KVR Audio

poonna · Post by **poonna** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:54 am

I've seen Sonic Reality Piano Collection for $70 inc. ST2 LE, and been very tempted. However, I'm wondering if there are alternatives out there.

What I'm looking for are a good bright piano suitable for pop/rock (Yamaha Grand?), a mellower one like Steinway, a CP70/80 electric grand, a funky Hohner Clav, and a few more, but mainly those listed.

SR Piano Collection looks like a very cost-effective solution, but some of the samples are very small, so I'm not sure about the quality. But I couldn't find anything else out there that pack this much for this low price.

Do you know of any alternatives, perhaps at a bit higher price? Please note that I don't have any sampler apart from WusikStation and the free sfz, and I'm not quite satisfied with the Wusik's included samples.

Thanks,

Poonna

jeffn1 · Post by **jeffn1** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 12:28 pm

I would look at one of the Post Musical Instruments pianos for $50.00 each. Perhaps the Bosendofer 290:

http://www.postpiano.com/products/prod_ ... dorfer+290

[Edit: Sorry I did not read through your full post. It requires Kontakt or Giga]

jeffn1

pethu · Post by **pethu** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 12:38 pm

For the electric pianos, you can check out the Precisionsound keyboard bundle, in sfz format:

http://www.store.precisionsound.net/pro ... DEFEBUNDLE

...although I myself stick to the physcally modelled stuff: MrRay73, MrTramp, and TickyClav for clavinet...

EDIT: OK, that was another answer to a question not put -- I could've SWORN you asked for the usual electric stuff, too!

To make amends, the cheapest really decent CP70 available is this, I think:

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/2431.html

It uses the samples from the Hollowsound Definitive CP70, but wraps them in its own player.

jeffn1 · Post by **jeffn1** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 3:06 pm

I think you might consider Ivory (does not need a separate sample player) for all your acoustic pianos and I think there are free (MrRay73, MrTramp, and TickyClav?) or low cost options for the other instruments.

I know its more than you want to spend.

jeffn1

dougsyo · Post by **dougsyo** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 3:38 pm

I have the SR piano collection, and I'm generally happy with it. I have Sampletekk's Rain Piano and C7Jr (they require Kontakt) ... but to me the SR C7 sounds just as good as Sampletekk's and is physically smaller.

I agree to check out MrRay73, MrTramp and TickyClav. Ivory is kinda overwhelming to me though, esp if you have to add on a disk drive for it, or if you have a slow laptop drive (like I do).

EXSC can convert from Kontakt to either Wusik or sfz. I assume that sfz won't stream sfz format data (DimPro won't), so you need a lot of RAM for large multisamples in that format, but Wusik has just announced streaming support.

VSampler will also import/play Kontakt and export in soundfont format, which sfz can play.... but if you don't have Kontakt, you may want to see about getting that and check what's bundled with it.

Doug

poonna · Post by **poonna** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 4:08 pm

Ivory is overkill, I think.

I found lite versions of PMI Emperor and Old Lady in soundfont format, sold for $10 each. Do you think they are good?

Bassballjg · Post by **Bassballjg** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 4:39 pm

I'll endorse the SR Piano Collection. It is simplyexcellent for everyday use as an ensemble instrument, you really only need to go high-end if you are an actual pianist and do a lot of solo stuff. I also like Mr Ray, and then there is this:

http://www.araldfx.com/grandelectrix.php

clonewar · Post by **clonewar** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:00 am

The ArtVista Virtual Grand Piano is beautiful for softer type of material. It's a Kompakt player instrument so you don't need a sampler, and it's a great value at $120. www.artvista.net.

I use the Post PMI Old Lady (Steinway) and Emperor (Bosey) a lot too, they both have very nice distinct sounds, but you need either Giga or Kontakt to use them.

For that bright pop sound that needs to cut through a mix I usually turn to the Vintaudio C7, but that's also in Giga or Kontakt format..

precisionsound · Post by **precisionsound** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 1:22 am

We, Precisionsound, have an upright piano that you should take a listen to (Nordic Upright Piano). It may be what you are looking for.

Here is a direct link to one of the demos:
http://www.samplesets.scorpionshops.com ... Groove.mp3

Here you can read more about it and listen to more demos:
http://www.store.precisionsound.net/nordicinfo.php

Best,
Lars

matto · Post by **matto** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:53 pm

poonna wrote:I've seen Sonic Reality Piano Collection for $70 inc. ST2 LE, and been very tempted. However, I'm wondering if there are alternatives out there.

What I'm looking for are a good bright piano suitable for pop/rock (Yamaha Grand?), a mellower one like Steinway, a CP70/80 electric grand, a funky Hohner Clav, and a few more, but mainly those listed.

The Piano Collection is good. You could buy far better solutions for just about every instrument in it, but not in a single collection, or anywhere near this price. Plus since you don't have a widely supported sampler your options are limited anway.
As long as you don't expect too much, I think the Piano Collection would be a good buy. Just realize that these are not solo/feature quality instruments.
But they work well in a track.

poonna · Post by **poonna** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:32 pm

Thanks, everyone, for your opinions. I think I'll get SR Piano Collection first, then expand later if need arises.

jeffn1 · Post by **jeffn1** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:13 pm

This might be a good option. They are having a 50% off sale:

http://www.sampletekk.com/

Check out Northern Sounds for more input.

jeffn1

rpc9943 · Post by **rpc9943** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:24 pm

yeah man i love sampletekk!! too bad im out of cash- ive got enough pianos anyways

leonard · Post by **leonard** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:52 pm

I like a lot and recommend both the Vintaudio and the PMI.

.jon · Post by **.jon** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 1:00 pm

Have you tried the various free soundfonts?

Maestro Malmsjö Grand Piano, Splendid Grand Piano? I like those and then Natural Studio Piano and Natural Studio Broadway. Clavinova is a nice, small soundfont with "punchy" sound.

A good low-cost piano collection out there?