ADVERTISEMENT

Fallback Noise: A More Realistic Piano Sound

Fallback Noise - The sound of the hammers as you release the piano keys.
(Image Source: Kawai)
ADVERTISEMENT

Fallback noise is one of the many details of the digitally reproduced acoustic piano sound. For added authenticity, fallback samples simulate the sound of the hammers falling back onto the felt after the piano keys are released.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Why Fallback Noise?

You don’t really want to hear the “thump” of the hammers on a grand piano. So why do software pianos in particular try so hard to reproduce that soft, muffled, woody-sounding noise? Well, this noise is as much a part of the piano sound as the key-off effect and string resonance. However, there is a reason why you need to adjust it separately in a digital piano sound, just like any other sound detail: Piano miking techniques, which can be simulated on a digital piano using the Piano Sound Editing function.

A Piano technician adjusting the keyboard and hammer action. (Image Source: Kawai)
A Piano technician adjusting the keyboard and hammer action. (Image Source: Kawai)

Fallback Noise on Digital Pianos

Kawai’s digital pianos take fallback noise into account. You can adjust the intensity in the Virtual Technician. As you experiment with this and other sound details, you will find that the golden rule applies here as well: less is more! Exaggerating the intensity of this noise does not always have a positive effect on the sound. In fact, it can even disrupt the flow of your performance.

Fallback Noise for Stage Pianos in Live Situations

When you’re playing a stage piano over a large PA during a live gig, you best turn down the fallback noise as much as possible or even remove it altogether. Otherwise, the FOH mixer may perceive it as an undefined noise from the low mids. Also, take special care when using a MIDI keyboard that does not transmit the release velocity to play a software piano. In this case, the usually dynamic fallback noise will sound absolutely static – the same goes for damper noise. Even if you want to enrich the interplay of all sound details, this will only be possible if the sustain pedal works dynamically.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

08.09.2024 · Buy Black Friday Digital Piano Deals 2024: Discounts on Musical Instrum...

Every year, Black Friday is one of the highlights of Cyber Week, with retailers offering digital pianos and keyboards at unbeatable prices. If you're still looking for your first instrument, this is your chance to ...

30.06.2024 · Buy Modartt Pianoteq: Physical Modeling Software Piano

Modartt Pianoteq is a physical modeling instrument. All acoustic properties are generated synthetically, eliminating the need for gigabyte-heavy libraries. This offers significant advantages over conventional software pianos - especially in terms of flexibility, sonic variety, ...

24.04.2024 · Buy Earth Day: Rhodes MK8 Earth Edition

In celebration of Earth Day, rhodesmusic.com is proud to announce the Rhodes MK8 Earth Edition, a limited edition of the electromagnetic piano in a special design. The special edition is limited to 50 units and ...

22.04.2024 · Buy Digital Piano with Wooden Keys: What Differences Are There?

When you hear that a digital piano has wooden keys, you likely expect a realistic playing feel. But while many manufacturers advertise this as a quality feature, not all 'wooden' keyboards actually have real wooden ...

22.03.2024 · Buy Product Review: Yamaha TransAcoustic Piano - Hybrid Piano

Acoustic or digital piano? With a Yamaha TransAcoustic Piano, you don't have to choose! This special hybrid piano technology combines the best of both worlds. Volume control on an acoustic piano - normally reserved for ...

02.11.2023 · Buy Best Digital Piano for Beginners: Testing Entry-Level Pianos

Which is the best digital piano for beginners? Most people don't want to spend too much money at first, but is an extremely cheap beginner's model suitable for learning the piano at all? For this ...

03.08.2023 · Buy What is USB MIDI/Audio on Digital Pianos?

Digital pianos and mobile devices - a combination that has become increasingly important in recent years. Whether iPad & Co. or music computer - the USB MIDI/Audio function is the simplest and most reliable connection ...

01.06.2023 · Buy USB Audio Interface: Play Piano with VSTs & Apps

Playing piano on a computer or mobile device can be convenient, but unfortunately, not all laptops, tablets, and smartphones can match the high audio quality of today's software pianos. For this reason, we recommend using ...

05.01.2023 · Buy Digital Piano Review 2024: The Best Digital Pianos

Which digital piano is the best? In most cases, the answer to this question comes down to budget. But be it for a beginner or an advanced player: Besides the price, sound and fun when ...

09.12.2022 · Buy Best Digital Piano under 500 Euros: Instruments for Beginners

Concert grand piano sound in the living room - a digital piano for beginners ideally also fulfills this dream. With a digital piano under 500 euros you should not look for the most extensive set ...

23.06.2022 · Buy Digital Piano under 1000 Euros: Piano Made Affordable

If you want to buy a digital piano for under 1000 euros, there is a diverse selection of portable pianos and home pianos. The closer your budget gets to the 1000 euro mark, the higher ...

25.02.2022 · Buy Musikhaus Thomann: 100 Years of Hans Thomann Senior

Musikhaus Thomann: What is now a billion-dollar logistics center and retailer of musical instruments and equipment began as a traditional music store in the idyllic Upper Franconian village of Treppendorf, Germany. Thomann now celebrates a ...