Sample library developers go to great lengths to include pedal thumps and other noises to add "realism" to their piano libraries (I always turn it off or down).
 
Meanwhile other software developers devise ways to remove thuds from real piano recordings.
 

Just wait until the fashion is to record sampled instruments with the noises and then process them out later.  The theory being that the artifiacts from removing the noise convince people that the original instrument was real.

Glyn Barnes
Sample library developers go to great lengths to include pedal thumps and other noises to add "realism" to their piano libraries (I always turn it off or down).
 
Meanwhile other software developers devise ways to remove thuds from real piano recordings.
 

Never got that concept either. It's the same as key clacks from woodwinds. Never heard either in a recording.

Maybe it's because traditionally people have complained about the lack of realism.  If something sounds too perfect, it doesn't often work.
Those thumps would add realism.
 
I don't use them either, but I could see them if you were trying for a "Tom Waits" type of production.  A lot of his recordings haven't had great production, but there's something endearing in it.

kitekrazy1
 
Never heard either in a recording.

Exactly.
 
Not in a pop recording anyway.
 
Listen to Glenn Gould recordings and you can hear him mumbling the tune as he plays.
 
It's what your going for I guess.
 
But if it's pop, then no you don't want that.
 
Like Glyn says, I always turn the keyup or pedal sound way down or off.

Slugbaby
Maybe it's because traditionally people have complained about the lack of realism.  If something sounds too perfect, it doesn't often work.
Those thumps would add realism.
 
I don't use them either, but I could see them if you were trying for a "Tom Waits" type of production.  A lot of his recordings haven't had great production, but there's something endearing in it.

 Marketing gimmick.  Most fishing lures are designed to catch anglers than fish.

The most common "oddity" to me is removing breath sounds.  I grew up listening to vocalists on records taking breaths.  To me, it's a subtle way of engaging the listener by periodically reminding them they're listening to someone who's expressive and communicating a part of themselves. 
 
I guess in this age of Auto-tune, that matters less (or none at all).

Great thread Glyn! What do you do when you see "best sounding Farfisa library ever". If it sounds good it doesn't sound like a Farfisa does. If it's accurate, it sounds like crap.

I usually remove most of the key and pedal sounds in a busy mix, but I might retain a small amount for the solo piano stuff.
 
However, one of my favorite tracks by Jon Hopkins uses the squeak of a pedal or bench as a percussion accompaniment. I suspect he's using a real recorded piano, though I'm not sure about that.
 
 
 [tube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8eQR5DMous[/tube]
-Tom
 
 

BassDaddy
Great thread Glyn! What do you do when you see "best sounding Farfisa library ever". If it sounds good it doesn't sound like a Farfisa does. If it's accurate, it sounds like crap.

Good point well presented.