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Need A Free Piano VST That Sound Good?
Are you looking for a free piano vst that emulates the sound and behavior of a traditional acoustic piano? There are many virtual piano instruments available on the market, ranging from free software to expensive professional-grade programs. Free virtual pianos typically have fewer features and lower quality sound, while paid options offer more features and higher quality sounds. The cost of a vst piano instrument depends on the level of functionality and the quality of the sound.
With so many virtual piano instruments to choose from, you might want to get an insight on which ones are worth trying or buying. You may have seen prices for the paid versions of virtual piano vsts. A vst piano instrument can cost as little as $49 and as much as $540 in U.S. currency. Here a few paid versions of vst pianos listed below.
- Vienna Imperial – $540.00
- Spectrasonics Keyscape $399.00
- Pianotec Pro $369.00
- Synthology Ivory 2 $299.00
- Garritan Abbey Road CFX 199.95
- Toontrack EZ Keys $149.00
- E-Instruments Session Keys $99.00
- UVI Grand Piano $49.00
All the paid versions listed above sound realistic and great. But you might be on a budget, or just looking for a good sounding piano vst without having to pay it for now. As mentioned earlier there are a ton of free piano vsts online for you to download. However, you might not have the time or computer space to check most of them out. Below I have listed my Top 10 Free Piano VSTs in 2023 that may suit your needs.
Top 10 Free Piano VSTs That Sound Good 2023
1. Soundpaint 1928 Grand Steinway
The 1928 Steinway Model M is a legendary instrument renowned for its rich, warm sound and exquisite craftsmanship. Now, Soundpaints, a company that specializes in creating high-quality sound samples and virtual instruments, is offering a free virtual version of this incredible piano.
The 1928 Vintage Grand Steinway by Soundpaints is a meticulously crafted digital replica of the Steinway Model M. It captures every nuance and detail of the original instrument, from the delicate touch of the keys to the resonance of the soundboard. The result is a virtual piano that sounds and feels like the real thing.
But the 1928 Vintage Grand Steinway is more than just a replica. Soundpaints 2.0 player features and functionality provides advanced ways to take the instrument to another level. For example, the interface includes a range of articulations and effects that can be used to enhance and customize the sound. There are also advanced controls for adjusting the tonal characteristics and dynamics of the 1928 Vintage Steinway grand piano.
The Soundpaint Player interface is organized into sections. For example, in the program section the instrument have individual parts where you can adjust the volume, tone, and pitch. You can add another part in the program and mix or morph the two parts together. Below that you have Rack A, Rack B, Effects, Arp and Matrix sections. In the Rack section you can edit master, lfo, adsr, legato, touch, offset, time, and effects. Each of these elements have advanced editing capabilities which are too extensive to cover here. To learn more about the Soundpaint Player 2.0 go to this article.
In conclusion, the 1928 Vintage Grand Steinway by Soundpaints is a remarkable achievement that brings the beauty and power of the Steinway Model M to the virtual instrument world. Whether you’re a professional musician, a producer, or a music student, this virtual piano is a must-have. It’s a testament to the enduring legacy of the Steinway brand and a tribute to the art of piano making courtesy of Soundpaint.
Key Features:
- Interface – Easy to use advanced intuitive interface with extensive features.
- Program – Create endless sounds by adding multiple parts to the 1928 Grand Piano.
- Racks – Ability to edit voicing, adsr, lfo, offset, time, touch, effects, and master.
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Effects – Add effects to 1928 Grand Steinway and expand on the natural sound. Add phaser, distortion, filter, chorus, reverb, delay and more or seven different slots.
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Arp – built-in arpeggiator. All the key functions and the ability to have the arpeggiator move in intervals.
- Presets – The 1298 Vintage Grand Steinway Piano come with a generous amount of presets for various styles and genres.
Get the 1928 Steinway Model M at https://soundpaint.com/products/1928-vintage-grand-steinway
2. Sound Magic Piano One
Piano One by Sound Magic is a popular free virtual instrument that offers a realistic and expressive piano sound. Sound Magic is known for creating high-quality virtual instruments, and Piano One is no exception. The free piano vst features a Yamaha C7 concert grand piano that was recorded using high-end microphones and pre-amps.
