Claire Piano Clipping Samples

jburniece · 2025-03-18T00:28:41+00:00

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I am using the Classical Claire preset on the Kontakt Claire piano and have been facing an issue regarding harsh clipping sounds in the mid-top end of the frequency range at high velocities. Here's all the steps I have taken to try and resolve this:

Checked that the output signal is not clipping
Turned off all effects within Claire
Turned down the gain in Kontakt
Tried several different compressors and limiters
Updated sample pool
Increased buffer size

It's almost like the samples themselves are clipping. I have also tried non-Kontakt pianos and am not having this issue. Is anyone else experiencing this issue with Kontakt pianos? I have found a few other similar complaints with the Noire piano.

Is there a solution for this I am missing?

I tried to attach a link to this post so you could hear but the website will not allow me to as I have not been around long enough.

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stephen24

I think this is how it's supposed to sound. As you know, there are probably 10 or more samples for each note, the brightest for the highest velocity. If the instrument indeed can't be edited, your best bet is to play with the velocity response curve so it's harder to bash out the brightest samples. Or don't hit the keys so hard.

Locking these instruments is not just a matter of editing. It makes it impossible to identify and replace duff samples (there are always duff samples) in this kind of situation.

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Jeremy_NI

@jburniece I've enabled you to post links. You can also zip the files and attach it to a comment. If you can include a MIDI clip or a small project on top so we can reproduce and compare.

jburniece

@Jeremy_NI Thank you for this! I have attached a .zip file to this reply featuring a small project and a .wav file of the issue. Really hoping there is a solution to this. Also worth mentioning I am running an M4 MacBook Pro so I feel pretty certain it is not a matter of processing speed.

Clipping Samples.zip

stephen24

Can't hear any problem in your wav file. Could you be more explicit and give us times? (Not sure what you mean by clipping).

Looking at the walkthrough it apprears to be locked to editing, so you'd be hard pressed to diagnose it, let alone cure it. One reason why I would never buy this piano.

jburniece

@stephen24 Hey, Stephen! Thanks for the response. Perhaps "clipping" is not the correct terminology. But, for example, at about the 0:03 second mark I am hearing a sort of harsh "crunchiness" in the sound. To my ears, it sounds very similar to when an input signal is clipping, though I have checked all of the levels and it does not appear to be so. Thus, it's leading me to believe that, if it's even possible, the samples themselves are, or were recorded, clipping/too hot. I will admit similar frustration having used the piano for a few months now with there not being enough editing flexibility.

stephen24

Locking these instruments is not just a matter of editing. It makes it impossible to identify and replace duff samples (there are always duff samples) in this kind of situation.

jburniece

@stephen24 Totally makes sense! Thanks, Stephen!

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