🎹Best Piano VST Plugins Compared Part 2: Garritan CFX, Keyscape, Synthogy Ivory II🎹
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
- Garritan CFX: 0:22
Keyscape: 10:24
Synthogy Ivory II: 19:52
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Hello and welcome to another piano review at the Merriam Pianos TH-cam channel. If you’re looking for Part 2 of our 10-way comparison video of all of the VST’s we’ve looked at over the past two 2 months, you’re in the right place!
Please like the video below, and if it’s your first time on the channel, subscribe and hit that notification bell!
Overview:
We’re in a truly golden age of instrumental technology - both digital and acoustic, and our selection of VST’s is absolute proof of that. We looked at everything from $79 to $799 in our quest to sample the whole landscape of VST’s, and this is our last walk-through before we move back to acoustic and digital piano reviews.
Garritan CFX:
The Garritan CFX has a devoted fan base, and it’s easy to see why. Using samples of a Yamaha CFX recorded at Abbey Road Studios in the UK, the piano tones are rich, detailed, and lush. The User Interface has a bit of a learning curve, but it’s pretty intuitive overall. There are three different sample sets with different mic placements and mic configurations available.
Keyscape:
Keyscape is quite unique as far as VST’s go due to the enormous range of instruments it offers. There are three acoustic pianos (including a Yamaha C7), but the real highlight is the dozens upon dozens of perfectly preserved vintage electric and acoustic keyboard instruments. It’s on the pricey side and isn’t available in different versions like some plugins, but it really is offering a unique experience you won’t find elsewhere.
Ivory 2.5:
Ivory has been around since the mid-2000s, and when it first came out, it really broke a lot of ground and changed the perception of what was possible for a VST. The version we have has a Bosendorfer Imperial, a Hamburg Steinway D and a Yamaha C7. All three are very nice captures, and there are lots of editing options available.
Thanks for watching and keep an eye out for Part III!
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Oh my... Your playing is so incredibly calming and beautiful. Thank you.
"Classic" set "Solo Piano 1" 3:52 "Solo Piano 2, very nice" 5:01 "Vintage Evans 1 mic only" 6:49 "Player, Vintage Evans?" 8:03 . With my Garritan's CFX, I prefer the "Player" "Default" close mic sample set (at 8:03 vs 3:52 "Classic" Solo Piano 1.) Maintain "Audience" perspective to avoid a very slight phase cancelation...Stu? Adjust Room Decay levels (to ~10AM... Stu?) where they are not overwhelming, and set EQ to taste, I give a little bass boost. The "Player" samples are closer and more intimate than the "Classic" set. "Classic" sounds like a hall recording.
Another excellent review, thanks Stu. I now own the Garritan CFX and Ravenscroft. Also, beautiful playing as usual!
I recently purchased Ravenscroft and I love it. Would the Garritan CFX compliment it or are they more the same than different. I’m aware they are two different pianos but I’m looking for one that it’s completely different to Ravenscroft.
@@JBKeyz88 I am not a trained pianist, and have limited experience with piano libraries. So probably best to ask others and watch some TH-cam reviews and listen to samples. All I can say is this: after extensive research a year or so ago, I found lots of people talking about Ravenscroft, and once I listened to the examples on their site I decided to buy it, and still glad that I did. I find that is very full, warm, dynamic, and 'real' sounding to me. But like you, I also wanted another good piano library that would be a contrast to Ravenscroft. My reasoning is that Ravenscroft is probably best for jazzier, more exposed tracks, or simply where you want a warmer tone, whereas I also wanted something that would 'cut' through a mix a bit better for denser styles with full band or orchestra.
So at first I was considering maybe one of the popular Steinway D libraries, but I kept hearing over and over again about people considering Garritan CFX to still be one of the best libraries out there, even though it is quite a few years old now. Once again, I listened to lots of examples and reviews (including the one here) and thought it fit the bill. I tried the Lite version first due to being more affordable, and it sounded nice. But people keep saying that you need the full version with the additional mic placements to get the full character and life out of the library, so I recently upgraded to the full version (good discounted pricing at ProAudioStar). It sounds and plays great, and is definitely brighter and more aggressive than Ravenscroft. So, for me, a good fit.
