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After seeing what a drain certain high-end piano VI's can be on the computer, I'm wondering what are the best hardware rack-mountable piano modules currently available. Anyone have suggestions?

Richard

Possibly a MOtif Rack?.....Or the MOX 6 (or 8).

I don't know of any current rack mountable devices being made that aren't also workstations with a bunch of other samples. These devices will almost always be memory challenged, I don't think they can complete with a multi gigabyte dedicated sample library.

You might want to consider just getting a computer like a mac mini or a pc and dedicating it to running those piano libraries. You can use it for other stuff when you're not playing piano.

Or possibly a Muse Box or full blown Muse Receptor. I think Cameron Earnshaw was pretty impressed with the piano sound he got out of the Muse Box.

Or you can check out the modeled piano library: http://www.pianoteq.com/

It's download runs in the megabytes (yes megabytes). Some folks really like it and I don't think it stresses the computer as much because it's not streaming tons of sample data off of a hard drive.

You might also consider trying to run the library from a Solid State drive. That might speed things up and take some of the strain off the computer.

Thanks for the suggestions, Chuck. They look interesting, but for now, a little pricey.

And John, I downloaded the Pianoteq4 "stage" demo and WOW - it sounds great and no stuttering or other signs of strain on the computer. For the price, it seems to be a very good deal. I think this is the one for me. Thanks for the suggestion!

Richard

Also check out 4-front Truepianos. It's supposed to be easy on the cpu and sounds amazing!
Cheers, -Rob

ANybody gone thorugh the process of recording tracks and mixing with XLN Audio Addictive Keys? If the keys sound as good as their drums, I think I'm in, even if one instrument hits the bar. Price is very reasonable.

Haven't mixed anything yet, but very impressed with Addictive Keys' Modern Upright. The presets are right on the money for several styles/sounds I really dig, and the engine's lightweight, like the drums. Those 4Front TruePianos are included in the Peavey Musebox, btw.

I have a Muse Receptor and I can tell you that if you need a rack mount for keys/piano module it is awesome! They have new cheap versions. i dont think I would ever buy another keyboard or rack mount sound module. Those days are over as far as I am concerned.

Its cheaper to build you own system if you can though. I have both.

That pianoteq sounds amazing! And those add-ons seem pretty cool too. Thanks!

I just downloaded Addictive Keys, but had a problem with it on my mac, their installer kept giving me error messages. TUrns out when I first registered Addictive Drums, and they asked for a user name for their forum (not for the installer itself) I inadvertantly put a " in my user name. Took a few weeks of e-mailing back and forth to figure it out but downloaded it last night after much aggravation. They take awhile to install, the Modern Upright I let go overnight. The Mark One and the Grand Piano sound great though. Haven't tracked anything with it yet but in the end don't foresee being unhappy with it.