Best Lofi Piano Plugins Free and Paid

Need a Lo-Fi Piano Plug-in?

Before we get into “Best Lo-FI Piano Free and Paid” let’s briefly talk about Lo-fi music in general. Lo-Fi beats have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially in the world of music production and online streaming. Lo-fi pianos are characterized by their mellow, melancholic and nostalgic sound, achieved through the use of vintage recording techniques and the application of filters and effects such as distortion, vinyl crackles, and EQ.

The lo-fi sound is often associated with the lo-fi hip-hop genre, which has gained immense popularity on platforms such as YouTube and Soundcloud. Lo-fi hip-hop music is known for its laid-back beats and relaxing vibes, which make it perfect for studying, relaxing or just background music while working. The lo-fi piano is one of the key elements of this genre, often serving as the main melodic instrument, creating a soothing and introspective atmosphere.

Despite its association with lo-fi hip-hop, the lo-fi piano sound is not limited to this genre. It has also been incorporated into various other musical styles such as ambient, indie, and even mainstream pop music. In recent years, many musicians have been experimenting with the lo-fi piano sound, incorporating it into their compositions to add a sense of warmth and nostalgia to their music.

There are so many virtual instrument pianos on the market that you can use to create a Lo-fi sound. You adjust the tone, eq, saturation, and pitch to your piano vst instrument until you get the Lo-fi sound your looking for. However this can be a tedious task and time consuming. Fortunately, there are plenty of virtual pianos with presets that have Lo-Fi sounds. Below I have listed some of the best Lo-Fi piano virtual instruments both free and paid.

Best Lo-Fi Piano Free & Paid

1. Halion Lo-Fi Piano Steinberg

The Lo-Fi Piano for Halion Player by Steinberg have a natural low fidelity sound that will give you that warm relaxing feel. Lo-Fi Pianos are a type of piano that has a distinctive, retro sound that is characterized by its low-fidelity and grainy texture. The term “Lo-Fi” refers to the low quality of the sound, which is often created intentionally to achieve a vintage and nostalgic feel.

Lo-Fi Pianos can be created in a variety of ways, including recording with vintage microphones, using analog tape, or applying various audio effects to a digital recording. The Steinberg Lo-Fi Piano is based on an upright acoustic piano and was recorded with carefully selected vintage microphones. The Lo-fi piano virtual instrument have six effects that consist of the following; A saturator, compressor, filter, flutter, reducer, and reverb. This plug-in is specifically designed for lo-fi beats, chillhop, intimate and retro music.

Using the effects will contribute to the low-fidelity and grainy texture of the sound. These effects can create a sense of character and depth that is not possible with a purely acoustic or digital piano. Lo-Fi pianos offer a unique and distinctive sound that is highly sought after by many musicians and producers.While they may not be suitable for all styles of music, they are particularly well-suited to genres that require a retro or vintage sound. The Steinberg Lo-Fi Piano is definitely a must have in your low fidelity plug-in arsenal.

2. SoundPaint 1928 Grand Steinway

Soundpaint’s 1928 Vintage Grand Steinway is a meticulously crafted digital replica of the Steinway Model M. It faithfully reproduces every nuance and detail of the original instrument, from the delicate touch of the keys to the soundboard’s resonance. As a result, the virtual piano sounds and feels exactly like the real thing.

However, the 1928 Vintage Grand Steinway is more than a virtual copy. Soundpaints 2.0 player features offer modern methods for taking the instrument to another level. The interface, for example, includes a variety of articulations and effects that can be used to enhance and customize the sound. There are also advanced controls for adjusting the 1928 Vintage Steinway grand piano’s tonal characteristics and dynamics.

The interface of Soundpaint Player is divided into sections. In the program section, for example, the instrument has individual parts where you can adjust the volume, tone, and pitch. You can mix or morph the two parts together by adding another part to the program. With these unique features you can create Lo-fi piano sounds with relative ease. The 1928 Vintage Grand Steinway have 32 distinctive presets including a preset called Lo-Fi DC which have a dark nostalgic low fidelity sound.

3. Karanyi Lo-Fi Keys

The Lofi Keys instrument by Karanyi Sounds brings together 8 iconic electric pianos and analog synths, including the award-winning Blüthner acoustic piano (from Midiwood by Richard Vossgatter). You can freely combine these to create your own unique blend, which you can then process with a variety of creative effects and even noises (VHS, Tape, and Vinyl).

