best piano library

[grey bird]

What's the best piano library out there?

[dougsyo]

What's the best piano library out there?

"best" is very subjective. This topic comes up at least once a month in the instruments board, I think.

My personal list right now:

- Truepianos at the top.
- sampletekk libraries (I prefer Old Lady and 7CGjr depending on mood - I use these in Kontakt).
- IK Expansion Tank Piano Collection C7 (the EP's in this are pretty good too, requires Sampletank engine. IIRC this is in Sonik Synth too)

I have others I "like but don't use" like the C5 in DimPro non-free add-on.

Doug

[dickiefunk]

Hi. I'm also in the process of buying a new piano VSTi at the moment. I've been listening to stacks of mp3 demos and my favorites are:-

Galaxy Pianos II
True Pianos
Bluthner Digital model one
Art Vista Virtual Grand Piano

I have also checked out

Ivory
Pianoteq
The Grand 2
Akoustik Piano

I currently own Sampletekks Black Grand Close and White Grand which are pretty nice but I didn't find them as playable as the True Pianos demo. I also don't like the fact that on my current computer they use loads of CPU which is useless in a bigger project! I also have Sampletank 2.0XL and have downloaded various extra pianos from esoundz and the East West Bosendorfer 290.
The Art Vista Virtual Grand Piano has just been updated to v2.0 and the Garritan Steinway and Quantum Leap Pianos are being released very soon!

My favourite at the moment is the Galaxy Pianos 2.0. I love the sound of this one and it is possible to buy the pianos separately from sounds in demand. I also really like True Pianos for it's sound, low cpu and easy interface.

I've decided to go for True Pianos because it is almost half the price of the others (apart from Art Vista VGP) and I can also use it on my laptop because of the low cpu. Also, True Pianos is going to be updated to v2.0 later in the year which could be awesome!

[grey bird]

Check the new Quantum Pianos. That's insane. And the demos are not drenched in a ton of huge hall like most piano demos. I guess they do that to hide the reality.

[AKJ]

pmi hybrid pianos: great concept!

[klagga]

I've given up on getting a VST-piano that really can make a real piano superfluous when recording. (I talk about a real solo piano setting here, not some few plonks in the background of your next trance hit.)

For a while I really liked the Blüthner, it's the best best sounding and best working piano I've tried in the VST-world. And I've tried TruePiano, Pianoteq, SampleTekk Black grand, and some others too.

But compared to the dynamics of a real piano, they all don't even come close. (I'm no professional concert pianist, but I'm classical trained and I've played real pianos all my life, so here I feel like I know what I'm talking about.)

So, if the VST-piano doesn't have any believable dynamics and nuances, why even try making that impression anyway? Right now, I've instead settled for a piano that doesn't make too much claims, but still have lots of personality - the ships piano, http://www.virb.com/dulcitone1884

"The ships piano is no Blüthner or Steinway, and there's no chance of extracting rich sonorous tones from this fella ...but its charming simplicity has lots and lots of useful character. Its very plinky without being too plonky....if you know what I mean."

[eduardo_b]

I've given up on getting a VST-piano that really can make a real piano superfluous when recording. (I talk about a real solo piano setting here, not some few plonks in the background of your next trance hit.)

But compared to the dynamics of a real piano, they all don't even come close. (I'm no professional concert pianist, but I'm classical trained and I've played real pianos all my life, so here I feel like I know what I'm talking about.)

Experienced guitar players say the same thing about amp sims, which raises the question of who these VSTi products are meant for. To me, neither a piano nor guitar player, they sound fine. For $300 or less one is able to experience the qualities of instruments and hardware that are otherwise, for a variety of real world reasons, unavailable or unobtainable.

I have long advocated a pragmatic approach to this, because only trained, experienced musicians and a small number of critical listeners are going to hear the deficiencies that no one else will be aware of or even know exist. It's really that simple. Much of the music and soundtrack orchestration heard today is virtual, and audiences accept these as the real deal because for all practical purposes they are indistinguishable. Which is, in many ways, the real measure of success, although for artists it may not seem like it should be. Tell that to IK, NI and VSL.

[pekadan]

pmi hybrid pianos: great concept!

+1

Yeah, great concept! I use PMI Hybrid Pianos myself and I love the sound and playability. By mixing string, body resonance, room ambience and noise samples, you can come up with pianos with very special character. You need to enjoy fiddling around a bit with Kontakt though (which isn't too bad).

[Waker]

I really like the sampletekk pianos, and have the big one and the Bossendörpher. I'm thinking about getting the Garritan Steinway :
http://www.garritan.com/steinway.html

[klagga]

I've given up on getting a VST-piano that really can make a real piano superfluous when recording. (I talk about a real solo piano setting here, not some few plonks in the background of your next trance hit.)

But compared to the dynamics of a real piano, they all don't even come close. (I'm no professional concert pianist, but I'm classical trained and I've played real pianos all my life, so here I feel like I know what I'm talking about.)

Experienced guitar players say the same thing about amp sims, which raises the question of who these VSTi products are meant for. To me, neither a piano nor guitar player, they sound fine. For $300 or less one is able to experience the qualities of instruments and hardware that are otherwise, for a variety of real world reasons, unavailable or unobtainable.

I have long advocated a pragmatic approach to this, because only trained, experienced musicians and a small number of critical listeners are going to hear the deficiencies that no one else will be aware of or even know exist. It's really that simple. Much of the music and soundtrack orchestration heard today is virtual, and audiences accept these as the real deal because for all practical purposes they are indistinguishable. Which is, in many ways, the real measure of success, although for artists it may not seem like it should be. Tell that to IK, NI and VSL.

As I now use the VST ships piano, I feel like I've taken a rather pragmatic approach to this question myself.

[MaxSynths]

What's the best piano library out there?

Considering the prices, you can go for a second hand no-so-good piano: it's real and sounds just like a piano. Better than any emulation.

[William Sharkey]

MDA Piano

[ATS]

IK Expansion Tank Piano Collection

[cyanogen]

I'm leaning towards Truepianos, although I haven't tried the demo yet. I've been looking for something that doesn't take up a whole bunch of hard drive space.

Virtual pianos are more practical for people with limited space (e.g. apartments). If I had a real grand piano, I'd barely be able to fit past my front door. My neighbors wouldn't be too happy about it, either. (The guy living next to me blasts his stereo at 2am or later. He can go to hell.)

[Reverend Rhythm]

Right now, I've instead settled for a piano that doesn't make too much claims, but still have lots of personality - the ships piano, http://www.virb.com/dulcitone1884

"The ships piano is no Blüthner or Steinway, and there's no chance of extracting rich sonorous tones from this fella ...but its charming simplicity has lots and lots of useful character. Its very plinky without being too plonky....if you know what I mean."

I'd really like to hear something you have done with the ships piano. Do you have anything you could post? It looks interesting and full of character. I'm just curious how it would sound in a tune.