PC Pianos for Everyone

How's it going everybody!


Today I ask you to double-check your perception about PC pianos.

I remember I was very much discouraged to use it when I heared the first note or two out of my PC back in five years or so.... But alas the PC pianos today are far ahead of those standalone electric pianos. just check out the Pianist Dave Rich explaining how great it is and how it surpasses the standalones while noodling his PC piano:


http://www.truepianos.com/videodave.php

And best of all, it goes for just about 200 bucks!! And even there're some other really good piano VSTis for FREE!!.. and, and, and..... So if you've already had your PC to browse my blog, and hopefully a CASIO for your kid's birthday present or other MIDI keyboard you can get at ebay or wherever, then you are all set and can start playing today!


* What you need to play Steinway or other great pianos on your PC are:


1) An ASIO-enabled Audio/Midi Interface unit


You may NOT need one if your PC's audio driver can play the VST host application. But if it doesn't and you have to grab one, that's a good investment because it usually comes with a bundled VST host and other great programs in their limited editions which are just enough to play the piano.


2) A Midi keyboard


You also need to have a keyboard imput device, hopefully with a dumper pedal. But I suppose you've already got a CASIO or other keyboard sleeping in your attick or basement, in which case you may wanna check if it has a set of I/O that looks like this:



then you lucky campers are all set with just getting MIDI/Audio I/O and a cable to hook them up. If not, you still have an option to go get it from Target or BestBuy or wherever at around... I don't know... 60 may be? But make sure about MIDI compatibility before taking it off the shelf. It only needs to send MIDI signal for the purpose.



3) A VSTi piano module

As mentioned above, some piano VSTis are downloadable free of charge. Browse for free VSTi Pianos, or get:

GigaPiano (free)
True Pianos (200 bucks or so...)
Proteus VX (free and includes other great samples)
4Front Piano Module (free)

4) A VST host software

If you're getting a Midi/USB keyboard or a Midi/Audio I/O, then most likely it comes with a VST host software like Cuebase, Sonar or whatever that is powered by "LE" meaning limited capability but just enough to get the teaser functions of what it's all capable of that is well enough for us to play the piano. Great!

5 Miscellaneous

Cables, optional loudspeakers and that's about it!! You can play all those great pianos from your affordable MIDI keys. I really see the world is turning between my eyes nowadays...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KORG Trinity Pro with HDR Option/ ROLAND PCR-M80

Image
KORG Trinity Pro with HDR Option This is one and only key I have. It cost me all the recording and synth rigs I had back then. It was around 4 grand in Japan and 7 grand in the US back in a decade. However, with its advanced and integrated DAW functionality, it was a good deal; it really eliminated my synth rack, hard disk recorders, and audio mixer. I traded in all the BOSS stomps together to make it 4 grand. All my music sample is made out of this keyboard without any external recorder/ synth. As a matter of fact, those recordings were from my Berklee days where I was exploring the world of composition first in my lifetime. It is still my main keyboard only with its MIDI functions. Though still there is a big enthusiasts' community of this key, I should admit it sounds and looks obsolete today, and if you wish to have the equivalent synthesis, you can have it installed on your PC: Korg has released a software bundle called Legacy Collection which includes its Wave Station, M1 syn
Read more

1991 Fender Custom Shop 57 Stratocaster Mod. by Guitar Violence

Image
This heavy mod Fender Custom Shop Strat has been my main guitar for quite a long time. It's just that I invested too much on this cat to take it with me everywhere I gig. I mean, I would not be able to reconstruct in case of theft. Has 3-piece body and v-shaped neck just like Eric Clapton. It's not a Relic but is with normal wear and tear over twenty years adding a nice aged appearence to it. Yeah, I like how an aged lacquer face looks. What makes it a real "one of a kind" is the pickup configuration it has: Bartolini V90s, Seymour Duncan Little 59, Bartolini V90s, Seymour Duncan JB from neck to bridge. It has a 3 position strat pickup selector and another small 3 position flip switch that is activated when the strat PU selector is at the middle position to deliver signals from Bartolini PU/PUs as selected on the small flip switch. On the back of the head is the old Custom Shop logo. Crocodile Locking Pegs were not so popular when Sperzel was in fashion back in ten ye
Read more

Fender Japan Wood Champ

Image
Only a few tube guitar amps have been produced in Japan, and this little 5-watt Japanese Fender is among them. It resembles the Tweed model from original US Fender, but is even smaller with a 5" speaker that even works better with its 12 AX7 and EL 84 than more popular 12" in my opinion. I sold the Ampegs before taking off from Japan, but kept this little guy only because it is small enough to fit in my parent's loft with all the other things I left. It works second to none with full acoustic guitars in a guitar trio sort of setting causing NO feedbacks as is always the case when you use Twin or any other amp with 12" speaker that I never use without setting "Bass" tweak at 7 o'clock i.e. zero. Everytime I flip the power, I recall the night I picked this cat out of the store - probably every guitarist can recall that kind of night - I was all sweat and panting just coming back from the nearest ATM where I drained the balance in the last minute having fi
Read more