Again, don't take my word for it. Seek out some 'expert' opinions. But keep this in mind: consider compatibility going forward, especially if you plan on upgrading to a Mac with the new Apple Silicon platform. Garritan's parent company Make Music has no current plans to support the Apple M1 platform, and I am not highly confident they ever will. I stupidly didn't confirm this before buying Garritan CFX.
@@twtobin941 Thank you for such an elaborate response. A great response at that. I do have the M1 chip so thank you for that information, which I will surely consider. But I’m glad you’re enjoying both and hope it inspires your creativity and musicality!
Thanks for you work from Colombia, very ilustrative.
You're very welcome! Thank you for tuning in! :)
under your hands every Piano vst plugin will sound good....
you play simply fantastically... thanks
I'll be sure to pass on your kind words to Stu on your behalf! :)
@@MerriamPianos please do that ...thank you
Hey! Will there be a comparison between the updated Kawai Novus Nv 5s and Nv10 s? I am stoked to see what has changed. Keep up the great work!
LOVE the Garritan CFX! Also the Keyscape upright sounds remarkable.
the soloing is just 🔥 thank you!!
Great review
If you own Omnisphere you can edit keyscape even further and add a lot of effects. You can even add more resonance too. Omnisphere really opens up Keyscape to another level.
I will take ONE really great sound over 1000 lesser sounds. For me, the Productin Voices piano VST’s have the most pristine clear intimate sound of any I have heard. The Production Grand sampling of the Yamaha C7 sounds amazing. I have not got their newest 300 Grand based on a Yamaha CFX but I’m sure it’s amazing as well. Thank you for this comparison.
You're very welcome! I totally understand your sentiment. I gravitate in that direction when choosing digital pianos as well. Thanks for tuning in! We appreciate it. :)
Great job Stu!
Thanks! :)
I would like to see how a Kawai CA99 compares to Keyscape.
What are your thoughts on Cinepiano vs Garritan CFX?
Uprights comparison !!!
Really nice Job with these vsts series!
We want more
GARRITAN amazing
It is an excellent VST piano plugin! :)
Stu, which do you like best? I love the Steinway D from Synthology; also the Garritan, also the Ravenscroft you reviewed. Would really value your overall opinion between those. I really love your playing style. Thanks.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! I would have to forward that question to Stu as I do not know offhand which VST plugin he favours. With that said, from my standpoint, one can never have too many VSTs. Every VST offers something a little different musically; different tools for different jobs as they say! ;)
I think spectrasonic did a big mistake in the layout and many players don't find the solution. So did I for a while. The brightness of piano samples played in the upper range of velocity ist very important. In Keyscape it's just hidden! You need to tweak the velocity curve and put the end of the curve from upper right 5% or so to the left. Otherwise the playing experience is limited, like we can hear in your playing. Look at 14:47. Although your playing is fantastic...
Ahhh, I thought that might've been a little distortion or so
Hi. Thanks for the great series and all the work you put in there. Do you know the Synthogy American Concert D? It's 8 years old but I'm thinking of getting it. But I'm not sure as having already 2 Steinway from Synthy and you can't demo it unfortunately. Thank you. Cheers
Can you please review UVI Model D? To my non-expert ear sounds very very good, and an underrated VST. Would be great to hear your thoughts on it.
25:16 do people like the C7 more than the CF or CFIII or CFIIIS? Keyscape does it and Ivory does it, but they don't do the CFIIIS
Like most things related to the realm of music, tonal preference is a highly-subjective matter. Every player will resonate with a different tonal profile. :)
@@MerriamPianos so you mean it seems more people like the C7 sound? (or possible C7 is cheaper to get - and modify in the case of Keyscape)
Great as asual. Does anybody know what software he is using to load up all of his vst's
Apple's Logic Pro
Which VST best suits Richard Clayderman's performance piano sound?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! I am not particularly familiar with Richard Clayderman's piano sound, but, perhaps, one of our helpful community members will be able to jump in and assist with some VST suggestions! :)
any opinions about 8Dio 1969 Steinway and how it compares?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! I do not personally have any experience with that VST, but I will certainly add it to our list of potential VSTs to cover in future video reviews/comparisons.
@@MerriamPianos Hi. that would be awesome. thank you.
This is off topic, but the sustain pedal on the Yamaha DGX doesn't sustain the string voices and perhaps others. It does sustain the "nylon guitar."