My go-to piano VST REVEALED!!

A decent piano VST is right at the heart of most people’s template. What are mine? Well in this video I will show you and explain my reasons. Join me to exploire what piano virtual instruments work for me:

First up is PIanoteq 8 from Modartt, a collection of physical modelling instruments, the latest version of which contains a brand new Bosendorpher piano which sounds great.

The second are the amazing VSL pianos, extraordinary detail and flexibility but at a premium price.

Finally the Max Richter piano from SRM sounds, a beautifully delicate sound and subtle touch.

Please Note: I am not paid or sponsored by anybody but get free review copies of the instruments I review.

Also I do not do telegram and anyone offering you a prize in the comments is a scam artist!!

0.00 Intro
2.06 Pianoteq 8 from Modartt
5.23 Synchron Pianos from VSL
9.42 Max Richter SMR Piano

[michaeltablet]

Thank you so very much for all your videos! I had almost given up on music but your passion and the joy that fills your videos reignited my passion and I am having so much fun writing and recording! God bless you!

[avsystem]

I've also been a Pianoteq fan for years. When companies such as Steinway and Bosendorfer allow a VST piano model to use their name (doubtless with financial compensation) you know it is good. When I am recording, e.g., a jazz piece from the 1920's then I like to use a piano model from the period, such as the Playel. Aside from Pianoteq the only virtual pianos I like are such as Native Instruments Una Corda Piano, which are distinctively unique.

[SchubertDipDab]

Pianoteq 8 really is amazing, I use it for general piano playing now with a laptop connected to my Clavinova and it's a treat for the ears. Well, when I hit the right notes it is, anyway!

[mangoldm]

I'm just in my second year of learning piano as an adult and I love that Pianoteq works on my iPad (which is always on my music desk) and I can change pianos to suit the piece that I'm learning. It's another level of fun that I really enjoy.

[damianmcilroy]

I love Noire from native instruments. My absolute go to. 👌

[story_arc]

I bought the Ravenscroft 275 from VI-Labs years ago and have since struggled using anything else. As a pianist, it's exactly what I've always wanted. Heavyocity's Ascend is the only piano that's snuck into my palette since.

[tedl]

Every day I play Native Instruments Grandeur at home through big PA speakers, and it's like sitting down at a real Yamaha concert grand. It's very organic and dynamic, a real joy to play, marvelous sympathetic resonance and half pedaling, and the sound is never tiring to my ears, unlike many hardware and VSTi pianos 🎹

[angelocast]

Thank you Master, I am a pianist since the 80s, then became composer and producer and love the VSTs. Piano is so important to create for me.
Best wishes to you and all music creators around the world! ❤

[TheRealJeffVader]

I am a huge fan of Pianoteq. Lovely sound, highly-configurable, and so fast-loading and lightweight I usually have it autoload on bootup so my S88 is always ready to go.

[zmortis]

Been using Pianoteq as my primary piano for a couple of years now, it's flexible, lightweight, and sounds good.

[agentooeAD]

Personally, I love Keyscape! Not only are the pianos amazing, but you get lots of different instruments, some that aren't even available anymore, and there's also a creative category for wilder sound sets using various keyboard instruments. I have Komplete 14 with all the pianos that come with that bundle, and although I don't have anything really bad to say, I still don't think any of them top Keyscape. The Pianoteq does sound good too I have to say. Great video Guy!

[StephenBaysted]

Thanks to you Guy a few years back, you got me into Pianoteq 7 - now got 8. It’s remarkable for so many reasons and my go to for perhaps the majority of things. We also have a Yamaha C3 Grand here (with DPAs onboard permanently) but rarely now bother recording it unless my wife - who’s a proper pianist unlike me - wants to record some ‘classical’ stuff. Also use the Synchron Fazioli - wonderful too. Not heard about the Max Richter piano so will chalk that out.

[richardpenrose]

I’m a big fan of Pianoteq. It is continuously getting better with every update and I haven’t found any library that matches its playability. This is probably my most used library along with NI’s Noire.
I’ve tried the VSL libraries and personally prefer the Garritan CFX when I want ultimate realism.

[nightnoodler]

When I grew up we had this really old Mason and Risch, oh the memories of plunking away at that big old upright piano, I still have memories of these wonderful carvings, real craftsmanship back in the day. I will always love pianos. Pianos are defintely the King of all the instruments. Although right now I am getting into Harps with effects. Thanks Guy always enjoy your vids. I am defintely going to try and take a few courses this fall. Thinkspace looks like a fantastic place to learn and connect with a really cool folks.

[Pooter-ityg]

Pianoteq is indeed excellent.
On a related topic, for music that pairs a piano soloist with orchestra you can use a little trick if you have access to any grand piano. Prop it open, place mics inside and then play the orchestra tracks at it while recording. Dialing in a little of this "cavity" track subtly puts the piano and ensemble in the same space as the body of the instrument resonates with the other instruments. Obviously this kind of "bleed" is actually something engineers have traditionally gone to great lengths to avoid...

[utubewillyman]

Pianoteq is a steal. Loads fast, takes little disk space, and virtually no load on CPU. That being said, there's something that bothers me a little about the sound.

[asklavos]

I have tried countless piano patches. The one which inspired me the most is the one bundled together with version 11 of Logic Pro X.

[Tripticot]

SonicCouture Hammersmith is a thing of beauty

[chromatic-me]

I like Pianoteq. It’s one that actually runs on my 2006 Dell music PC - albeit that I have to use reduced sample rate for composing and tracking. Then set it to full rate for rendering. I also like that the standalone version is *always* recording what you play (as MIDI) so I can always go back to review my noodling when I think there is potential for a riff or tune to be developed!

[PerchHunter]

Fantastic video, Thank You Guy. We need more like this. Strings are next, please ;)