128 Free New Sounds For Yamaha CP4 Stage Piano

[Saul]

Free ! 128 new sounds for Yamaha CP4 Stage Piano , performed and programmed by Bruno Zucchetti

Watch Video Demo

Free Download at : http://www.yamaha.it/areaftp/CP4SuperSo ... chetti.zip If you like please share !

[GuitarTabs4synth]

I saw his youtube video and he's got skill. And I wished my local GuitarCenter carried this CP4 and the montage. I however tried out the moxf and I like the romantic piano sound preset. I also tried the roland rd-800 which looked like the best and most expensive on the floor there. I found the grand piano sound and the touch response of the rd-800's action quite fantastic. Obviously wood is better, but roland touts much higher sensitivity on the sensors. Anyone here have both and can comment on their preference?

[Normhart]

Hi Saul,

As I posted on the MODX forum, I’m waiting on Sweetwater to get their next batch of MODX8 keyboards. I’m also considering the possibility of getting the CP4 instead. Not counting the obvious edge of the CP with regard to superior keybed, how do the pianos -specifically the acoustic ones compare with the MODX’s. Or maybe more to the point, how much better is the CP4 piano sonically?

There are a couple of factors pointing to my choice of the CP4 at this time. One, it’s available now (vs 2 weeks for the MODX8). Two, I could always get the MODX later if I still want one and three, much of the appeal of the MODX is the FM-X and Super Knob related sounds which are interesting but I’m not really that into the ‘fantasy’ type synth sounds that it seems to be geared towards. I’m more of a basic conventional sounds player. Besides, I have other synths that more or less satisfy my requirements for that kind of playing - both hardware based and IOS (iPad Pro 512gb) soft synths and sample based sounds.

I’d really be interested in hearing what you think.

Thanks,
Norm

[Saul]

Hi Norm. I can imagine it is pretty frustrating having a two week wait for the MODX8!

Personally and I stress that this is a "personal" opinion, I would not trade a MODX8 for the CP4. The only advantages the CP4 has, if indeed you see them as advantages are the real wood keys with textured finish and the two XLR connectors on the back. The action though is GHS, same as the MODX8. The actual sounds are also no better than the MODX. The CP4's main piano is the CFX which of course you will find in the MODX along with all the others sounds in the CP4 which are pretty much all taken from the MOTIF series.

So you would be trading all the extra features of the MODX for the CP4 and not gaining anything into the bargain.

Now that is of course just my opinion and others may take a different view but I would advise to wait just that little bit longer before making a decision.

[Normhart]

Looks like I should wait. The deal breaker in favor of the cp4 would’ve been the quality of the grand piano and to a lesser degree the wooden keys. But if the piano sound quality is equal, I’ll lean towards your recommendation and just wait for the MODX 8. Much more versatility (and $100 less). Thanks for setting me back on course!

[parametric]

XLRs on the CP4 is certainly a bonus.

Many boards these days DON'T offer balanced outs. (they are usually just TS)

I guess it hikes the price, but it's no biggie, as you can walk around that with a separate balancing box, if required . . . .

parametric

[Normhart]

I don’t do long cable runs so balanced outs aren’t really an issue in my case. The only real relevant standout feature for me are the wooden and textured keys. Nice, but I’d rather have the versatility of the MODX. I have some pretty capable grand pianos on my iPad Pro that I really like so it’s not like I’ll be short on acoustic piano sounds. That big space on the right side of the MODX 8 is just the right size for my 12.9 ipad.

[Mighty Motif Max]

The CP4 has the SCM (Spectral Component Modelling) pianos, which are partially modeled. So they have a superior response to the ones on the MOXF for sure, and also to the ones on the Montage. I believe Bad Mister used to talk about that. He definitely did when the CP1 library came out for the Motif XF. In essence, the MOXF/Montage/MODX do not have the modelling components. And like you said the keys are better in my opinion on the CP4, if you are piano-centric. Just my two cents.

[Saul]

The modelling component is not enough to swing it for me. I have compared both pianos and the MODX/Montage makes up the ground in size of the samples and the modern tech they are being processed by. I do like the CP4, just that there is not enough in there to keep me happy given the price vs the MODX8.

This review is definitely worth a read:
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/yamaha-cp4-stage

[parametric]

I don’t do long cable runs so balanced outs aren’t really an issue in my case. The only real relevant standout feature for me are the wooden and textured keys. Nice, but I’d rather have the versatility of the MODX. I have some pretty capable grand pianos on my iPad Pro that I really like so it’s not like I’ll be short on acoustic piano sounds. That big space on the right side of the MODX 8 is just the right size for my 12.9 ipad.

Point taken Norm . . . . Wooden keys and the textures are indeed very reassuring for the player, but what is on offer for the price with the MODX cannot be denied.

The MODX8 is great to play - marginally less so that my Fusion8HD, but that is just my familiarity with it (~7 years).

The MODX supercedes the MOXF8 which was another "thought" of mine . . . . .

The MODXes touch screen is MAGIC to use - and then the SuperKnob too . . . .

difficult to resist . . .

Saul and I BOTH thought "that space" on the right of the MODX8 to be good for a laptop, when I visited him . . .

parametric

[Normhart]

I just got a notification email saying that Sweetwater has received a small shipment of MODX 8s and should they run my card - uhhh let me think about that for a split nanosecond - YES!! So that original two week wait suddenly changed direction to me
Sooo glad I waited a little longer.

[Saul]

I just got a notification email saying that Sweetwater has received a small shipment of MODX 8s and should they run my card - uhhh let me think about that for a split nanosecond - YES!! So that original two week wait suddenly changed direction to me
Sooo glad I waited a little longer.

That's fantastic news Norm!

So you are soon to be a proud owner of the MODX8. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on it once you have had a chance to test it all out

[Normhart]

At the same time, I’ll try and put up some links to some original patches/sounds after I learn my way around. I usually do this kind of thing after getting my hands on a new gizmo. There are a whole lot of new concepts here that’ll really be fun to find musical uses for.

[oscarmolly]

I'm approaching the end of the evaluation process between the "safe purchase of a CP4" versus the more adventurous purchase of a MODX8 to be used for live gigging. I tend to rely on more traditional functions/patches of a weighted keyboard and the fact that the CP4 can split and layer up to 3 sounds with a selectable split point is encouraging. Each board can be had for virtually the same price.....USD $1750ish. CP4 has a 3 yr warranty with only 1 yr on the MODX.....I suspect a lot more can go wrong with the MODX plus it is 2 inches deeper in physical size than the CP4 (which means buying a new Anvil Case).

QUESTION: I can't determine if the CP4 has user memory for expansion. It's unclear, for example, whether the Bruno Zuchetti free Super Sound Set are new samples or just edits to the original CP4 stock samples that can be saved when overwriting the original CP4 samples? Second, what other sound library expansions might be available for the CP4, if any?

[Saul]

Hi oscarmolly, welcome to the forums

The MODX can of course split and layer sounds across the keyboard and quite a few more than 3! So it is more versatile in that respect. It is also very easy to set your split points for each instrument(s).

The CP4 is also heavier than the MODX8 at 17.4k. The MODX8 weighs in at 13.8kg

Given that the Bruno Zuchetti free Super Sound Set is only 98kb in size I will go out on a limb and suggest that it is data making use of existing samples within the CP4.