With Lofi Keys, you can make some truly inspiring sounds! On two sound slots, you can choose from 40 different sound sources. Control the tape wow and shape your overall sounds with other super intuitive controls! Add some extra touch with five different tape, VHS, and vinyl noise layers!

Lofi Keys includes three incredible effect units to give you the desired lo-fi vibe. Dimension is a vintage chorus module from our well-known Vapor Keys series, Technocolor is a new exciter, and Poly Space is our best-selling reverb FX module. These modules include over 30 different effect algorithms that will instantly make your sound authentic!

Lofi Keys also comes with a free additional Lo-Fi cinematic pack called VHS Atmos. It includes 40 meticulously crafted artist presets centered on massive, dreamy synths and soundscapes. Everything is dusty, noisy, and completely lo-fi.

Key Features:

Controls have been simplified (all are MIDI-learnable). including:
Volume ADSR Controls for the sound layer include volume, fine tuning, octave, and tone eq.
Different coloring noises: VHS, cassette, and vinyl Tremolo and Wow are two modulators.
Effects Rack, which includes: Vapor Dimension – Vapor Keys Chorus Effect Variations Exciter fx designed specifically for this instrument for advanced character shaping.
Poly Space – A popular reverb effect for lush, unreal environments. Preset effects for quick dial-in Knobs for dry/wet mixing for a smoother mix Gain in/out for each effect.
Smart Randomizer technology includes the following features:Instrument sources at random (Modules)Controls for random sound (ADSR, modulators, etc.)Effects at random (all three FX modules separately)Surprise (All Smart Random).

4. Angelic Vibes Elite Pianist

The Elite Pianist plug-in by Angelic Vibes is designed for producers, beatmakers, and composers and includes a variety of multi-genre piano sounds. While some piano plugins are intended to be exacting emulations of specific instruments, Elite Pianist is designed to be simpler and more user-friendly.You can easily find pre-made Lo-Fi sounds in this virtual piano instrument.

Elite Pianist was recorded with real acoustic pianos and then manipulated to give it a more creative and unique feel. Lo-Fi pianos range in style from dark, eerie, and mellow to dramatic and classical. Each piano is built to make your music stand out from the crowd. Elite Pianist features Dial in String, Rhodes and Vinyl layers. Also you can change the sound with a simple low-pass filter or tremolo effect.

Elite Pianist is a great option for those looking for high-quality sound without breaking the bank. You can quickly gain access to a library of expertly designed instruments and easily create trendy melodies.

5. VSL Soft Imperial Piano

The Soft Imperial by Vienna Symphonic Library is a virtual piano that emulates the gentle sounds and colors of a magnificent Bösendorfer Imperial. The Bösendorfer Imperial is a legendary piano model that has gained worldwide acclaim for its exceptional sound quality and craftsmanship. This grand piano model is named after the Imperial Court in Vienna, where the Bösendorfer pianos were a favorite of the royal family and composers such as Brahms, Liszt, and Johann Strauss II.

The Soft Imperial is most certainly not a replication of a Bösendorfer Imperial, however the melacholic tone of this plug-in instrument does a good job of emulating the sound. The Soft Imperial piano was recorded in the tight and controlled environment of VSL’s second studio, the Silent Stage. The Soft imperial have many different placements and reverberation settings that are preconfigured. You can control the settings from dry player Mixer Presets to various reverb lengths, big hall placements, and ethereal effects. With the melancholic sound and effects you can get that lo-fi vibe on your track.

The Soft Imperial is playable the Vienna Synchron Player.

6. DS Reel To Reel Tape Piano

The Reel to Reel Tape Piano by David Hilowitz is a melancholy piano sound filtered through a portable reel to reel tape recorder from the 1960s.This virtual Lo-fi piano instrument is playable through the Decent Sampler Player.

The Reel to Reel Tape Piano is a unique instrument that produces a distinctive sound that is difficult to replicate with modern digital technologies. This type of piano uses magnetic tape to create a warm and rich sound that is highly sought after by musicians and audiophiles alike. The tape is run through a magnetic head which reads the magnetic signal and converts it into an audio signal that can be amplified and heard.

