Hello! I got a few nice pianos in my music computer. Some came with the GarageBand and logic pro x installation, others I've gotten along the way. Need a bigger lot of alternatives. Can pay for good samples of course. The ones in logic are okay, but sound a bit stale at times, especially for rock or even dance. Would like to find alternatives that don´t brake the bank (I mean like $200-300, would rather find for about 60-120 if possible). There are great plugins like EZ piano and some equivalents to that, but they sound too nice at times. The Ivory uprights are really nice, but they are like 25GB each, which is fine if you´re finishing off a production or playing for fun. But it tends to be too big for writing or even demos. takes a while to just start the projects.
That´s not the biggest thing of course, quality and tone is more important, naturally.
Let me know if anyone has some alternatives. Like pianos, use them a lot. Dont really like the staleness of a Boesendorfer or even a steinway. More like the imperfect samples ones or so.
Found some cool ones on different sites:
Versilstudios - upright:
http://vis.versilstudios.net/upright-1.html
This one is an upright but lacks the box, I think. Not enough body, more like a grand or baby grand.
The Ivory 2 Uprights are great of course, have those, love em but too nice at times:
https://synthogy.com/index.php/products ... ght-pianos
I use ivory for writing but the Vintage Upright 1914 I can sit and play a while, beautiful.
Brasted upright is a bit broken for what im out for, but the sound is so unique, very much like it:
http://www.imperfectsamples.com/website ... videos.php
Keypleezer, the Livingroom Upright Piano is interesting, had a play on the free version, was nice, 3 layers though, waiting for the full/real version. But sound is very close and light out of tune, not as much as the brasted. Will be a writing tool probably.
http://keypleezer.com
There are some nice samples in sampletank, one upright, good for writing and sketching cause there are lots of patches, but the detail is on the lower end of the spectrum. Still want pianos that can play alone, with release sounds and such things.
Let me know of the ones you like and use! Thanks. I´m convinced there are more great ones out there.
Need help finding more sampled pianos, free or paid
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- KVRer
- 12 posts since 17 Nov, 2017
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- KVRAF
- 1791 posts since 17 Sep, 2002
NI Una Corda is currently a workhorse in my arsenal, but in a weird way. It's got lots of cool sound design snapshots, and is very versatile in that regard (The "Play Less" snapshot is a great starting point for exploring its sound design capabilities). But I personally use it to layer with other keyboard sounds. I'll stack it with NI The Gentleman to add that je ne sais quoi that just seems to round out the sound in a pleasing way. I'll also layer it with a rhodes/pianet/wurli sound for the a similar rounding/fluffing/fattening effect on electric keys.
It's got a unique sound that, while interesting and beautiful (and, I'll say it again: versatile), doesn't always quite fit the bill on its own, particularly if you are going for a more traditional piano tone. But "season" your other keyboard sounds with it and you may be quite surprised.
The miscellaneous mechanical noises are a bit much in a lot of the snapshots, but can easily be dialed back.
Currently on sale for $74.50 over at NI.
edit: I should say, I'm not a purist when it comes to piano, nor am I classically trained in any way, so I can't speak to how "real" it is, but it's sampled by Galaxy Instruments and they seem to know a thing or two about sampling pianos.
It's got a unique sound that, while interesting and beautiful (and, I'll say it again: versatile), doesn't always quite fit the bill on its own, particularly if you are going for a more traditional piano tone. But "season" your other keyboard sounds with it and you may be quite surprised.
The miscellaneous mechanical noises are a bit much in a lot of the snapshots, but can easily be dialed back.
Currently on sale for $74.50 over at NI.
edit: I should say, I'm not a purist when it comes to piano, nor am I classically trained in any way, so I can't speak to how "real" it is, but it's sampled by Galaxy Instruments and they seem to know a thing or two about sampling pianos.
