piano from “hold the line” by toto | ToneDB
hold the line
toto
piano
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
A bright, slightly compressed piano sound with a touch of chorus, providing a solid foundation for the song's harmonic structure. It's got a clear attack and a sustained resonance that blends well with the other instruments.
Gear
- Yamaha CP-70instrument
- ReverbSweetwater
- Roland CE-1processing
- Reverb$3000Sweetwater
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The Story
The piano sound on Toto's "Hold the Line" was created using a Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano processed through a Roland CE-1 chorus pedal. The CP-70 was a popular studio instrument in the late 70s that used real hammers and strings with electromagnetic pickups to capture an acoustic piano's characteristics while being more portable than a full grand piano. The Roland CE-1 chorus added width and movement to the sound.
Production Credits
Producer: Toto
Engineer: Greg Ladanyi
Recorded at: Studio 55, Los Angeles
Signal Chain
Instrument: Yamaha CP-70
Processing: Roland CE-1
Recreation Tips
- Start with a bright piano sound, either acoustic or sampled.
- Use a chorus effect with moderate depth and rate to add a sense of width and movement.
- Slight compression can help even out the dynamics and make the piano sit better in the mix.
- EQ to taste, focusing on the high frequencies for clarity and presence.
Original Gear
- Yamaha CP-70(keyboard)
- Roland CE-1(pedal)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano
Includes authentic CP-70 samples and modeling that captures the original's unique hammer-and-string character with built-in effects
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Roland CE-1 chorus pedal
Modern recreation of vintage Boss chorus circuits with similar lush, wide modulation characteristics to the CE-1
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Yamaha CP-70 + Roland CE-1 combination
Detailed software emulation of the CP-70 with built-in vintage chorus effects that recreate the exact tonal characteristics
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano
Modern Yamaha stage piano with dedicated CP-70 samples and the company's deep knowledge of their original instrument's sound
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Roland CE-1 chorus pedal
Budget option with vintage chorus modes that can approximate the CE-1's wide, lush modulation for piano applications
ReverbSweetwaterFrequently Asked Questions
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