How to add sustain to piano WITHOUT sustain pedal?

Alright, so as of right now, I'm using Addictive Keys and Kontakt 5's pianos and such that it comes with to add keys to my tracks in Studio One 3. However, the keys come out as short notes because I do not own a sustain pedal and do not plan on purchasing one, which leads me to my main question: Is there any way for me to add a sustain sort of effect to my keys without having to own a sustain pedal?

I know a friend of mine who uses Nexus to add his keys, and in Nexus there is a "sustain" knob AND "release" knob which basically makes the notes last a little longer. So something like that would be amazing too, where I can just adjust the knob to make my notes last as long as I want, but I just can't seem to find anything except Nexus (too electronic-sounding for me to consider purchasing) that has that release knob.

I listen to all of these tracks from other hip hop artists who include keys into their songs and their notes aren't all short and plain because they actually have some sort of sustain effect to them. HOW? Does Kontakt have anything, such as other piano libraries, that allow you to add a sustain effect without having to own a pedal, or any other VST or third-party library that allows you to do this? I could really use some help.

 

In general most Piano Libraries use CC64 as sustain pedal.
So simply add the sustain via MIDI automation: http://paulcecchettimusic.com/how-to-program-midi-cc-automation-in-studio-one/

 

A cheap/basic sustain pedal should only set you back about $10-20. If you want to be able to sequence realistic and versatile piano/keyboard parts, it's worth the minor investment.

 

Well I do own a sustain pedal, but it makes this crackling noise every time I press it when adding keys to my tracks, which is why I just say that I don't have one since I don't even use it due to that fact.

And I know a lot of artists who don't even own a sustain pedal who still manage to get that sort of longer note, release/sustain sound on their keys... Just can't figure out how.

 

Well, not to tell you what to do nor what will help you make good music, but 999 out of 1000 synth players use a sustain pedal, and 1000 out of 1000 piano players use it.

It's entirely possible that if you are not a native keyboard player and don't want to play the traditional way, you might not see the benefit of it. And you can certainly train your fingers to play longer notes. If that's your thing, go for it. But for $10...

 

Yeah, I see where you're coming from. Trust me, as soon as I replace my sustain pedal with a better one that doesn't make a crackling noise during recordings, I'll definitely start learning how to use the pedal properly. However, I still can't help but wonder how most of the hip hop artists I know of, who added keys to their beats and such, managed to add that sustain/release effect without owning a sustain pedal... Still dying to know regardless of me owning a pedal or not.

 

um...not sure about your exact situation...

do you mean intensive real-time sustain control when you are playing with both-hands?
if so, you are screwed without a sustain pedal.

else, you can try adjusting Release + Decay
a 4k/ms release should get you a sustained sound

and...if you can free up a hand during playing
you can try using mod-wheel as sustain pedal via script (assume your mod wheel controls CC#1 )
==============================================
on controller
if(%CC_TOUCHED[1] = 1)
select(%CC[1])
case 0 to 63
set_controller(64,0)
case 64 to 127
set_controller(64,127)
end select
end if
end on
==============================================

 

I was wondering about the exact same thing. I know other plug-ins release values are a lot more pronounced. Having said that, "piano-centric" plug-ins really seem to rely on a sustain pedal which makes perfect sense.

I was hoping to have a "pedal always on" type of setting but I guess I really should just go buy a sustain pedal

 

I know, I'm dreading the fact that I'll have to use an actual sustain pedal, but oh well I guess!

But there has to be some other way... Like, Nexus 2 can't be the only one that has those two knobs (sustain and release). There has to be other VSTs, plugins, etc. that have those knobs. Because I own a simple Yamaha keyboard from like 2004 that I only use to practice, not to record or anything, and it has a button on there that adds sustain to everything and you don't even have to own a sustain pedal. That button adds just the perfect amount of sustain to every single key while you play, and it sounds amazing. So I just wish they had something like that where you only had to click a single button once to get a sustain effect to every key you press...

 

If you're not playing live and just need to add sustain in the studio, you can always just draw in automation for sustain in your DAW.

A little time consuming but it will do the job.

The other alternative is to assign sustain (CC 64) to a knob or slider on a MIDI controller. Again, this is only suitable for studio work, not for live performance.

 

Yes, the only reason I need a sustain effect is for recording purposes, not live. And hm... I use 2 hands to play the chords on my Akai MPK, so would I have to continuously move the sliders, or would I only have to move it once to adjust how much sustain I want? And how exactly do I assign the CC64 to a slider? I already know how to get to the CC64 in my DAW, but I'm not completely sure how to assign it to a slider.

 

How you assign a CC to a MIDI controller is dependent upon what MIDI controller or MIDI controller keyboard you use. I've got a couple of MIDI controller keyboards and an old Evolution UC-16. They all have slightly different ways of assigning CCs.

I've never used an Akai MPK, so I can't say how you would assign a CC to a knob or slider on it, but I'm assuming there would something about that in the manual.

 

there is a kontakt preset script called piano pedal
thats all you need

 

I just found this video which helped me do it in FL Studio. I use FL12 but the process was very similar. Hope it helps!

 

Excuse my ignorance but... How does a midi sustain-pedal generate audio "crackling" ?

Edit: Whoa. I just saw how old this thread is.

 

Let me add another option here. This VST plugin allows you to control the sustain pedal with the "shift" key or with your mouse:
https://4drx.com/plugins/virtualkeyboard

 

I record in logic and use a sustain pedal. But if I want to adjust more or less sustain after the fact, I drag out the midi event longer or shorter in piano roll. Works for me.

 

I know this is an old thread but.......Wow. The internet can be so cold.

People ask a question and get "lightly berated" for seeking help. To get lectured about using a sustain pedal saddens me.
I've been ;looking for a usb/midi sustain pedal for months but have thought about it for years. As a professional live player/tech it should be as ubiquitous as having a physical mouse to use when your laptop along with your laptop trackpad.

Also in the real world sustain pedal JACKS are fallible. I've had old midi keyboards that (and one pre midi) became somewhat useless because the sustain jack was un-repairable. It should be a a simple 1/4 inch female to usb combo. So before anyone says "it's not that simple" neither is Giant Steps. But it exists. So does the usb sustain pedal "adapter".

https://www.tecontrol.se/products/usb-midi-pedal-controller


And even if after I get this and it doesn't work I still think that the only reply should have been " I havent seen one. But that sounds like a great product idea." Your welcome. (All said with love)