David Lai from PW forum here. I heard a Ravel Grand Piano demo from Sweetwater and was really taken by the expressiveness of the Steinway B, and the beautiful job they did with the resonances, especially in the high registers.
Well, they say they have a "free trial" on their website. But since I'm only in the questioning phase, I'm not yet thinking about trying it. You may have fun looking at it if interested, especially if you have a VST host (I don't).
Ravel Grand Piano Free Download
Download File 🔥 https://shurll.com/2yGaWY 🔥
As such, I suggest that you try that instead/also (Pianoteq has a free demo, almost 100% functional and without a limit in time). We had a few conversations about it in other threads on sympathetic resonances, look them up (even though they were more on the technical aspects of "how to implement SR in a DIY sampled piano" such as those fine ones that member @dore_m is releasing for free. Again, you will (probably?) need a host even though both Pianoteq and Garritan (assuming that is still your favorite sampled piano) have standalone modes -- I am not into sound engineering, so I don't know these things for sure. If so, you can use Reaper, which also has a (30 days, IIRC) free trial.
OlivierW Thanks for your reply, Olivier! From what I've heard so far, it's better tuned than VSL CFX, or Walker 1955 for that matter. ? Do you remember if there's una corda? And how do you feel the playability compares with Garritan CFX?
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!!! Looks like people's opinions about this instrument is somewhat negative, at least at the replies considered. I'll take this into account. And yes, Garritan CFX is now the VST I turn to more often than any other, especially a mixture of the player preset. I like the grand in a big hall sound, but what interested me about Ravel Grand was it's semi concert grand / small-ish sound, which may also be useful in different cases when I don't want a heavy low register. Opinions welcome!
The good: it sounds just like one of the pianos at my university! It's even slightly detuned, but not too uncomfortable like the Walker 1955 Concert D. The over all timbre sounds like the Steinway B when my professor has studio class with us. The resonances sound good to me, and the sustain pedal responds well to the instrument. There's also some half pedaling possibility with this plugin.
The ugly: no una corda samples. Sure, CC67 does trigger a pedal noise, plus some EQ stuff going on that I can't describe (what's worse, there seems to be a slight shift in the sound stage even), but it's definitely not una corda. If you're wanting to do classical piano and if there's something going on where the una corda effect is desired, it'll not give it to you. It's another piano that I'll not be buying after this trial!
David Lai It's good that you were able to try it out. It would really be a bummer if you had to buy it and then realize you don't like it and were unable to get your money back. Thanks for sharing your experience.
David B Thanks, David! Yes, I'm glad they have a free trial for 14 days. A fellow friend at PW is talking about the XSample Contemporary Steinway B, a new Kontakt library. It's for full kontakt and is 111 euros, and has una corda samples. I'm a bit reluctant about Kontakt pianos, especially how Kontakt deals with staccato articulations, not as crisp as other engines.
HZPiano Thanks, HZ! I comment from a classical pianist's perspective, and only talk about live performance, most of it out-of-box experiences. It's far from a library review, but you may consider it such if you so choose. Still, I think it's good that someone talk about the lack of something or whatever. ?
I've watched a video recently regarding a comparison between the Nord internal piano's such as the White Grand or Royal Grand 3 vs Universal Audio's Ravel, which is now on sale at Sweetwater by the way for only $99.00. Although I understand you can now run this with any DAW of AD interface, I believe it does not run stand alone like other piano VST's.
So I wanted to get your opinion's as well..... since I recently let my Nord Stage 3 Compact go, and really do miss the sound. I had purchased some piano VST's like VSL Yamaha CFX, True Keys American D and also had Ivory 2 bundle from years ago.... but I am having some problems getting them to sound close. This might be however due to my inexperience with VST's. The Royal Grand 3D is a binaural sample and is a Yamaha C6.
The Ravel is partially sampled and modeled and sounds pretty close on some settings. I also like the Noir piano which is a larger Yamaha as well. Just attempting to NOT jump the gun by ordering another Nord Piano or Stage simply for the sample set.
There is a person on Facebook who has sampled the Nord Keyboard but unfortunately has not answered my inquiries. But the cost would be minuscule vs. purchasing any Nord keyboard right now. Not that I wouldn't want one.
