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Songwriter Forum => Recording => Topic started by: KEROUAC1957 on September 13, 2013, 04:13:01 PM

Title: Piano VSTs
Post by: KEROUAC1957 on September 13, 2013, 04:13:01 PM
I want to improve my piano sound and wonder what people think are good piano plugins for a DAW.
Someone mentioned Native Intruments New York Grand. I've also heard Alicia's Keys is good. From perusing other discussions on t'interweb it sounds like some plugins are better for pop and others for classical. I'm thinking of around £50 -£80 price range.
Title: Re: Piano VSTs
Post by: Neil C on September 13, 2013, 06:23:42 PM
Hi
I've got a couple: UVI Acoustic Grand piano at $80 which is alright but you have to have an Ilok which is an addition device and costs another £20. I've also got Bluenoise The upright at $50 which is OK. Not tried EZkeys  at $139. I haven't got a piano recording I'm happy with because in part I haven't got a decent weighted keyboard.
I've have heard some great piano sounds from forum members so I'm sure you'll get some great recommendations.
 :)
Neil
Title: Re: Piano VSTs
Post by: Ramshackles on September 13, 2013, 07:11:09 PM
I have vienna concert grand. very nice.
Title: Re: Piano VSTs
Post by: seriousfun on September 13, 2013, 09:14:32 PM
I have ezkeys  but wouldn't recommend it on sound alone, however it has fantastic midi manipulation built in. My work flow sees me going to ezkeys during he recording phase until I am happy with my piano and the replacing it with steinbergs grand.

It has a selection of three pianos to pick from with lots of options.

I also have lots of pianos in various instrument collections, dozens of them - sometimes I use one for a special sound I am after but 90% of the time I read for steinbergs.

My advice would be listen to the songs posted by the users in t his thread to see what piano sound you are after. When you find the sound you like pm them to confirm which vst they used.

If you can't play piano properly then the choice is even easier, ezkeys.

Allan.
Title: Re: Piano VSTs
Post by: tone on September 13, 2013, 09:16:36 PM
Personally I find midi piano quite disappointing, even some of the more expensive modules.

But, if you take a line out of a half-decent stage piano or electric piano and record audio the sound is much better in my opinion. Worth thinking about...
Title: Re: Piano VSTs
Post by: Boydie on September 13, 2013, 09:23:17 PM
I have always liked FLOSSIE's piano sound and was surprised to find out it was a vst as it was very authentic sounding

She did mention once what it was but I can't remember - might be worth dropping her a pm to check it out
Title: Re: Piano VSTs
Post by: Ramshackles on September 13, 2013, 10:29:19 PM
Personally I find midi piano quite disappointing, even some of the more expensive modules.

But, if you take a line out of a half-decent stage piano or electric piano and record audio the sound is much better in my opinion. Worth thinking about...
recorded using an actual full length keyboard (with weighted keys), where the sustain and piano pedals also trigger the relevant midi events, I think some VST pianos are super.

We did this with my yamaha arius digital piano triggering the Vienna Grand library. Although the yamaha is a pretty excellent digital piano, the vienna grand just blew it out of the water for this application, bearing it mind it was a one-take 'live' thing (some flutes were added later :) ):
Title: Re: Piano VSTs
Post by: KEROUAC1957 on September 14, 2013, 12:01:14 AM
That sounds great Ramshackles and to me very realistic
Title: Re: Piano VSTs
Post by: tone on September 14, 2013, 02:16:56 PM
I have always liked FLOSSIE's piano sound and was surprised to find out it was a vst as it was very authentic sounding

She did mention once what it was but I can't remember - might be worth dropping her a pm to check it out
I'm pretty sure she said it was one that came with Propellerhead Reason