Why it’s important to consider the tones of digital pianos and keyboards together with reverb

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• Keyboardist / ComposerANDY
  I currently run a personal music asset site called “Oto no Sono,” where I distribute original BGM for free. The BGM on “Oto no Sono” is available at no cost, so if you find a track you like, I’d be delighted if you used it in your games, videos, or other projects.

Introduction

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Reverb means “reverberation” in English, but …reverberationIf you call it that, it feels less like music and more like...the sound itselfIt might strengthen the image of “ ”.

Sound, basically, is more or less "Room reverberationis affected by “”.

Probably in everyday life,Play sounds in special locations such as caves, large gymnasiums, and halls.And with that, perhaps we can finally sense the reverberation?

I think it’s only when the sound resonates that much that it finally reaches a level we can unconsciously perceive.

About reverb

Now to the main point: digital pianos, keyboards, and synthesizers generally have a built-in feature called an “effects unit” (or simply “effects”).

An effects unit is a device that artificially adds some kind of audio effect.

Because it’s built into the main units of many electronic instruments from the start,Built-in effects processorIt’s often referred to as an “effect,” but basically it just means the effecter function.

Among them, there is also a high likelihood that an effect unit called “reverb (REVERB),” which can add reverberation effects, is built in.

If you play a digital piano, I think many people naturally use this feature as a matter of course, but let’s take a moment to reconsider why this feature exists in the first place.

About the sound of an acoustic piano

Upright vertical pianos and grand pianos are “acoustic piano" or "acoustic pianoIt is called.

The author started playing the piano in early childhood, but since they lived in an apartment, they naturally practiced on a digital piano. Even then, as a child, they were unconsciously sensing something about the reverberation.

I wonder what it is,The sound changes completely depending on where you play.It's hard to pluck from here.

At home I use a digital piano, at school an upright piano, in lessons a grand piano, and at recitals a grand piano too, but the way the sound resonates is different from during lessons.

As for the cause,Actually, the impact from reverberation (reverb) was significant.I see./You know./It is, isn't it.

An acoustic piano produces sound directly when you press the keys, so it’s referred to as a “live instrument,” among other terms.

The fact that the sound comes out as-is means it doesn’t use electricity, so naturally it doesn’t have any built-in effects or other devices that alter the sound.

Basically, to change the resonance of an acoustic piano’s tone color,「Change the lid angle" orChange where the sound playsThere is nothing but.”

If we start getting into things like touch dynamics, chords, rhythm, and pedal effects, there’s no end to it, so I’ll omit them here—but it’s essentially due to the way acoustic instruments are constructed.

Understanding the effect of reverb

When I play an upright piano in a small room at home versus a grand piano in the school gym,The size of the room is completely different, so it affects the spread of the sound.It appears.

To put it simply, "resonateI see.

Then the piano’s sound repeatedly reverberates, so it inevitably becomes louder. It doesn’t just increase in volume; it grows while containing very fine overtones.

As a result,Add depth to the piano's toneIt is supposed to be that way.

In other wordsThe reverberation of an acoustic piano changes depending on where you play it.So when you play an electronic piano or keyboard with a reverb function, you need to understand that it is essentially simulating that effect and use it effectively.

But there’s nothing difficult about it—just decide what kind of room size you want it to feel like you’re playing in; as long as you pin that down first, you’re good to go.

Types of reverb

The names of reverb types vary depending on the keyboard type and manufacturer.

For example, on the settings screen, "0〜127There are also models that adjust this parameter using numerical values.

The photo shows the author’s trusty CASIO CTK-7200, and on this model the reverb send is adjusted in the edit screen.

Also, conversely, make it easier to understand.

"ROOM (room)", "HALL (hall)", "CATHEDRAL (great hall, cathedral)"

There are also models that let you choose actual “space names,” such as different environments. This is especially common with digital pianos.

It's easy to use with just the press of a button, but on the other hand, fine adjustments can't be made.

Conversely, when it comes to more advanced keyboards and synthesizers,Finely adjust both of the above as a set.will make it possible to continue doing (something).

[Type: ROOM, value: 64] Like this,

This is,Simulate the room’s reverb and set its effect level between 0 and 127That’s the idea.

In other wordsThe effects are completely different in [ROOM:127] and [HALL:64].I see./You know./It is, isn't it.

Although ROOM has a value of 127, which is the maximum, HALL at 64 actually has more reverb.

