A:
Galaxy II is a computer plug-in, based on Native Instruments Kontakt Player 2, offering 3 sampled grand pianos with three diffrenent characters. They are based on samples of a Steinway D, a Boesendorfer 290 Imperial and a Vintage Bluethner Baby Grand built in 1929.
Q. Is there any way to 'blend' the sound of close mic samples with those of room mic samples, or does the 'space' function approximate that in some fashion?
A: Galaxy II does not provide different microphone settings. We thought about this, but decided against it for different reasons.
Using multiple microphones on one source always implicates phase problems. We used a couple of microphones in the mix of Galaxy II to emphasize the pianos different characters in different layers. To get those phase cancellations under control we worked with time-adjusting plugins, which made different settings even between halftones necessary. This would not work by just combining different mic sets within the instrument.
Secondly, a piano plug in is a very voice consuming instrument, and every additional mic setting doubles the number of used voices.
The Space-Section offers a convolution reverb with a couple of very nice IRs. The way, Galaxy II pianos are mixed, it is easy to ‚position’ them in different halls or rooms, without letting them sound too dry when not using the IRs.
Q: Where can Galaxy 5.1 owners purchase the upgrade to Galaxy II?
A: Galaxy II and the upgrade from Galaxy Steinway 5.1 are available from
Q. Will true sustain pedal samples at multiple velocity layers be included in the Steinway, Boesendorfer and Bluethner pianos in Galaxy II?
A: Basically there are 3 possibilities for 'creating' string resonance/pedal down. First is sampling every note and every velocity with pedal up and pedal down. We did not do this, because to my opinion it unnecessarily blows up the instrument without creating a real advantage.
We tried IRs and samples of just (!) the resonances for each note, that is the resonating strings without the played note. We went for the resonance samples, because to our ears they simply sounded better and livelier than the IRs. We will continue giving attention to IRs as well, though.
The big advantage of the Kontakt Player 2 is that by scripting you can really modulate the sound and the loudness of those resonances depending on the note on velocity and the time between hitting a key and pressing the sustain pedal. With Galaxy II there are also more resonance samples than with Galaxy Steinway (and different ones for each piano of course), but the main advantage for playability is based on the scripting.
Another advantage of using separate resonance samples is that you can control their level. Of course one could say that the level has to be "like on the real piano". But when we tried to find out the 'right' default level for the resonances in cooperation with a couple of pianist, their preferences were very different. Sound and level of resonances is also a question of taste and musical context.
Q. Which disk should I choose to install the Galaxy II library on
A: The Kontakt Player 2 is installed in the application or program folder on your system disk. We recommend to install the Galaxy II library not on the same drive as the system, nor on the same drive that is used for recording or playing digital audio tracks. Plus the drive for the library should be a fast harddrive (at least 7200 rpm), either internal of with a fast external interface (recommended Firewire 800, minimum USE 2.0 or Firewire 400). For the Galaxy Steinway 5.1 surround we recommend a Raid because of the tough demands of DFD, especially when using the resonance samples as well.
Q. Can I move the Galaxy II library to a different hard drive? Do I have to re-install it to do so?
A: Yes, the library can be dragged to another volume without having to reinstall. Just move the Best Service/Galaxy II folder to the new location. The launch Kontakt Player 2 and go to the ‚info’ menu in the library box. At the bottom of the ‚About’ window you will find the ‚Library Installation Path’. Click on ‚choose’ and navigate to the new location of the Galaxy II library. Click ‚choose’ again. Now you have to relaunch the Kontakt Player 2, whereupon you will find Galaxy II in the library box again.
Q. Do I have to authorize Galaxy II in order to use it?
A: After installing Galaxy II and the Kontakt Player 2, you will be asked to install the NI ‚SERVICE CENTER’. SERVICE CENTER is a user-friendly application that helps you to activate Galaxy II on your computer. It guides you through the easy-to-follow step by step activation process.
You can launch Service Center from the ‚Register’ box in the ‚Library Info’ or from the installation folder,
e.g. C:\Program Files\Native Instruments\SERVICE CENTER on PC and Applications\Native Instruments\SERVICE CENTER on Mac.
You can create an NI User Account from Service Center or just log in, if you have one already. Thereafter you can activate Galaxy II with the ‚Activation Assistant’ by entering your Galaxy II serial number, which you can find on the back of the installation DVD.
For more information, please refer to the ‚Service Center Manual’ in the documentation folder of the ‚Service Center’ folder on you system disk.
Q. Where can I find updates for Galaxy II or the Kontakt Player 2
A: Service Center has an update manager which provides access to the latest updates of the Kontakt Player 2.
For library updates of Galaxy II please check the download page at www.galaxypianos.com or www.galaxypianos.de and register for the newsletter at the Galaxy Forum (link) to get informed as soon as an update is available.. You can select the files you wish to download, view information
Q. What does the yellow or red icon next to the ‘Galaxy II’ title in the library box mean?
A: After installing the library, it will run in demo mode for 30 days. When you launch KONTAKT PLAYER 2, in the Browser you will see the little caution icon to the left of the library title.
Yellow means the library is running in demo mode.
Red means the demo period has expired and the library can no longer be used until it has been registered. The red icon may also appear if the system ID of the computer changes due to new hardware components (CPU, motherboard, etc.) If this occurs, the library will need to be re-registered.
After a library has been properly registered, the caution icon disappears entirely.
Q. Can I install and authorize Galaxy II on more than one computer?
A: Yes, you can install and activate Galaxy II on two computers. Please note that while you may install Galaxy II on two computers, only a single user should be using the machines and only one machine at a time.
Q. My keyboard only has 88 keys. How do I play the contra octave on the Vienna Grand?
A: You can transpose an octave down using ‚Transpose’ on Galaxy II’s Anatomy Menu.
