I have just downloaded “Epic Grand” from Fracture Sounds. It is part of their “Blueprint” Series of free plug-ins. It is slightly different because from middle C upwards, each note played also plays the octave note above, and below middle C it plays the octave below. It results in a much fuller, “epic” sound, and it plays really fast. I already have their Spotlight Piano, and Ascend Piano from Heavyocity which are bought libraries of a Steinway Model D Concert Grand. They are good, but Epic Grand, although more limited in options, gives a much more powerful sound. And it’s free!!!
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They claim that ‘…this Steinway Model D has been recorded in octaves…’.
Does this mean that the piano was sampled one note per octave?
I haven’t even heard the instruments yet, but it sounds terrible!
No. But for example E above middle C was sampled while playing the E one octave above it at the same time. So it is still individual note samples, but played as octaves.
Your best bet is to have a listen: https://fracturesounds.com/product/blueprint-epic-grand/
After another session playing it, I do think it can sound a bit “sloppy” at times, but it gives you the power you get when playing octaves, but for every note. So when you play a chord, all the notes are “octaved”. It isn’t much use for delicate, “ppp” passages. Anyway its free (it does need Kontakt Player, which is also free, of course). So try it, and delete it if you wish!
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Understood, David. Thanks for the info.
I will definitely try it, but I have not had good experiences with freebie pianos. No problem with Kontakt, I have the Komplete bundle, the full version is included.
The nice thing about a freebie, as you say, is that you can uninstall and throw it away if you don’t like.
But out of habit, if I like an instrument, I send some bucks to the developer.