JamesC01 wrote:

I'm thinking about buying the standard edition if there's a summer sale, and I've decided on the steinway D, the u4, but for the third one, I'm not sure. I've been enjoying the steinway B, but I'm worried that it's too similar. To me, it sounds different, but could that just be the preset? If I got the B, then I'd have a concert grand, 'classic' grand, and an upright. That sounds good to me, but I'm not sure if I'd be getting the most value for money. Anyone have any advice for what could be a better option instead of steinway B, that's maybe a bit more versatile considering the other options I already chose?

I'm mostly interested in just the acoustic pianos, and not the historical packs.

As someone who owns both the D and U4 as my main pianos I went for the electric piano-pack as my third. Remember that you also get some historic pianos for free once you have a licence and those are very different from both the U4 and the D.

If you insist on another piano, I would go for Bluthner (character), Bösendorfer (unique tone) or Ptrof (big value, and sounds lovely)

I actually bought the stage edition with the D and U4, and I'm planning on getting standard for the summer sale, and I realised that those two packs are all I really need for getting acoustic piano sounds. I'm very happy with them, so I think I'll also go for the electric pack, to add some variety to it.

I'm thinking about buying the standard edition if there's a summer sale, and I've decided on the steinway D, the u4, but for the third one, I'm not sure. I've been enjoying the steinway B, but I'm worried that it's too similar. To me, it sounds different, but could that just be the preset? If I got the B, then I'd have a concert grand, 'classic' grand, and an upright. That sounds good to me, but I'm not sure if I'd be getting the most value for money. Anyone have any advice for what could be a better option instead of steinway B, that's maybe a bit more versatile considering the other options I already chose?

I'm mostly interested in just the acoustic pianos, and not the historical packs.

As someone who owns both the D and U4 as my main pianos I went for the electric piano-pack as my third. Remember that you also get some historic pianos for free once you have a licence and those are very different from both the U4 and the D.

If you insist on another piano, I would go for Bluthner (character), Bösendorfer (unique tone) or Ptrof (big value, and sounds lovely)

I usually buy a new instrument pack when it comes out or expand my collection with older instruments every other year (basically I buy grands without hesitation while expanding into more novel instruments or uprights tends to happen infrequently and during holiday sales).  So, the investment is fairly nominal compared to the upfront purchase of the software, which helps future decisions of getting additional sounds feel more reasonable, especially if you need to budget.

the bottom line is you won't be able to resist getting more anyway ...

I'm thinking about buying the standard edition if there's a summer sale, and I've decided on the steinway D, the u4, but for the third one, I'm not sure. I've been enjoying the steinway B, but I'm worried that it's too similar. To me, it sounds different, but could that just be the preset? If I got the B, then I'd have a concert grand, 'classic' grand, and an upright. That sounds good to me, but I'm not sure if I'd be getting the most value for money. Anyone have any advice for what could be a better option instead of steinway B, that's maybe a bit more versatile considering the other options I already chose?

I think I would start by making peace with idea that you can, and probably will, buy additional instrument packs later. Your decision isn’t something you can never move past.

Personally, I’ve come to prefer the Steinway B (Prelude preset) for most of my daily playing. I listen through headphones, and it just sounds the most natural to me (coming from long ago playing an acoustic piano mostly in my living room, not on a stage). It has a such a sweet tone in the 4th to 6th octaves, and nothing is exaggerated; it’s not so wide it sounds peculiar, and no range seems over- or under-balanced.

Key Fumbler wrote:

Hi James,
Many threads like this.

A recent thread:
https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=11537

Ultimately it's best to decide with your own ears.

It's very hard to figure it out. I've recorded the same midi clip with all of the acoustic pianos, with the same mic settings, and I just can't pick what I prefer. They all sound good to me. I just want something that sounds distinct compared to the steinway D's and the U4.

Well if you want a truly different sound the Bluthner pack models a feature unique to their brand - the aliquot strings. These extra strings resonate freely next to the traditional struck piano strings.

Hi James,
Many threads like this.

A recent thread:
https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=11537

Ultimately it's best to decide with your own ears.

It's very hard to figure it out. I've recorded the same midi clip with all of the acoustic pianos, with the same mic settings, and I just can't pick what I prefer. They all sound good to me. I just want something that sounds distinct compared to the steinway D's and the U4.

A recent thread:
https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=11537

Ultimately it's best to decide with your own ears.

I'm mostly interested in just the acoustic pianos, and not the historical packs.