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- KVRAF
- 2212 posts since 20 Sep, 2013 from Poland
Garritan did a light version of their CFX recently. Production Voices also have some smaller piano libs which sample Japanese grands - if nothing else, grab the free Estate Grand LE.
And you could get Pianoteq, if you don't insist on samples. In your price range you can get the non-tweakable "Player" edition. I get a lot of mileage out of the two smaller 1920s grands, which are basically free thrown-ins. Though I guess not being able to tweak things meaning you can't set the condition of the piano to be somewhat used and imperfectly tuned would be a big negative for you - you'd have to use preexisting presets.
And you could get Pianoteq, if you don't insist on samples. In your price range you can get the non-tweakable "Player" edition. I get a lot of mileage out of the two smaller 1920s grands, which are basically free thrown-ins. Though I guess not being able to tweak things meaning you can't set the condition of the piano to be somewhat used and imperfectly tuned would be a big negative for you - you'd have to use preexisting presets.
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- KVRAF
- 2066 posts since 11 Aug, 2012 from omfr morf form romf frmo
Keyscape. It's expensive but you get a LOT of piano out of it (comes out to around $15/model). Lots of interesting presets and combinations as well.
Also seconding Pianoteq, some really interesting modelled selections and you can demo them all.
Native Instruments the Giant, it's a Klavins 370 with an interesting convolution engine.
Spitfire Labs has some interesting selections for a $3 donation, that require Kontakt Full. Bedlam Piano is an out-of-tune home upright. Soft Piano is a Malmsjo Grand with the felt practice mute engaged, at one dynamic layer. And piano-but-not-piano stuff like a Plucked Grand and Plucked Upright, and whistling into a piano and recording the strings and resonance. They have a commercial felted piano that's really nice as well. If you're scoring these can be really useful.
VSTBuzz has a "Drunken Piano" for a steep discount after they bought out the original sampler: http://vstbuzz.com/deals/drunken-upright/
Also seconding Pianoteq, some really interesting modelled selections and you can demo them all.
Native Instruments the Giant, it's a Klavins 370 with an interesting convolution engine.
Spitfire Labs has some interesting selections for a $3 donation, that require Kontakt Full. Bedlam Piano is an out-of-tune home upright. Soft Piano is a Malmsjo Grand with the felt practice mute engaged, at one dynamic layer. And piano-but-not-piano stuff like a Plucked Grand and Plucked Upright, and whistling into a piano and recording the strings and resonance. They have a commercial felted piano that's really nice as well. If you're scoring these can be really useful.
VSTBuzz has a "Drunken Piano" for a steep discount after they bought out the original sampler: http://vstbuzz.com/deals/drunken-upright/
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- KVRian
- 991 posts since 29 May, 2011 from Germany
This is amazing value for money, and a small install as well:
http://vstbuzz.com/deals/74-off-true-ke ... s-vi-labs/
That´s a traditional package rather than something extravagant, it´s even got a "stale steinway" as well, but the quality is amazing, and it sounds anything but stale, in fact very lively and organic. The included Fazioli is brighter and cuts better through mixes.
http://vstbuzz.com/deals/74-off-true-ke ... s-vi-labs/
That´s a traditional package rather than something extravagant, it´s even got a "stale steinway" as well, but the quality is amazing, and it sounds anything but stale, in fact very lively and organic. The included Fazioli is brighter and cuts better through mixes.
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- KVRian
- 626 posts since 15 Jun, 2015
No one has mentioned Sampletekk yet. They have an extensive collection of pianos. "The Big One" is by far my favorite piano library, with 93 samples per note--just sounds amazing.
http://www.sampletekk.com/
http://www.sampletekk.com/
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- Boss Lovin' DR
- 14312 posts since 15 Mar, 2002 from the grimness of yorkshire
I like Una Corda as well, quite a unique and beautiful sound. For something a bit more versatile which can probably be used a bit more widely (but still do the old, worn, err 'warm' sounds if needed) I love NI's 'The Giant' - loads of stuff to tinker with.