREE along with a free Vintage Steinway Grand Piano sample library.

Thank you!

I am not looking to create anything. Just use the available tools in Ableton to record my acoustic piano. Others here have helped me to do that now. I'm not sure how to close out this thread...

[Tarekith]

No need to close it

[msanjelpie]

No need to close it

Thanks... just didn't want people trying to help me further when I'm onto another thing and posting something else new blah blah...