One of the key features of Piano One is its sound quality. The virtual piano instrument was recorded using a combination of sample-based and modeling technology, resulting in a sound that is both realistic and expressive. The resulting sound is warm and resonant, with a rich and detailed tone that captures the nuances of a real piano. Sound Magic’s built-in professional reverb engine simulates resonances with soundboard and environment, adding more realism to the sound of the piano vst.
Piano One also includes a range of controls and settings that allow the user to customize the sound of the instrument to their liking. For example, the user can adjust the level of the sustain pedal, the amount of resonance, and the level of key noise. These controls allow the user to create a wide range of piano sounds, from bright and sharp to warm and mellow.
Another notable feature of Piano One is its easy-to-use interface. The instrument features a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to adjust the settings and controls of the instrument. The interface includes controls for adjusting the reverb, noises, damping, harmonics, tone, style, tuning, perspective and key dynamics of the sound. The interface includes knobs and faders for users to make precise adjustments.
Overall, Piano One by Sound Magic is a high-quality and versatile virtual piano instrument. Its realistic and expressive sound, range of controls, and low CPU usage make it an excellent choice for composers and producers who are looking for a top-quality virtual piano instrument. With its easy-to-use interface, Piano One is definitely worth checking out for anyone in need of a high-quality free virtual piano instrument.
Key Features:
- Reverb – Chamber, Hall Plate, Room. Time, width, smooth, and mix knobs.
- Noise – Hammer, Pedal, Strings. Velocity (auto, on, off).
- Damping – Time, Tracking, and Release knobs. (F6 – C8)
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Harmonics (gain, shift), Tone (low, high, lid), Perspective (player, audience) Faders.
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Tuning – root tuning, root note (C0 -C4), Scala tuning file capability.
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Key Dynamics – Range and Tracking faders. Linear, curve, exp, and exp inverse.
- Easy to use interface and nice starter presets. Ex. Concert Grand, Live Hall, Gospel Piano, Jazz Piano, Pop Piano.
Get Piano One by Sound Magic at https://neovst.com/piano-one/
3. Melda Monastery Grand
4. Sample Science Room Piano
The Room Piano v3 has one lighweight piano sound with a lo-fi tone. It features a unique dark interface that’s simple and easy to use. The plugin comes with a range of parameters that allow users to customize the sound of the piano to suit their needs. There’s a section which has LFO wave, LFO target, and LFO source options to change the tone and character of the piano. You can also change the filter type, voicing, and velocity curve in this section.
To simplify things more, other parameters are controlled by knobs. You can control the LFO modulation rate, the high/low low pass filter, and depth using knobs. There’s a section that has volume, pan and cutoff using knob function as well. The Room Piano have an attack, release, decay, sustain, pre-amp, and glide knobs to give you full control over modifying your sound. The included room reverb have a knob control function as well.
One of the most impressive features of Room Piano v3 is its realistic sound. The instrument has been recorded from a high-quality upright acoustic piano in 24-bit stereo recording. This vst piano has been sampled in two velocities every three semitones which keeps it light on your CPU. The sound of the free plugin is incredibly authentic and detailed, capturing the nuances and subtleties of a physical acoustic piano.
Overall, Room Piano v3 is an excellent free virtual instrument that offers a range of features and capabilities that are sure to appeal to who want to create dark lo-fi type piano chords and melodies. So if you’re looking for a high-quality, versatile, and easy-to-use piano plugin, be sure to check out Room Piano v3 by Sample Science.
Get Room Piano free at https://samplescience.gumroad.com/l/AvDfd (*Subject to change to donation price $1)
5. Chris Henson Claustrophobic
Claustrophobic Piano by Christian Henson is a virtual instrument that offers a unique and distinctive piano sound. Henson is known for creating high-quality sample libraries, and Claustrophobic Piano is no exception. The instrument features a vintage upright piano that was recorded in a small, enclosed space using high-end microphones and preamps.
Claustrophobic Piano has a warm and intimate tone that captures the character of the vintage upright piano. The recording process was designed to capture the unique sound of the piano in the small, enclosed space, resulting in a sound that is both intimate and haunting.
Claustrophobic Piano have seven controls that allow the user to customize the sound of the instrument to their liking. For example, the user can adjust the level of the sustain pedal, the amount of noise, tune, and reverb FX. These controls allow the user to create different variations of the tone of the sound to fit in with their track.
