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piano from “numb” by linkin park | ToneDB

numb

linkin park

piano

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

The piano sound is dark and melancholic, with a slightly detuned character and a subtle chorus effect, creating a sense of unease and emotional depth.

Gear

Yamaha CP-70instrument
ReverbSweetwater
Boss CE-1processing
Reverb$747Sweetwater

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The Story

The piano sound on Linkin Park's 'Numb' was created using a Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano processed through a Boss CE-1 chorus pedal. The CP-70's naturally percussive and slightly metallic character was enhanced with subtle chorus to create width and depth, while maintaining the dark, melancholic atmosphere essential to the song.

Production Credits

Producer: Don Gilmore

Engineer: Jeff Blue

Recorded at: NRG Recording Studios (North Hollywood, CA)

Signal Chain

Instrument: Yamaha CP-70

Processing: Boss CE-1

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Yamaha CP-70 or a high-quality sample library of one. If using a digital piano, experiment with settings to emulate the CP-70's tone.
  • Use a chorus pedal/plugin like the Boss CE-1 sparingly, with a slow rate and shallow depth, to create subtle movement without overwhelming the original sound.
  • If possible, ever-so-slightly detune the piano signal, be subtle. Consider adjusting the tuning of individual notes rather than a global pitch shift.
  • EQ the piano to remove any excessive brightness, focusing on the low-mid frequencies to add body and warmth.
  • Use a touch of reverb, but keep it dark and subtle, enhancing the sense of space without washing out the detail.

Original Gear

  • Yamaha CP-70(keyboard)
  • Boss CE-1(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Arturia V Collection - Stage-73 V$599

Alternative to: Yamaha CP-70 Electric Grand Piano

Includes authentic CP-70 modeling with the original's percussive attack and metallic sustain characteristics

ReverbSweetwater
Boss CE-2W Waza Craft Chorus$199

Alternative to: Boss CE-1 Chorus

Modern recreation of vintage Boss chorus circuitry with the subtle, warm modulation of the original CE-1

ReverbSweetwater
Native Instruments The Giant$199

Alternative to: Yamaha CP-70 Electric Grand Piano

High-quality samples of vintage electric pianos including CP-70 sounds with authentic tine resonance and pickup modeling

ReverbSweetwater
TC Electronic Corona Chorus$149

Alternative to: Boss CE-1 Chorus

Versatile chorus pedal capable of subtle vintage-style modulation similar to the CE-1's gentle movement

ReverbSweetwater
Soundtoys MicroShift$99

Alternative to: Boss CE-1 Chorus

Provides subtle pitch modulation and widening effects that can recreate the spatial enhancement of vintage chorus

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

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