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Piano Sample Libraries

rm5

rm5

macrumors 601
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I thought I'd give a list of some of my favorite piano sample libraries, for those looking for one. This only includes ones I use or have tried--so others please feel free to add with your own suggestions!

These are instruments you can load into your computer via an AU (Logic Pro) or VST (most other DAWs). This list does not include sounds/patches found in digital keyboards/synthesizers (though that'd be an interesting thread for another time).

Paid Libraries:
  1. Pianoteq--whole assortment of various Steinway, Yamaha, and Bosendorfer pianos. Highly customizable, and includes all nuances like key and pedal noise. I think it's the best one, so it's at the top of the list.
  2. Cinematic Studio Piano--amazing, expressive sample of a Yamaha C7 piano. Includes all nuances such as key and pedal noise, and damper resonance. Four mic positions that can be turned on or off, and up or down. Other than that, no further customization is available.
  3. MeldwayGrand--A Steinway Model D sample. Includes all nuances, and is highly customizable with 7 mic positions and an assortment of sound design/creative controls.

Free Libraries:
  1. MonestaryGrand--I can't remember what piano this is sampled from, but it's a great free one! Three mic positions and an array of sound design/customization tools built-in.
  2. Novel Piano--arguably the best free felt upright piano sample I've owned. Nice character, with an option to turn up/down the key noise.
  3. Orchestral Tools Spindle--another nice felt upright, though not as good as Novel Piano.
  4. Orchestral Tools Ratio--a great free grand piano sample, though not as good as MonestaryGrand due to lack of customization and sound quality. Though since it's so lightweight, I'd highly recommend it.
 
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Just to add clarity, PianoTeq is not a sample library. It is entirely real-time modelling. That's what makes it the best, IMO. Most other piano apps are glorifed Mellotrons that play pre-recorded samples from HDD/SSD rather than from strips of tape.

Another nice one that's pehaps not quite upto PianoTeq standard, but is also modelled, is Arturia Piano V3. You can download it for free as a time-limited trial.
 
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I tried a few sample pianos in the past before discovering Pianoteq a few years ago, and while some of them were very good, like you I think nothing comes close to Pianoteq. Expressiveness, tonal quality, and they keep improving it with each new version. That Steinway is a joy to play...
 
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Says a lot to me that Steinway gave them permission to use their brand IMO. We've only been able to go this route in recent years because modelling it properly is hugely processor-intensive compared to sample-players, which were/are storage-intensive, but easy on the processors. Which is why they came first.
 
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There is a free multi-sampled vst called Salamander piano that is hard to match in terms of realism (for free). I keep going back to it because it captures that 'heavy piano' sound that is hard to get with a lot of digital stuff. it's not for every style, but for a convincing piano with character, try it out!
plugins4free.com - Salamander Piano
 
Would this be a viable alternative route to buying a digital piano with sounds like a Roland LX5 ? I could just get a decent keyboard like a VPC1 and run Pianoteq on my M2 Mini Pro ?
 
deckard666 said:
Would this be a viable alternative route to buying a digital piano with sounds like a Roland LX5 ? I could just get a decent keyboard like a VPC1 and run Pianoteq on my M2 Mini Pro ?
Click to expand...
Depends on what you want to do. If you are just solely recording in your studio, Pianoteq and a (very good) controller is the way to go. If you aim to perform, you’ll need a keyboard with built-in sounds. Of course keyboards like the Roland can function as controllers, too.
 
I have about 2k so the options are a console home based digital piano which will literally cost 300 pounds to get sent and assembled so like a Kawai 501 or roland or yamaha equivalent or the "portable" ones so virtually no delivery cost like the ES920 or Roland FP90x or a mother keyboard and Pianoteq.... I am being fussy about the keyboard action so will need to demo these next month when I am in a big city so things might change rapidly after that....
I just feel from what I have seen on the forums that the VPC1 has the best keyboard....
 
I don't know why more of the big names like Yamaha, Roland and Kawai haven't better thrown their weight behind emulation. Even partner-up with Pianoteq if they don't want to start from scratch. I know sample-based pianos can be good, but basically they're glorified Mellotrons, and just aren't as flexible as emulation. Go back ten years and the power didn't exist to make truly realistic emulation in anything but megabuck computers, but that argument doesn't hold water any more. It's lazy. All the lot of them rolling out shiny new pionos stuffed with samples they first recorded in 1900-odd. Ok maybe not literally, but same difference.
 
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