As shown in his youtube video, David Hilowitz demonstrated how he meticulously sampled the piano sounds through a reel to reel tape recorder from the 1960s’. The Reel to Reel Tape Piano have all the authentic nuances that a Lo-fi sound should have. This free plug-in is definitely worth downloading and using in your Lo-fi music production.

Key Features:

Warble knob to select between two takes
Adjustable tape hiss layer
Adjustable shimmer layer
Tone knob
Chorus effect
Reverb effect

Get Reel to Reel Tape Piano https://www.decentsamples.com/product/reel-to-reel-tape-piano/

7. Thenatan Tape Piano 2

If you want to make Old School Hip Hop, Chill Hop, Lofi Hip Hop, Ambient and Electronica, or simply add some warmth to any track that sounds too digital, Tape Piano 2 by Thenatan is a go to plug-in. The built-in effects are centered around adding tape, lo-fi, and analog style elements to the Tape Piano 2 instrument.

Tape Piano 2 contains over 58 dusty vinyl, tape, and occasionally clean piano presets that have been meticulously mangled, re-sampled, and processed through various analog outboard effects to give a smooth Lo-Fi vibe. Also, there’s over 200 factory presets and the original Tape Piano 1 presets are included. Tape Piano 2 have a great collection of piano sounds suitable for any producer of LoFi Hip Hop, Chill Hop, Ambient, even Dnb and Electronica.

Key Features:

Filters, envelopes, reverse, pan, stereo width, and tuning are all available on each of the four samplers.
Texture Layer can load samples by dragging and dropping them onto the sampler or choosing from the Bonus Pack that came with your Tape Piano.
Explore the sound design further by assigning Mod Envelopes / LFOs to almost any control.
Two Master Filters, each with ten popular filter models.
FX Modules (Algorithmic, Convolution Reverb, Stereo Delay, Soft & Hard Distortion, 8Bit Degrader, 2 Band Phaser, Compressor, Gate, Surgical Eq.)
Octave piano keyboard with ±24 transpose controls
17 Piano scale options (Major, Minor, Major Minor Pentantonic, Blues, etc.)

Get Tape Piano 2 at https://www.thenatan.store/p/tape-piano/

8. Labs Tape Piano Felt Cassette

The Labs Tape Piano by Spitfire Audio is a modern upright piano processed with vintage tape machines is an innovative approach to achieving the coveted lo-fi piano sound. This process involves using vintage tape machines to add warmth, character, and texture to the piano sound. By applying tape loops, echoes, and other effects to the piano sound, the resulting sound is transformed into a lo-fi sound that is warm and wobbly, or gritty and unpredictable, depending on the desired effect.

One of the key tools used in this process is the magnetic card reader, which adds an extra layer of texture and unpredictability to the sound. This device reads magnetic cards and converts the signal into an audio signal that can be further manipulated with other effects. This device can add a level of unpredictability and variation to the sound that is difficult to achieve with other techniques.

The variation slider is another useful tool that allows the user to adjust the level of warmth and grittiness in the piano sound. This slider can be used to move from a warm and wobbly sound to a gritty and unpredictable sound, depending on the desired effect. This allows the user to achieve a wide range of lo-fi piano sounds that are suitable for a variety of genres and styles.

Get Labs Tape Piano at https://labs.spitfireaudio.com/tape-piano

Conclusion: Lo-Fi Pianos Free & Paid

In conclusion, the rise of lo-fi music, particularly lo-fi hip-hop, has brought the lo-fi piano to the forefront of music production and online streaming. Its mellow, melancholic, and nostalgic sound has captured the hearts of listeners and musicians alike, making it a key element in creating soothing and introspective atmospheres. While the lo-fi piano is often associated with the lo-fi hip-hop genre, its versatility allows it to be incorporated into various other musical styles, adding a sense of warmth and nostalgia to compositions.

As the demand for the lo-fi piano sound grows, virtual instrument pianos have become a valuable tool for music producers. While manually adjusting parameters in piano VST instruments can be tedious and time-consuming, there are plenty of virtual pianos with presets specifically designed for lo-fi sounds. Whether you’re on a budget or willing to invest in premium options, the variety of free and paid virtual pianos available ensures that producers have access to the perfect lo-fi piano sound for their projects.