It's very neutral, perhaps a bit meek but I'm a music mixer so I'll touch up with effects and get it where I want it, so having a Steinway library with a neutral spirit is perfect for my needs. Production Voices Concert Grand - This is probably my favorite Steinway D. For its size, it has surprisingly solid lows for a smaller body, and the highs are clean and punchy but suffer of shorter sustain and resonance like most sub-concert sizes.įor Steinways, some libraries to consider: The Mercury plugin library is a sub-concert.
The full size concert has present highs, solid mids, and proud lows. So you could argue that everyone might want a CFX (and that's reasonable), but if you are playing something romantic that's heavy on the mids, a Steinway may still be a nicer choice. The Yamaha CFX is arguably the most perfectly voiced piano. Clear highs, larger-than-life lows, that as a side-effect produce muddy mids.
In Europe for instance you'll more often run into a deeper appreciation for a Bosendorfer. Strong mids, shy highs and contained lows.
Here in the US, a "classically voiced piano" is a Steinway. I would encourage you to take some time and have fun listening to all the big name pianos to find something that speaks to you. Basically it's like the one in the definitive collection but less muddy and feels more dynamic/lively/real (the Grandeur is good value though, if bought as part of Komplete, it's just not up there with the Pianoteq model IMHO).Depending on where you grew up and what kind of music you've trained with, that can mean many things. However it's probably my favourite Model in Pianoteq 6 currently. I used to like to hear proper pianists play the Pianoteq D in five but didn't like it in my amateurish hands.
You can always upgrade to Standard for more mic positions (though Stage is very tweakable already). Otherwise as part of a package get Komplete standard in a deal. If particularly interested in pianos I recommend buying Stage (with K and D pianos) and downloading the excellent freebies too (all upgraded in version six BTW).
So along with all the synth's and FX plugins. That said if purchasing on a shoestring and going for an all round package the pianos in Komplete 11 are fine examples of sample pianos (without spending big bucks). It is just that Pianoteq is better in absolute terms. Nice to have as part of Komplete.Īll the K11 pianos are nice. Una Corda is a nice but limited special cinematic gimmicky instrument. I like the Maverick from Komplete, that has a nice tonality, different to the Pianoteq models I have and still enjoyable to play. It feels more like a responsive living instrument to me. I enjoy mucking around on Pianoteq far more than sample instruments most of the time. Still curious as to what might be your faves! Thanks! Pianoteq (still gets rave reviews across the board) Keyscape's C7 and all its variations/presets Sampletekk's Vertikal (Jazz and Pop versions) Sampletekk's Rain Piano (still one of my all-time faves) NI Upright Piano (from older version of Komplete)Īddictive Keys Modern Upright (and its various presets) no one has a bigger selection than Nord, when it comes to their uprights (they just released a gorgeous one called the Baby Upright which I wish I could play- but no Nord presently). I'm just a fanatic for good piano plugins and sounds. The stuff from Komplete 11 (Grandeur, Giant, Gentleman, Maverick).