KVR Audio

musicworld · Post by **musicworld** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 1:14 am

Hi

With the intent on recording a solo piano album what VST plugin would be best recommended ? I've sampled through EWQL Pianos, Galaxy 2, Steinway Vintage D and Ivory 2.

I know it's down to personal preference but advice would be helpful.

Thanks.

Shy · Post by **Shy** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 2:21 am

If you want to record a solo piano album and must use a virtual piano, use a Yamaha CP300 (rent it or something if you must). It's the only virtual piano other than CP5 and CP1 that will give you a really good sound for a solo piano album. Before anyone says "but hey it's not a plugin and this is a plugin forum", whatever, I don't have the heart to tell the guy to use any of the plugins he mentioned for his solo piano album.

anzoid · Post by **anzoid** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:43 am

You could check out 4Front's "TruePianos" and the very very recently (like yesterday) released Pianoteq 4 by Modartt. They're both physically modelled pianos rather than a bunch of samples (no offense to samples...) From what I understand they have both been used on solo projects quite successfully.

lowcloud · Post by **lowcloud** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:09 am

You probably don't need another option, but Sampletekk 'Black' is a recently released piano plugin.
http://www.sampletekk.com/proddetail.ph ... R-039-KONT

qube123 · Post by **qube123** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:17 am

Of that list I've used EWQL & Ivory 2. I think the East West plug has a slight edge on the sound, just sounds more inviting. Both need a decent machine with SSD's to get high polyphony. They also can sound a little raw on their own and need a bit of production adding to them to get the right sound.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:43 am

Solo piano? Pianoteq 4, freshly released! Nothing else plays better or sounds better.

www.pianoteq.com

Burillo · Post by **Burillo** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:49 am

I second Pianoteq... finally, string resonance done right! you can silently press and hold a note, then hit an octave-lower note (and quickly release it) and hear how your original note resonates. Try that with sampled instruments.

qube123 · Post by **qube123** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:52 am

I demoed Pianoteq 3 and although it was nice n light it sounded too 'modeled' & artificial for me. Not tried 4 mind so that might be a lot better.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:55 am

PTQ4 is indeed another quantum leap in modeling achievements. A lot of satisfied users back at Modartt forums, seems like everybody loved the upgrade price of 29€ (and mind you the upgrade price for Pianoteq 1-3 was FREE!). I must say that I absolutely adore the addition of convolution reverb, preamp simulation (a Fender Bassman, so it's great for EPs!), and compressor.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:01 am

Burillo wrote:I second Pianoteq... finally, string resonance done right! you can silently press and hold a note, then hit an octave-lower note (and quickly release it) and hear how your original note resonates. Try that with sampled instruments.

Yep, that doesn't happen with sampled pianos. And no sampled piano has repedalling done correctly, no sampled piano has the harmonic pedal (which is an amazing effect in its own right!), no sampled piano has a correct response when hitting an already vibrating string (phase cancellations occur, this thing is pretty much impossible to achieve with samples), etc...

Nothing plays like Pianoteq. Bar none.

Shy · Post by **Shy** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:23 am

I've tried to figure out how much better Pianoteq 4 is than 3, and I can just say not much, and it's definitely not something I'd use for a solo piano album.

is something I'd use. It sounds excellent and like an actual, quality piano (even YouTube's horrible compression can't hide that) and it's very "playable" as well (just like CP300). Sorry about my earlier post, I completely forgot about the CP33 which has the same sounds but costs half as much as CP300.
When some software gives me something like it, I'd instantly recommend it for a solo piano album and more.

Edit: demos with better sound quality and

afreshcupofjoe · Post by **afreshcupofjoe** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:05 am

Are you joking, Shy? I can't imagine you are serious. The CP300 uses a 40mb 3 layer sample set. It may be a really nicely sampled piano, but it's still a 40mb sample set with only 3 velocity layers. That's laughable compared to most software sample sets. Physical modelling plugins like Pianoteq and sample sets like Ivory have surpassed the CP300 by miles. The CP300 not even in the same league as far as sound authenticity. I listened to that youtube clip and quite honestly it sounds incredibly fake and silly.

It's a very nice keyboard and I'm sure it's a great instrument for performance or to use as a midi controller. I'm sure it's a dream to play, but as a sound module for recording a solo piano album? Come on!

Shy · Post by **Shy** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:13 am

No, I'm not kidding. I don't know what it uses, but it sounds much better than Ivory at anything (and sounds more "authentic"). If you listen to Pianoteq and still think it can be suitable for a solo album, what can I say? "Are you joking" is one thing I could say.

Kees49 · Post by **Kees49** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:16 am

I just tried the demo of Pianoteq 4. It sounds very artificial.
The best piano I can recommend is TruePianos, the Emerald module.
It has that woody Steinway sound I like.

afreshcupofjoe · Post by **afreshcupofjoe** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:46 am

Shy wrote:No, I'm not kidding. I don't know what it uses, but it sounds much better than Ivory at anything (and sounds more "authentic"). If you listen to Pianoteq and still think it can be suitable for a solo album, what can I say? "Are you joking" is one thing I could say.

I don't think there is any substitute for a real piano, personally. But I don't see how it's possible that a 40mb 3 layer sample set sounds "more authentic" than something like Ivory or Pianoteq. I don't care how nice of a keyboard you package that sample set in, it's still a just a 40mb sample set with only 3 velocity layers. The youtube videos don't help your case much. They sound like a digital stage piano to me.

What's more likely, that Yamaha has some sort of magical sampling technology that allows them to cram an unprecedented amount of realism into a 40mb 3 layer sample set, or that you are deluding yourself into thinking the CP300 sounds more realistic because it has a fantastic keyboard that feels and responds like a real piano (with almost zero latency)? My bet is on the latter.

EDIT:

And to the OP, if you want my vote on the most authentic sounding sample set for solo work, definitely give these a look:
http://www.imperfectsamples.com/

For physical modeling I prefer Pianoteq over Truepianos, but personally I would use a sample set for best authenticity if I couldn't record a real piano. As with everything, there are trade-offs, and physical modeled pianos are a lot better for capturing certain nuances of a performance. They also "feel" better than playing a sample set, but in the end I just don't think physical modelling is quite there yet. There is something still too dead and sterile about physically modeled pianos, even though they sound fairly realistic.

-My 2 cents.

Best Plugin For Solo Piano Works ???