>Re: Most authentic Piano: Old Lady !! Okay, after I've listened to all the links, I agree that Old Lady is (for me) the most realistic. But that being the case, the next question is: The EXS version is only 16 bit, as opposed to the Halion & Kontakt versions which are 24 bit. Does that fact that it's 16 bit detract from it's sound quality? But as I understand it, using Halion or Kontakt would be considerably more cpu intensive. Your thoughts? Regards, -Mark

> Okay, after I've listened to all the links, I agree that Old Lady is (for > me) the most realistic. But that being the case, the next question is: > > The EXS version is only 16 bit, as opposed to the Halion & Kontakt versions > which are 24 bit. Does that fact that it's 16 bit detract from it's sound > quality? But as I understand it, using Halion or Kontakt would be > considerably more cpu intensive. Your thoughts? > > Regards, > -Mark I have the entire Vienna Symphonic Library Pro version, and to my astonishment when I upgraded from the intro version, the pro was 16bit, not 24 like I had expected. I was pissed until my first session with it. It sounds jaw droppingly real and I have no complaints. As for the Old Lady, I'd have to compare a 16 and 24 bit version side by side, but as I say, I love this piano, and I have no complaints 16 bit and all. I have not had much success using it for hard rock though. Its a very warm, rich sounding sim, but I think for the real kick ass, in your face rock sound, you might prefer the White Grand or Ivory. I also have no complaints about my CD collection that is a mere 16 bit. I've recently heard a few DVD audio recordings made at I believe 96k, and yes, they were crystal clear. I liked one and hated the others, and my opinion had nothing to do with the clarity of the recording. Here's the kicker that many people overlook in their pursuit of great sound. Its so much more about the music than the bit rate. A great song or recording will sound great on an iPod or for that matter, an audiocassette. A bad song will sound bad on a $50k home theatre. If something sounds good to you, it sounds good. Period. If it doesn't, it doesn't, and it might be about sample or bit rate, but might just as likely be about badly recorded or badly written music. Just my $.02 -James

On 2 Nov 2004, at 18:19, James Ryan wrote: > A great song or recording will > sound great on...[SNIP] .... an audiocassette. Er hang on! Going a bit far there! :-D Dave