Claustrophobic Piano also features a low CPU usage, making it lightweight and efficient. This means that the instrument can run smoothly on even modest computer systems, making it useful for musicians and producers who are limited with less CPU and disk space. Be aware that in order to run Claustrophobic Piano, you must have the full version of Kontakt. Or for a totally free option, you can use the Decent Sampler Player for dspreset file format, or the Sforzando Player for sfz file format.
Overall, Claustrophobic Piano is another good quality dark lo-fi virtual piano instrument with a distinctive sound and low CPU usage. It’s a good free option for music producers who are looking for a free vst piano sound that is both intimate and haunting. Claustrophobic Piano is definitely worth checking out.
Get Claustrophobic Piano free at https://www.pianobook.co.uk/packs/claustrophobic-piano/
6. Monster Piano
The Monster Piano VST by Agus Hardiman is a free virtual instrument plugin that comes with a variety of presets that emulate the sound of a grand piano and upright piano. Although free and lightweight, producers and musicians can access the powerful, harmonious sound of the instrument without having to purchase an expensive vst piano instrument to achieve useful results.
One of the unique features of the Monster Piano VST is its ability to simulate the experience of playing the physical instrument. The plugin can be played using a MIDI keyboard or any other MIDI controller, and it provides a realistic and responsive playing experience. This allows musicians to create dynamic and expressive performances, just as they would with a paid version of a virtual grand piano.
Monster Piano have a simple generic interface with eight control knobs. The eight parameters are volume, pan, filter, reverb, attack, decay, sustain, and release (ADSR). You can choose a preset and the tweak the parameters to get the sound you want. The presets menu is categorized by grand piano and upright piano. There are ten different presets based on a particular style under the grand piano menu. For example, there’s a dance piano, rock piano, lounge piano style under the grand piano menu. The upright piano menu have four preset styles.
Overall, the Monster Piano VST is a solid free piano vst allows musicians and producers to create realistic piano chords and melodies for just about any music genre. In addition to Monster Piano, Agus Hardiman have several free virtual instruments worth checking out.
Get Monster Piano v3 free (new version) at https://agushardiman.tv/monster-piano-v3-great-free-acoustic-piano-vst-with-multi-character/
7. Spitfire Audio Autograph Piano
The Spitfire Audio Free Autograph Grand Piano is an excellent virtual instrument that offers an assertive and dynamic piano sound just like the Yamaha Grand C6. However, virtual instruments could never replace the real thing. But get a free sample player version makes it worth looking into adding a high-quality piano sound to their productions.
8. Vienna Soft Imperial Piano
Vienna Symphonic Library is a well-known name in the world of virtual instruments, and their Soft Imperial Piano is one of the most sought-after plugins for music producers and composers. This plugin is a perfect example of the kind of attention to detail that Vienna Symphonic Library is known for.
Soft Imperial is a virtual piano plugin that captures the sound of a Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano. This piano is known for its warm, full-bodied sound, and Vienna Symphonic Library has done an excellent job of replicating it in the virtual world. Soft Imperial offers a wide range of expressive possibilities, from a simple delicate pianissimo to thunderous fortissimo, and everything in between.
One of the most impressive features of Soft Imperial is its responsiveness to touch. The plugin is designed to react to the nuances of a performer’s playing style, capturing not only the notes themselves but also the dynamics, velocity, and even the pedal movements. This level of responsiveness is made possible by the advanced sampling techniques used by Vienna Symphonic Library, which capture every aspect of the Bösendorfer Imperial’s sound in incredible detail.
Soft Imperial comes with a variety of articulations, allowing performers to create nuanced and expressive performances. These articulations include expression, timbre adjust, dynamic range, attack, release, saturation, and honky. Each articulation is carefully crafted to capture the unique character of the Bösendorfer Imperial, and the result is a plugin that offers unparalleled realism and expressiveness.
In addition to its impressive sound quality and responsiveness, Soft Imperial is also very easy to use. The plugin is designed to work seamlessly with any DAW, and it comes with a simple and intuitive user interface. This makes it easy for musicians of all skill levels to create professional-quality piano recordings.
