Wikipedia:Featured sound candidates/Grace and Beauty

Grace and Beauty

1909 – Grace and Beauty

Grace and Beauty, by ragtime composer James Scott. Performed by Adam Cuerden on a synthesized piano.

New piano sound by Jujutacular from Adam's MIDI sequence

I think this came out quite well, in the end. It's synthesized, but that has the advantage that I could edit the performance and make sure it's note-perfect, while making sure it still sounded like an actual human performance. =) Adam Cuerden ^(talk) 03:23, 15 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Nominate and support [ETA: Alt]. Adam Cuerden ^(talk) 03:21, 15 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
It seems to have gotten stuck in a loop at the end. Was that intentional? Sven Manguard Wha? 07:39, 15 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Ragtime tends to have a slightly repetitive structure, where most sections are played twice. Plus, Scott loved the "Call and Response" structure, where melodic lines alternate between octaves. It's just how ragtime is structured. Adam Cuerden ^(talk) 09:50, 15 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
support A good rendition of a ragtime piece by a notable composer of the genre. I'm not sure about the synthesised piano, but given that ragtime was played on all sort of pianos of various sorts in brothels in the US southern states, I think it is appropriate. Major Bloodnok (talk) 21:26, 16 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Support A verry well done rendition. I would have preferred a normal piano, but whatever. --haha169 (talk) 08:00, 18 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Sadly, I didn't have one available. If anyone wants, I still have the source files (MIDIs, but very high-quality ones), so they are tweakable. For example, you could use a different piano sound like here. Adam Cuerden ^(talk) 14:00, 18 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  - If someone can, it would be great. If not, then this is still a really well-done rendition. I have a piano, and can play, but I do not have a good microphone. --haha169 (talk) 01:50, 19 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  - Could you upload the MIDI, please? I have a high quality piano-sampling software that could produce a more realistic file. Jujutacular ^talk 07:25, 19 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
    - File:James Scott - Grace and Beauty.mid Adam Cuerden ^(talk) 14:06, 19 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Support Alt - Thanks Adam. Jujutacular ^talk 18:06, 19 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- I would also just like to say, ragtime is especially suited for this type of work. Average listeners probably won't be able to tell that this is derived from a MIDI. Looking forward to more of these type. Jujutacular ^talk 18:10, 19 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  - The secret is making sure that all the little human touches are added in. Emphasise notes, make notes slightly shorter or longer as suits the phrasing, hand tweak dynamics, and so on. MIDIs are disliked because people think that just making sure they match the score is sufficient; it's not, the next step is several hours of humanizing it. Adam Cuerden ^(talk) 18:33, 19 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
    - Right. What makes ragtime the easiest is the deviation from strict robotic playing is less than in say, Chopin. Jujutacular ^talk 18:40, 19 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Support Alt - well done, well done. Indeed, computers one day will be our overlords. --haha169 (talk) 19:37, 19 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Praise to the wise ones, our robot masters. Sven Manguard Wha? 19:46, 19 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- (edit conflict) I'd like to see a computer humanize a MIDI file. You can't write an algorithm for creativity :) Jujutacular ^talk 19:47, 19 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]

There are some tricks you can use, though I'm not sure I could explain them, at least without the scores. They're just the things that sound right to me. Maybe I should put up the edited score for Frog Legs Rag when I finish the revision of it.

Suffice it to say, while you can humanize a MIDI, it takes about four or five times longer than just inputting the score. =) Adam Cuerden ^(talk) 04:02, 20 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Support Alt A much better piano sound (sorry Adam), and the performance is done very well, with some nice touches too. Well done.Major Bloodnok (talk) 19:47, 20 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Psh. No need to say sorry, Adam still did 90% of the work. I probably spent 30 minutes on it. Jujutacular ^talk 23:46, 20 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Support Alt Never thought an MIDI could sound so good. :) —La Pianista ^{♫ ♪} 09:43, 21 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- The secret is actually caring =) Adam Cuerden ^(talk) 14:46, 21 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Promoted James Scott, Grace and Beauty 2.ogg --Sven Manguard Wha? 04:02, 22 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]