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Virtual Piano

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 1:16 pm
by herminga123
Any recommendations on the best piano software? I am a piano player and looking for the best, most authentic sounding/feel, in a virtual piano. Thanks!!!

27" imac, 8gb ram, 1tb, 2.93 ghz quad core, Duet, SG Pro X 88-key piano/controller, Motu Fastlane

Re: Virtual Piano

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 2:11 pm
by cardell
I like Pianissimo by Acoustica: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0b1LpVxfk8

Stuart

Re: Virtual Piano

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 2:38 pm
by herminga123
Thanks for the responses! What do you think of Quantum Leap Pianos?

Re: Virtual Piano

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 2:51 pm
by kclements
As a pianist, I have looked into a number of virtual pianos - the one I like the best is from Sampletekk. I use both the Vertical Jazz and the White Grand. They are both excellent and very easy on the wallet. Eventually, I am going to pick up a couple more from them. But I am so happy with the two I have, I don't think about replacing them and spend those dollars on other plugs.

Also, this week they have a 25% off acoustic pianos. So check them out. If you want to hear them in action, you can check out my Soundcloud page. All of the tracks there use one of the Sampletekk pianos.

http://www.sampletekk.com

Cheers -
kc

Re: Virtual Piano

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:29 am
by Kolstad
+1 on Sampletekk

Actually the piano in EZ Keys by Toontrack is also developed by Sampletekk, and it sits really well in a mix. Comes with a nice arranger too, and is very light on the cpu. I also like the Alicia Keys piano from Native Instruments a lot, but it hits the cpu load a bit, as I presume the Ivory/East West pianos also does.

Re: Virtual Piano

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 6:56 am
by herminga123
kclements wrote:As a pianist, I have looked into a number of virtual pianos - the one I like the best is from Sampletekk. I use both the Vertical Jazz and the White Grand. They are both excellent and very easy on the wallet. Eventually, I am going to pick up a couple more from them. But I am so happy with the two I have, I don't think about replacing them and spend those dollars on other plugs.

Also, this week they have a 25% off acoustic pianos. So check them out. If you want to hear them in action, you can check out my Soundcloud page. All of the tracks there use one of the Sampletekk pianos.

http://www.sampletekk.com

Cheers -
kc
KC,

I checked out the Sampletekk recordings on your web page. Very nice!! The piano sounds great. You have a great sense of melody! Very cool.

Re: Virtual Piano

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 8:23 am
by kclements
Thanks.

I think it was Matto that recommended the Sampletekk stuff to me originally. They were having a special and I bought the two that I currently use the snot out of. May be the best money I have spent on a virtual instrument. They are real work horses.

I had planned on picking up one of their other "bigger" pianos as well, but I just haven't come across anything that the two I have won't cover. I am sure eventually I will get one, just not on the priority list right now. The dev. is also very accessible and runs sales very frequently - some just for past customers.

I have heard good things about the new Cinesamples piano, but I haven't actually heard it other than the demos. You may want to look at that, but I think you would be very happy with anything from the Sampletekk line.

Cheers -
kc

Re: Virtual Piano

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:04 am
by herminga123
I have done some research on the Quantum Leap Pianos and they sound amazing as well. Considering my system below, does anyone think the East West Quantum Leap Pianos would be too demanding, systems wise, for my set up?

27" imac, 8gb ram, 1tb, 2.93 ghz quad core, Duet, SG Pro X 88-key piano/controller, Motu Fastlane, Logic Express 9

Re: Virtual Piano

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 11:03 am
by kclements
I don't have any of the EW stuff - But I have heard from a number of people that EW stuff uses a lot of resources. I guess it all depends on how many tracks you are going to be using at a time.

Cheers -
kc

Re: Virtual Piano

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 11:45 am
by Mark Kaufman
herminga123 wrote:Considering my system below, does anyone think the East West Quantum Leap Pianos would be too demanding, systems wise, for my set up?

27" imac, 8gb ram, 1tb, 2.93 ghz quad core...
I think that will handle it pretty well.

If there's a student in your family, Steinberg's The Grand can be had for about $125--killer deal for a rarely reviewed gem. A very nice set of 3 grand pianos (Yamaha C7, Bosendorfer and Steinway), an upright with character, and an electric piano. Always under the radar it seems, but I think it's stellar.