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Generalmusic PRO 1/PRO 2 Page 45
Technology
The PRO 1 and PRO 2 feature three unique applications of sound design technology including “physical
modelling” to simulate the internal characteristics of a piano soundboard.
Natural string resonance
The first physical modelling technology, patented by Generalmusic as “Natural String Resonance”, allows all
of the complex harmonics normally produced by the piano soundboard to be faithfully reproduced. This means
that a note’s individual sound will always be slightly different depending upon which other notes are currently
being held, (and consequently which strings are un-damped and free to resonate in sympathy). If you hold a
low “C” and let the note decay, the strings for that note are still un-damped for as long as the key remains
depressed. If you now strike another “C” higher up the keyboard, (staccato), you will hear the sympathetic
resonance of the low “C” strings in response to the new note played. This natural effect replicates exactly what
happens on a grand piano. If you experiment with different combinations of notes you will hear harmonic
colors particular to each. Because this effect is produced by physical modelling and not by samples or DSP
effects, the result is a musically and technically accurate simulation of a piano’s soundboard and virtually
infinite combinations of harmonics can be produced.
Damper physical model
The second technology, patented by Generalmusic is “Damper Physical Model”. Although it looks like an
ordinary damper footswitch, the special continuous damper pedal for the PRO 1 and PRO 2 is not a switch but,
instead, a continuous pedal which accurately simulates the effect of the dampers being moved closer to or
further away from the strings of the piano. Because of this, effects such as partial or half damping can be
achieved. The dampers can even be slowly “squeezed” back against the strings. When the damper pedal is
depressed, the damper physical model will simulate the effect of sympathetic resonances being produced by
the un-damped strings. Even if you are using a standard switch type pedal, you can hear the effect of the
Damper Physical Model by comparing the sounds of notes played in the highest octave of the instrument with
and without the damper pedal depressed.
Advanced release technology
The third and final technology applied to the piano sounds in the PRO 1 and PRO 2 is “Advanced Release
Technology ”, (patent pending). Sample based electronic pianos traditionally use envelope generators to control
what happens when a key is released. This simply allows the sample loop to continue for a set period of time
until it’s amplitude is reduced to zero by the envelope generator. In an acoustic piano, vibrating strings are
silenced by the action of a damper making contact with the string. When this happens, depending on the
velocity with which the key was struck and the length of the string itself, certain frequencies are damped
earlier than others producing a distinctive harmonic “ring” as the different frequencies in the string’s tone
dissipate throughout the piano soundboard. The Key Release Model in the PRO 1 and PRO 2 simulates exactly
this feature with complete accuracy throughout the 88 note range.