Results for piano

Modartt has announced the U4 upright piano add-on for the Pianoteq virtual piano instrument for Windows and Mac.

Modartt proudly presents the very first upright piano model for Pianoteq: the U4 add-on. Emphasizing the characteristics of upright pianos, it offers 21 exciting presets demonstrating the versatility of the instrument.

Besides the beautiful timbre of well-built acoustic pianos, there are higher inharmonicity and increased imperfections in presets such as Blues, Honky Tonk, Vintage, Detuned, Ruined, Bierkeller, Tacky, Wavy, Weathered, Club…

The add-on is available to purchase for 49 EUR.

Modartt has also updated Pianoteq to version 4.5.

Pianoteq 4.5 includes an updated engine using an improved physical model of the hammer/string interaction which benefits the new U4 Upright Piano and the D4, K1, YC5 and Blüthner Model 1 grand pianos. The timbre variation is now more refined, bringing more intimacy and stronger attack at fortissimo.

Included in this new version is a new Condition parameter that allows with a simple click to modify the state of the instrument from freshly-tuned to completely worn-out.

The upgrade is free to all Pianoteq customers with a licence of version 4.0 or later.

More information: Pianoteq

Singomakers has released Emotional Piano, a sample pack by Alexandr Antonovsky.

This sample collection contains 20 Wav and Midi Emotional Piano Loops with duration from 1:30 up to 2:30.

Totally useful for any producers who want to add some emotions and lyrics to their tracks, fits great for Film Productions, Ambient, Chill Out, Hip Hop, Dubstep and a lot more!

Inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Theophilus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Peter Ilích Tchajkovsky, Wilhelm Richard Wagner, Franz Peter Schubert, Mihail Glinka, Robert Schumann, Frédéric Chopin, Sergej Rahmaninov, Ferenc Liszt, Johannes Brahms, Giuseppe Verdi.

The sample pack costs £14.95 GBP.

More information: Singomakers / Emotional Piano

Nord has announced it will introduce 5 new Nord products at the Musikmesse in Frankfurt.

The Nord Drum 2 percussion synth + Nord Pad multi-pad controller surface.

The new Nord Lead 4 and Nord Lead 4R is 4-part multi-timbral synthesizer with innovative new performance features, advanced layering and synchronization possibilities, new filter types and on-board effects. Read more about the Nord Lead 4 and listen to the sound demos at our mini-site: www.nordlead4.com!

The Nord Drum 2 is a 6-channel Modeling Percussion Synthesizer that combines the playability of real percussion with unique and powerful sound creation possibilities! New features included Resonance modeling, FM-synthesis, distortion effects, stereo outputs with panning and CC-control. We’re also releasing the Nord Pad, a responsive, compact multi-pad designed to be the perfect companion to the Nord Drum 2 with an elegant single cable ethernet connector. The Nord Pad is available as an optional accessory.

The new Nord Piano 2 HP combines all the features from our Nord Piano 2 HA88 with the amazingly lightweight 73-key Hammer Action Portable keyboard (11 kg/ 24.25 lbs). For general information see the existing Nord Piano 2 product page.

More information: Nord

Thaloops has announced the release of its Piano Shots 1 sample library featuring piano riffs, chords derived from ThaLoops “RnB Pianos 1″ loop-set.

Over 440 one-shot wav samples of chopped piano chords & riffs designed for production of today’s Hip Hop, RnB and Pop music. 182 megabytes in size, “Piano Shots 1″ includes 15 automatically loading software sampler presets and soundfonts. The sound-set is organized and split into three tempos and keys. Tempo 100BPM contains 123 wav samples in G key, tempo 110BPM contains 160 wav samples in E key and tempo 120BPM – 148 samples in A# key. Each tempo is provided with 5 main themes + tons of professional chord progressions & variations. All tempo groups can be mix-matched across presets.

The “Piano Shots 1″ Sound-set is packed with piano riffs, chords derived from ThaLoops “RnB Pianos 1″ loop-set. The collection of one-shot piano samples makes creating chord progressions for the user a fun experience. With all packed dominants, subdominants, 7th, 9th chord inversions you get accompaniment for your melodies and hooks right away. Major & minor scales, professional dynamic piano performance layered with additional production sounds takes your songs to the Hit level. Strings, electric pianos, organs, rhodes were subtly added to color different piano instruments and themes. The chords will match any emotion: dark, melancholic, sad, light, happy or romantic. Each preset is programmed so that users can sequence song arrangements with ease.

Piano Shots 1 is available to purchase for the introductory price of $16 USD for a limited time (50% off regular).

More information: Thaloops / Piano Shots 1

AfroDJMac has released Mom’s Piano, a new free Ableton Live Rack.

My mother has a beautiful baby grand piano. Though I’d feel a bit dishonest calling myself a pianist, I love getting a chance to sit down at this piano to bang out some melodies. As much time as I spend playing around with synthesizers and digital instruments, there really is nothing quite like the sound of an acoustic instrument.

Over the holidays, I sampled a couple of octaves on this piano, while my mother, grandmother, and aunt were in the kitchen having a conversation over a cup of tea. As the notes decay, you can hear their voices in the background, which I think adds a ton of character to this instrument.

The Live pack is a free download at AfroDJMac.

More information: AfroDJMac / Mom’s Piano

Toontrack has announced the release of Jazz EZkeys MIDI, a collection of MIDI files for the EZkeys virtual piano instrument.

When we asked jazz piano maestro Thiago Pinheiro (Stevie Wonder, Billy Cobham) to deliver a cross-section of jazz piano through the ages and boil that down into a songwriting-friendly EZkeys format, he took us on a jazz-fused ride starting with the standards through the sub-genres and ending up right where we are today.

For the songwriter looking for instant ideas, the guitarist wanting to jam or for someone who wants to learn more about the basics and essentials of jazz, this is the perfect tool!

Jazz EZkeys MIDI features

• An extensive collection of chord progressions and playing styles for jazz inspired music.
• Tempos and styles ranging from ballad to uptempo.
• Covering straight or swing in 3/4, 4/4 and 5/8.
• Played by professional session pianist Thiago Pinheiro.

The MIDI pack costs 25 EUR / $29 USD.

More information: Toontrack / Jazz EZkeys MIDI