Overall, Soft Imperial is an exceptional virtual piano plugin that is well worth the investment. Its stunning sound quality, responsiveness, and ease of use make it an ideal tool for music producers, composers, and performers alike. Whether you’re looking to create lush piano ballads or thunderous piano concertos, Soft Imperial has everything you need to bring your musical vision to life.
Get Soft Imperial Piano at https://www.vsl.co.at/en/Free_Instruments/Soft_Imperial
9. Ivy Audio Piano In 162
Piano in 162 is a virtual piano instrument that was created by Ivy Audio, a developer known for creating high-quality, free virtual instruments. The instrument features a Steinway Model B grand piano that was recorded in a large hall using high-end microphones and preamps. Piano in 162 is playable through Kontakt, SFZ, and Korg Kronos formats. You must own the full version of Kontakt in order to use Piano in 162. Or for a completely free option, you can use the sfz format in the popular free Plogue Sforzando Player.
One of the key features of Piano in 162 is its high-quality sound. The instrument was recorded using two pairs of Rode NT5 cardoid microphones which capture the sound of the Steinway Model B grand piano in great detail. Piano in 162 has five dynamic settings, two round robins, and distinct pedal on and off samples for a realistic sympathetic resonance sound.
Piano in 162 also includes two control faders which allow mixing, loading, and removing the nuances of the piano. With the ability to control the close and ambient mics, this allows the library to fit into any genre. The resulting sound is rich, warm, and realistic, making Piano in 162 a popular choice for use in track recordings. These controls are designed to mimic the way a real piano is played, giving the user more flexibility and an authentic playing experience.
Get Piano in 162 at https://ivyaudio.com/Piano-in-162
10. Sine Factory Spindle Felt Piano
In summary, the Sine Factory Free Spindle Felt Piano a unique and high-quality playable soundbank that uses physical modeling to replicate the sound of a felted piano. It is available for free, making it accessible to all producers and composers. Its warm and soft sound makes it ideal for a wide range of music styles, from classical to ambient music. With its ease of use and high sound quality, the Sine Factory Free Spindle Felt Piano is definitely worth trying out.
Free Bonus Piano
Electronik Creepy Piano
The Creepy Piano 3 Lite by Electronik Sound Lab is a software plugin designed for musicians and producers who want to add an eerie and haunting touch to their music. This virtual instrument is designed to mimic the sound of a vintage piano that has been left to decay in an abandoned house or an old movie theatre. Here we will explore the features of the Creepy Piano 3 Lite and discuss how it can be used in music production.
One of the most striking features of the Creepy Piano VST is its interface. It is designed to look like an old piano that has been neglected for years. The keys are worn out and the wood is cracked and aged. The interface sets the mood for the type of sounds that can be produced with this virtual instrument.
The Creepy Piano VST has a variety of presets that are inspired by horror movies, haunted houses, and abandoned places. The presets range from dark and eerie to melancholic and nostalgic. The sounds are designed to evoke emotions that are associated with abandoned places and forgotten memories. The sounds are also perfect for making Lo-Fi tracks.
The virtual instrument also comes with a range of effects that can be applied to the sounds. These effects include reverb, chorus, delay, damping, modulation, and distortion. The effects can be used to create a more immersive and atmospheric sound that is perfect for horror movies, video games, and ambient music.
One of the most impressive aspects of the Creepy Piano VST is its sound quality. The samples used in the virtual instrument are of high quality and have been recorded from a vintage piano that has been left to decay. The sound has a haunting and ghostly quality that is perfect for creating a sense of unease and discomfort.
If you are a musician or producer who wants to create music with a dark and creepy atmosphere, then the Creepy Piano VST is definitely worth checking out.
Get Creepy Piano Lite free at https://electroniksoundlab.com/creepy-piano-3/
Conclusion: Free Piano VSTs That Sound Good
These Top 10 Free Piano VSTs 2024 are definitely worth using, and are comparable to some paid virtual piano instruments. Each have their own unique interface and features that suits the end-user needs. I personally use these free piano instruments in my music production workflow depending on the style of the track. Of course you don’t have to own all of these to create good sounding piano tracks. But if you had to pick a few which ones would you choose?
Still not sure? Be sure to watch our video on the Top 10 Free Piano VSTs 2024 to see and hear each instrument in action.
