Developer Modartt has released the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX Concert Grand for Pianoteq, and it’s beautiful.
Virtual piano libraries and physically modeled instruments are often very expensive, and it’s fair to wonder why you should buy them when so many free pianos exist.
Pianoteq 8 will set you back anywhere from €139 to €929 for the PRO Studio Bundle (all piano models).
Current Pianoteq owners can add the new Shigeru model for €49.99.
Meanwhile, free instruments like Spitfire Audio’s LABS Intimate Grand offer enough realism for most basic media scoring needs.
There’s no shortage of free felt pianos and old dusty uprights, with one of my recent favorites being Dust Piano from Westwood Instruments.
Pianoteq has been around for a very long time, and despite its age, price, and an abundance of freebies, it’s still one of the best virtual pianos around.
Pianoteq separates itself from most others because it’s a physically modeled instrument rather than a deep-sampled library.
It aims to deliver unrivaled realism by more authentically mimicking the behavior of every element of a piano during real-time tone generation (with full polyphony like Roland’s V-Piano engine).
At the risk of sounding like a piano nerd (which isn’t a bad thing, fellow nerds), I absolutely adore Kawai pianos in any form.
The news that Kawai’s rare flagship concert piano is being physically modeled for the very first time is more exciting than a Fast and Furious boxset for me.
From the hand-wound bass strings and Shiko Seion hammers to the dual-pivot dampers and all-spruce beams, many meticulously designed details create the magic of the Shigeru SK-EX Concert Grand.
It’s one thing to understand the quality that Modartt produces through physical modeling; adding Kawai’s collaboration and official seal of approval is a dream combination for even the fussiest pianists.
As much as I love a freebie, I rely heavily on premium instruments like Keyscape. In certain scenarios, like piano-led classical orchestral scoring, even Keyscape might not do it. At those times, very few virtual instruments will excel, but I think Pianoteq’s Shigeru SK-EX Concert Grand is one of those instruments.
You’ll love it if you’re a piano purist looking to recreate Chopin, Mozart, or Rachmaninoff in virtual form.
If you’re a jazzer or anyone who wants an ultra-detailed and unbelievably expressive concert piano, you should love it, too.
I love it; I want a real one, but I’m happy to live in the virtual world for now.
Check out the deal: Shigeru SK-EX for PIANOTEQ ($49.99 for Pianoteq owners)
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