The photo above shows the author’s trusty Roland RD-700NX. You select the type of space with a button, and control the values with a knob.

You can also adjust it with sliders, or freely assign your own MIDI controls and operate it with your preferred interface.

Actually try out the various differences yourself to understand their effects, and once you’ve confirmed those differences, then…Numbers suitable for the piece to be performedLet's try to get closer to it.

Notes/Cautions about reverb

As for reverb, above all, be careful not to overdo it.

Reverb basically adds reverberation, so if you use too much of it, it...Factors that obscure a performanceThere is a lurking risk that it will go too far, causing the sound to become muddy or blurred.

To be blunt, adding reverb makes a performance sound better.

This isn’t that it got better,The sound has become richer.It would be better to think of it that way.

I knew it—once I turned off the reverb, I suddenly sounded a lot worse, so I figured something was off.

However,Can add elements as needed to achieve the intended effect in the expression.It’s obviously an important skill, so as long as you’re aware that you’re using reverb to make your performance more effective, that’s OK.

Therefore, in a manner of “adding only as much as needed,”Aim and control the range of effectLet's keep that in mind.

Standards for settings

Decide your own rules for what values are appropriate.

In the piece you want to play, let’s try playing the section where the most notes overlap, including the pedal.

at that timeWhether the sound is clear or muddyPlease check it.

While sustaining the sound with the pedal, it is acceptable as long as the chords—played using both hands to their fullest and with a large number of notes—still sound clean.

Conversely, if the sounds overlap too much and there’s too much reverb, making the audio a jumbled mess, that’s a no-go.

As a guideline,Is it a bit lacking?This is about the level I recommend. Having too much rather than too little makes the sound seem muddy.

If you're unsure,Set based on the section with the highest number of notesLet's do it.

Also, in higher-end models of recent stage pianos and synthesizers,It also includes a feature that simulates different lid angles of an acoustic piano.So it allows for even more in-depth configuration, doesn't it?

It's great that you can fine-tune the settings, but the acoustics at home differ from those in a studio or live venue.Things that can be adjusted depending on the environmentwill ultimately be needed.

How I use reverb

When I practice or perform on a digital piano, I decide on the reverb setting first before playing, but when I play keyboards in a band, I think about various ways to use it.

For example, when performing a balladMake small adjustments in the intro, during the song, and in the outro.Then the piece becomes more dramatic, or if it’s an instrumental-only track,For a piano solo, turning up the reverb and focusing on playing mostly single notes is also effective.It is.

If there’s no reverb, the sound becomes thin and doesn’t resonate at all, so you tend to needlessly add more notes with chords or try to create impact with octaves.For example, if you turn the reverb up quite a bit, even playing single notes will have presence.It increases.

Also, use fewer harmonies and a monophonic melody.I want to play it with care.This usage is effective in such cases as well.

I often use it like this, for example at the start of a piano or electric piano solo.

Like this,Apply reverb in real time while performingI think that mastering this way of using it will broaden your expressive range in performance.

Please give it a try.

Let's compare the reverb effects

This is a video of the Super Mario Medley performed by Martin Leung, my favorite video game pianist.

Playing in a small practice room and in a large hallFocus on the differences in sound.Please try it.

It also depends on the size of the room you’re playing in and whether the piano lid is open or closed, and above all, the resonance can vary by location—sometimes sounding rough, other times refined.

Regarding the video aspect, factors like the recording microphone also come into play, but focusing only on the resonance, the hall performance in the second video is natural andA very elegant soundI think so.

People have their own preferences, so it’s quite deep/profound.

Lastly

We took a brief look back at the “reverb function” built into digital pianos, keyboards, and synthesizers—how was it?

In fact, reverb is a very handy feature because you can start using it right away.

On the other hand, what you should be careful about is “How much should I bet?That's all there is to it. As long as you keep that in mind, the rest depends on your skill.Musical performance can further broaden its possibilities.I suppose so.

What’s important is that reverb is ultimately just a “Materials for making soundsIt is to have such an awareness.

If you've been using it kind of without thinking until now,Those who were thinking from the same standpoint as the performance...reconsider these once more and my ownThe timbre of the pianoHow about trying to remake it?

I also frantically tweak it every time, and even small differences change how it feels when I play.

In this article I focused on piano tones, but if you play keyboards in a band, please also pay attention to how much reverb is applied to the other sounds.

By all means,Add only as neededLet's make sure not to waste materials. ☆ Simulate