KVR Audio

Thomas_Pynchon · Post by **Thomas_Pynchon** » Wed May 21, 2014 5:05 pm

Ive tried quite a few but haven't found any with a really nice soft tone when played very quietly (as in Morton Feldman type of quiet beautiful bell like tone quality) and preferably a few different layers at that very soft level.

Most I have found are way to loud without variety.

Thanks

BBFG# · Post by **BBFG#** » Wed May 21, 2014 5:24 pm

Most sampled ones seem to have a 'dead' spot in them to me. They're okay in the really loud and kind of soft ranges, but have their weakness somewhere in the mid soft where they think no one will notice I guess. Of course, there are many that seem to leave out the soft range completely and give you that suddenly muddy version as a compensation for it. CineSamples Piano in Blue is probably the nicest I've been turned on to for Kontakt sounds. And the Infinite Player Yamaha C7 for Kontakt is decently balanced.

I do find I like the modeled pianos better though. XLN and Pianoteq being the obvious suspects. I have XLN and like it well enough, once I started making my own settings. But my favorite in their collection is not the 'real pianos' but the Electric Grand. Go figure.
Mostly though, my 'go-to' pianos are in hardware. Kronos and Motif. Modeled and romplered, but without the inherent 'dead zones'.

Real Grooves Audio · Post by **Real Grooves Audio** » Wed May 21, 2014 5:41 pm

You might like a sample set called "Emotional Piano" by Soundiron.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Wed May 21, 2014 5:47 pm

BBFG# wrote:I do find I like the modeled pianos better though. XLN and Pianoteq being the obvious suspects. I have XLN and like it well enough, once I started making my own settings. But my favorite in their collection is not the 'real pianos' but the Electric Grand. Go figure.

XLN pianos aren't modelled.

BTW, OP, if you want JUST the soft sound, you might wanna try the free Intimate Piano, if you're asking for sampled pianos. Me, I'm a Pianoteq guy through-and-through (despite the fact that I scripted the above mentioned Intimate Piano).

BBFG# · Post by **BBFG#** » Wed May 21, 2014 6:23 pm

EvilDragon wrote:
BBFG# wrote:I do find I like the modeled pianos better though. XLN and Pianoteq being the obvious suspects. I have XLN and like it well enough, once I started making my own settings. But my favorite in their collection is not the 'real pianos' but the Electric Grand. Go figure.
XLN pianos aren't modelled.

Thanks for letting me know! I really thought they were and that explains why I still go to my Kronos first I guess. I really have NO love for the XLN Electric Piano and like I said, the Electric Grand is actually my favorite in that collection. Electrics are something I turn to my Kronos for also, but ITB, I'm more apt to open the Lounge Lizard for a responsive Electric. I have the demo of PianoTeq and again like the pianos well enough after playing with the settings to suite my taste. Again though, NO love of their Electrics and although it's been a bit since I've opened it up, I don't remember there being an Electric Grand in the demo library to try. So I'll have to put the XLN Grand and Upright in the group with Cinesamples Piano in Blue and Infinite Player C7. I can even add the Alicia Keys to that group once I tweak the sound out of the pre-programmed spinet church sound.
But I still hate the NI Grands and think of the Giant as a percussion effect intsrument rather than a piano.

Still can't justify the price of PianoTeq yet, even though it seems well worth it. I got XLN in the stupid deals, and Cinesamples during a half off, and I'm happy enoough with them for the price.
And actually, the STank2 pianos are decent enough for practicing.

BlackWinny · Post by **BlackWinny** » Wed May 21, 2014 6:33 pm

Before my purchase of Pianoteq, I used all the collection of EZkeys. Very nice in quiet playing music (I play neo-romantic and new age piano, so we are wholeheartedly in the style that you mention).

They are not expensive and they are the best quality/price rate I have seen (in my opinion) on the market for sampled pianos. With samples of pianos, the opinions vary inevitably depending of each person, it's normal because the sound of a piano is something directly to each own feeling and memories acquired with our personal years.

These EZkeys pinao also have a good feature to make little and simple compositions with the excellent circle of fifth tool that they include, but that... it's an argument which is not really useful for musicians who are actually good players and quite experienced in composition with the standard tools (Finale, Sibelius, etc.). Mine is Sibelius, without preference, simply because that's just how it turned out.

The real good side of these pianos of the collection EZkeys is really the quality of their samples. Very nice (in my opinion).

Those from Sampletank are not bad also. And even I'd say that I truly like them. But in my opinion they are a bit of less quality. Perhaps because sampled long years ago with a technology a bit out-of-date now. But they have their charm, really. I wait for what will be the next Sampletank 3, announced for the mid-year (and that I'll purchase, it's firmly decided, for many ethnic instruments I have in Sampletank 2 and that I will still be able to use with the version 3).

