Price History
Product Overview
EastWest Sounds' Steinway D Platinum delivers one of the most comprehensively sampled concert grand pianos available in plugin form. Built from extensive multivelocity sampling of the legendary 9-foot Steinway D, the library captures the instrument's characteristic brightness and projection across eight distinct articulations, including sustain, repetitions, soft pedal variations, and staccato.
The technical foundation is substantial. Multiple velocity layers per articulation - ranging from 10-18 for sustains to 16 for staccato - provide nuanced dynamic response across the keyboard. True repetition sampling derived from 180 BPM performances captures the authentic re-strike characteristics that distinguish live playing from synthesized repeats, with software detection handling the real-time legwork. Pedal resonance has been recorded at multiple velocities, and release trails employ an envelope follower for natural tail-out behavior.
Recording methodology reinforces the sonic authority. Sessions used vintage Neumann microphones, Meitner AD converters, and a Neve 8078 console in a proper acoustic environment - a setup that translates to the plugin's impressive clarity and spatial presence. Mic position mixing and lid simulation provide mixing flexibility without sacrificing the core character of the instrument.
The Platinum edition suits both composition and performance contexts. Composers gain access to a first-rate concert instrument for orchestral mockups and arrangement work. Session musicians and producers benefit from its responsive repetition handling and tonal flexibility across soft and forte dynamics. Among competing piano libraries, Steinway D Platinum ranks among the most reliable for professional production requiring a bright, projective grand piano with authentic mechanical nuance.