Haven't tried though am curious about Ravel/Noir, but I find KeyScape C7 and Modern U by UVI get me closest to the Nord sound. (which to me sounds like it is close miked in a smaller less reflective room?) Though at home I mostly practice with Garritan CFX, because it feels the most real, I'm not crazy about the "this grand was sampled in this legendary concert hall or Abbey Road" sound, when on stage through an amp esp. If Nord released a VST with White Grand and Amber Upright, I'd stand in line for 10 hours for tickets to that event. . Although the action on Nord Piano 5 73 is not great, especially for practicing, come showtime I usually take that to the gig for the sound (and portability).
I suggest caution when comparing an "onboard" keyboard sound to an "in the box" VST keyboard sound. When comparing the two, the comparison must be done using the same keyboard to play the sounds, and the same DA convertor, and the same sound system, in the same room. Unless all these factors are controlled, you are not really comparing sound to sound.
I used the UAD pianos during their trial period. They are just OK. There are more detailed software pianos to choose from. The first that come to mind are the Yamaha C7 in Keyscape, Garritan CFX, Ravenscroft 275, Steinway D in Ivory II. But you have to play and listen for yourself.
Universal Audio Ravel Grand PianoAn extremely responsive physically-modelled piano with UltraResonance technology.Check the current priceGarritan Abbey Road Studios CFX Concert Grand Plug-InIncredibly in-depth sampling of a premium Yamaha CFX grand piano in the world-famous Abbey Road studios.Check the current priceSoundiron Emotional PianoPurpose-designed for cinematic scoring with a built-in arpeggiator and FX section.Check the current price
Unlike traditional sample-based VSTs, the Universal Audio Ravel Grand Piano offers an unparalleled level of realism and dynamic response, capturing the intricate nuances of a grand piano with remarkable precision.
This VST is authentic-sounding and offers a rich array of features. It boasts an intuitive microphone placement feature, allowing you to craft the perfect soundstage by adjusting the virtual mic positions. Additionally, the Ravel Grand Piano includes pedal noise emulation and sympathetic string resonance, adding layers of depth and realism.
The Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX Concert Grand Plug-In is a sample-based VST that brings the majestic sound of the renowned Yamaha CFX Concert Grand to your studio. Recorded in the iconic Abbey Road Studio One, it offers fantastic realism and detail.
A unique feature of the Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX Concert Grand is its integration with the ARIA player, enabling you to use the plugin as a standalone VST, making it ideal for live performances without a DAW. This, combined with the historical significance and acoustic perfection of Abbey Road Studios, makes this VST a great choice for those seeking the ultimate piano sound.
One of its most useful features is the multiple microphone positions which allow you to customise their sound by mixing different mic setups. The VST also includes a vast array of articulations, pedal noises, and mechanical sounds of the piano action, adding layers of depth to the overall sound.
The Arturia Piano V3 is a brilliantly modelled instrument, offering the warmth and depth of 12 world-class pianos in one package, including the likes of an American Grand, Japanese Grand, Upright Jazz and Classical Upright. Unlike sample-based instruments, it uses physical modelling to recreate the rich, resonant tones of acoustic pianos, allowing for an impressively realistic playing experience.
The Arturia Augmented Grand Piano breaks new ground in the VST world by blending samples and the physical responsiveness of a virtual synth engine. This innovative approach ensures a realistic playing experience and plenty of opportunity to get expressive and creative with your sound.
Thanks to a hybrid engine, you can enjoy the authentic sound of a grand piano, enriched with the dynamic nuances and tonal flexibility of a synth with everything from virtual analog and wavetable to harmonic synth engines onboard.
Blending the two, you can take the Augmented Grand Piano further than any traditional piano virtual instrument. It allows you to conjure everything from cinematic sound design to completely washed-out drone tones using piano samples as the foundation. Additionally, the plugin comes packed with a variety of effects and presets, designed to inspire and enhance musical creativity.
The Soundiron Emotional Piano is a deeply sampled library. Its warmth and depth have made it a go-to for composers and musicians seeking a cinematic quality in their work, offering the nuanced dynamics and tonal complexities of a real piano. 152ee80cbc