Other than that... like EvilDragon I'm a Pianoteq unconditional... and I'd say even unreserved. For me it is of far better quality than all the samples I have heard until today. And for the price... I haven't hesitated. And I don't regret at all. For me Pianoteq is the piano where I go immediately. Far, far, far better that all the samples I have heard. And I repeat: I play neo-romantic and new age pieces of piano, so wholeheartedly in the style that you mention.

I keep my collection of EZkeys (that I have mentioned because I have pointed precisely "samples pianos") simply because I really appreciate their wonderful quality and I have purchased Pianoteq after them, but my go-to piano is without any reserve Pianoteq.

BBFG# · Post by **BBFG#** » Wed May 21, 2014 6:54 pm

Well, with that, I'll definitely be opening my PianoTeq Demo today and giving it another run through.

Thomas_Pynchon · Post by **Thomas_Pynchon** » Wed May 21, 2014 7:48 pm

Thanks, I'm in the process of checking some of those out. I should have mentioned that the style of music is classical (contemporary, something suitable for very soft debussy perhaps), and a concert grand sound is what I would prefer. But some of those might work just fine. Currently using galaxy vienna grand, not enough variety at the softest level though. I would like to try the newer American concert D from Synthogy, but seeing if I cant find an alternative before buying it.

Will check those other recommendations out, some look like they should be good.

Echoes in the Attic · Post by **Echoes in the Attic** » Wed May 21, 2014 8:06 pm

Try this:
http://www.spitfireaudio.com/felt-piano

I also quite like the Imperfect Samples Pianos for their softer intimate side. Like the braunschweig:
http://www.imperfectsamples.com/website ... tpiano.php

BERFAB · Post by **BERFAB** » Wed May 21, 2014 8:20 pm

My new go-to is the 'Mellow Piano" patch in Halion Sonic 2. It has a very nice collection of many different types of pianos and keys.

bigjerome · Post by **bigjerome** » Wed May 21, 2014 8:25 pm

Check out Evolution Rosewood Grand by Orange Tree Samples
http://www.orangetreesamples.com/evolut ... wood-grand

BBFG# · Post by **BBFG#** » Wed May 21, 2014 8:28 pm

Thomas_Pynchon wrote:Thanks, I'm in the process of checking some of those out. I should have mentioned that the style of music is classical (contemporary, something suitable for very soft debussy perhaps), and a concert grand sound is what I would prefer. But some of those might work just fine. Currently using galaxy vienna grand, not enough variety at the softest level though. I would like to try the newer American concert D from Synthogy, but seeing if I cant find an alternative before buying it.

Will check those other recommendations out, some look like they should be good.

My wife's playing style is mostly new age, I'm more 70's jazz fusion (ala Hammer/MO-Corea/RTF). Pianos are important to both of us. And we seem to have good days and bad days with them. Good days are when they seem to meet what we need and bad days are when we wonder what we ever heard in that version of pianos. The truth is that happens with most instruments for us. But I'm really checking out the Modartt site right now and they even have a free add-on for a CP-80 Electric, but it sounds quite different from the processed version for the XLN Electric Grand. The Modartt upright appeals to me along with the K2 and I've just downloaded the new demo to run through (I have the version 4 demo).
I know have a few pianos I would like to completely dump if I could though...

BlackWinny · Post by **BlackWinny** » Wed May 21, 2014 8:38 pm

Thomas_Pynchon wrote:I should have mentioned that the style of music is classical (contemporary, something suitable for very soft debussy perhaps)

It seems that we have somewhat the same tastes, me, you, BBFG#'s wife...

In contemporary, do you know some players like Kevin Kern, George Winston...

Do you know "Le piano d'Abigail", a chef d'oeuvre of Saint-Preux? Here is for example the first track of the album:

And the wonderful second track:

And you probably know the "Gnossiennes" and "Gymnopedies" of Erik Satie?

And "Bilitis", "Emmanuelle, "Love Story", etc. from Francis Lai? Marvelously romantic...

I'm in love also of Yuriko Nakamura. Hours and hours to play her . I have all her albums.

If yes you feel a deep emotion hearing these examples of music, so we have the same tastes, I spend lots of times to play them, and the pianos I have suggested in samples (EZkeys Grand Piano for example) will actually fit, really. Pianoteq also is really nice in its softest velocities.

I don't know the others, suggested by our friends, but I trust them also. Their suggestions are certainly nice to keep in mind and to try. One thing which is sure is that you will not be deceived by these pianos I have suggested, mainly EZKeys Grand Piano... since it seems that we play the same kind of music.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Wed May 21, 2014 9:06 pm

BERFAB wrote:My new go-to is the 'Mellow Piano" patch in Halion Sonic 2. It has a very nice collection of many different types of pianos and keys.

That's weird, I don't seem to have that patch

Gonga · Post by **Gonga** » Wed May 21, 2014 9:33 pm

I love the soft side of Alicia's Keys (Yamaha C3 Neo grand piano). You can hear it at 13:34 on

https://soundcloud.com/dan-ling/wintersolstice

http://www.native-instruments.com/en/pr ... cias-keys/

Best sampled Piano with beautiful soft tone when played QUIETLY