Spitfire Audio releases Autograph Grand, the latest addition to the free LABS collection.
If you’ve read any of my previous posts on LABS, chances are, you’ll already be sick of me talking about how good the collection is.
So, apologies if that’s the case, but as if my apology means nothing, I’m going to say it again; LABS is awesome.
LABS instruments are all free, and while they offer something for everyone, they are especially useful for those working on cinematic sounds.
Autograph Grand follows releases like Soft Piano and Glass Piano (the piano of composer Phillip Glass). It offers the sound of a Yamaha C6 grand piano, the legendary C6 from Woodshed Recording Studios in Malibu.
The Yamaha C6 is often said to have more personality than the C5 or C7 and is considered an incredibly emotive instrument.
This particular C6 is legendary because it has an endless list of famous and iconic, not to mention contrasting players, from Paul Simon to Korn.
People talk about the magic that history adds to certain instruments, and I think there’s something true in that. It’s not so much that they suddenly sound magical and like no other, but more how they make you feel when playing them, which can bring out the best.
It’s hard to imagine that magic transfers to a digital emulation, but, as always, Spitfire Audio has done a great job of capturing the character that made the original piano so appealing.
Autograph Grand is described as clean and rich, which is fair. It definitely has the richness you’d expect from a C6, especially in the lower notes. However, as clean as it is, it also sounds quite dreamy, and that doesn’t always have to mean sweet and lovely. Whether you are creating a light or dark mood, Autograph Piano is the type of sound that enhances or magnifies the mood.
Sometimes it’s difficult to get that dreamy sound with a VST piano without it turning to mud with even slightly aggressive pedaling. Autograph Piano has a nice sweet spot that’s easy to hold, and the ability to shift smoothly between that and sharp, crisp notes adds to its personality.
If you haven’t grabbed T-RackS EQ 81 for free yet, you still have time; go get it.
Autograph piano requires the free Spitfire Audio plugin, which comes in AU, VST2, VST3, and AAX formats for macOS 10-13-11 (M1 supported) and Windows 7/8/10.
Download: Autograph Grand
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