|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,499
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,499 |
curious why no one here has mentioned the ONLY virtual piano PG sales, VI Labs Labs Ravenscroft?
While not inexpensive, it is a REALLY good and responsive (IMHO - I'm not piano player) piano and at similar price points to ones mentioned so far
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,912
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,912 |
SO..... kinda curious
What piano sample is everyone's favorite and why?
My favorite is Addictive Keys Studio Grand. It sounds most realistic and fullest to me. Maybe I'm partial to it because I have used it on several songs. And it has some incredible variations of the grand, uprights and electrics too! For my money it is best sounding and most versatile! Most of them are dang good but I didn't care for Dimension Pro or Sanmpletank at all as they both sounded kinda shallow and tinny to me. I have them both but never use them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,844
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,844 |
My favorite is the one that works best for me in the mix. Sometimes that great sounding solo piano just overshadows the other instruments and I need to find a different one.
With the various sound modules, however, you really can have the best of all worlds. Unfortunately, unlike guitarists, for live playing you can't bring eight or ten acoustic pianos to a gig.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,950
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,950 |
For the non-piano player, as best I can tell only one of the packages provides the midi content and the ability to write piano backings with the piano sound. EZKeys - Studio Grand for me. Now where is the no-brainer sale when you need it?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,921
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,921 |
Many of them seem "serviceable". Especially if "in a mix" with a few other instruments. I have done several songs that are essentially piano/vocal (with subtle "flavoring" by some other instrument) ... those really require a decent piano sound. For me that is the 4Front TruePiano (I have increased the volume on the sample since it was low compared to the others). There are 4 different pianos in the package - each with good presets for different settings - but all the settings are available if you want to go crazy.... at the current sale price of $80 - it is well worth it (I think). The only ones in the list that I would shy away from are the CSC ones that Herb provided. They sound "cheap" to me - like small size samples. All the rest sound decent. I would not use the Dimension Pro piano in a stark piano arrangement, but for the $14.99 the whole package cost it's not bad (and it has a BUNCH of other instruments) - would sound okay in a big mix... The Hi-Q piano that comes with BIAB is a decent choice, too... though I can't get mine to work at the moment... it (meaning SampleTank) is so dang finicky - touch it at all and it wonks out - currently I'm getting the strings when I try to use a piano - even the default for the MIDI Supertracks... http://floydjane.com/Songs/Piano.htmcurious why no one here has mentioned the ONLY virtual piano PG sales, VI Labs Labs Ravenscroft?
While not inexpensive, it is a REALLY good and responsive (IMHO - I'm not piano player) piano and at similar price points to ones mentioned so far
Larry - do you have it? if so, you could provide us with a sample to add - I haven't heard anyone talk about it... so perhaps no one else has purchased it... $139 on sale - going broke saving money??? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
This goes to Matt Finley's question of a couple pages back about standalone versions: You can usually host ANY VSTi as a sort of 'standalone' using Hermann Seib's SAVIHOST freebie VSTi hosting program. http://www.hermannseib.com/english/savihost.htmSeveral years ago, I used Savihost for rehearsals where I wanted a nice B3 and electric piano, but didn't have access to a Rhodes or Hammond or Nord emulation. I have some really decent VSTi of these and SAVIHost worked great for the rehearsals where I brought my laptop and interface. For the gig, our bass player let me use his Nord Electro 2.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,866
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,866 |
I'm in the camp of "use what sounds best for the situation" and since I don't have a lot of money.... heck, I hated to spend the $20 for the Steinburg pianos..... and since that's the one I have, I like it.
Comparing the piano's in the shootout, they all have varying tonal characteristics which give some a warm sound and others are much colder.
GPO sounded warm and full. (I've got GPO so I'll need to check this one out in my DAW)
Kontakt also sounded nice and warm.
Pianotek sounded good but had a slightly heavier mid bump. (easy EQ fix)
Studio one also sounded nice. Warm and full.
That's my take on the ones I liked the best. I can't say that any particular one was head and shoulders above the rest. Each one had pluses and minuses to it's sound. And they all would work in the right circumstance.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,921
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,921 |
Jim Fogle has provided 6 more samples... Several, everyone should have as part of their BIAB installs... Soundblaster Audigy soundcard Roland TTS-1 (dry, chorus and reverb turned off) Coyote WT BiaB Hi-Q acoustic BiaB Hi-Q mellow BiaB Hi-Q bright Thanks, Jim. http://floydjane.com/Songs/Piano.htm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674 |
I have Kontakt pianos, I think they were called "Klassik" pianos or something like that. there are 4 sampled pianos, 3 grands and an upright with several variations on each piano. I have been very satisfied with them until recently when I have had trouble getting any of them to sound "right" in a mix on a song we just did.
I already have the electric pianos from EZ Keys and the Electric pianos from pianoteq. I have several others as well, but I really like the pianoteq rhodes.
so i've been considering getting a pianoteq or EZ keys Studio Grand. the Studio grand is on sale right now.
I'm just torn on what to get. I might just be having a bad case of GAS, tho and don't really need any of it...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,950
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,950 |
the Studio grand is on sale right now.
WHERE?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 674 |
the Studio grand is on sale right now.
WHERE? $179 if you are a first time buyer, but if you have a version of ez keys already (like the electric pianos) then the sound expansion for the studio grand is $89. sorry - I guess that's the regular price, not sale.
Last edited by Beagle; 12/23/15 07:06 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,950
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,950 |
Ya, and $10 cheaper at Sweetwater. Still looking for that "no-brainer" sale price.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,950
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,950 |
Stumbled upon this "OLD" thread this morning. Eight years later and this topic is still enjoyable to me. By the way, I did eventually find a sale price on the EZKeys Studio Grand and have used it all these years, along with new favorites. Big thanks to FJ for maintaining the archive of these sounds!  http://floydjane.com/Songs/Piano.htm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,866
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,866 |
Man that's a blast from the past.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,504
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,504 |
Wow! Thanks for this link to Floyd's piano tests. I must have missed this but what a great review. Would be cool to have a test like this for el and acoustic guitars.
Jeff
Win11, Intel i7 7700K 4.2Ghz, 32Gb RAM, 2x1Tb HD, 500Gb NVMe, BIAB/RB 2026, MOTU 828MK3 audio, MOTU Midi Express, Yamaha Montage 7, DX7II, TX802, Motif XS Rack, Roland Fantom XR Rack, Oberheim Matrix 1000, VoiceLive3 Extreme, Kontakt 6, SampleTank 4.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,201
Posts801,893
Members40,066
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean