The Ivory II package is a sample-based plugin with a massive 77GB of sounds including Bösendorfer’s 290 Imperial Grand, Steinway’s D Concert Grand, and Yamaha's C7 Grand. This is the closest you'll get to an acoustic piano sound, and even professionals can't always discern the differences. Synthogy has taken over the virtual piano market, redefining what capabilities were previously imagined and pushing the boundaries of recreating realism. With that, let's get to the top plugins for getting amazingly realistic piano sounds! 1. Lastly, your computer's available CPU and onboard processing can affect the potential quality of certain plugins, so you'll want to minimize unnecessary strain (i.e., minimized browsers, multiple programs running simultaneously, or any added effects). Additionally, since we're talking about high fidelity, the headphones and speakers you're working with are extremely influential in discerning the nuances in the products mentioned below. A $500 plugin won't sound anywhere near where it's intended to with a $100 unweighted keyboard. While I still think that there will never be an equal experience of hearing a Rachmaninoff sonata in Carnegie Hall, the advancements in digital piano sounds over the past decade have challenged my old-school beliefs.īefore we get started with the best virtual studio technology (VST) piano plugins out there, it's important to note that the results are completely dependent on the physical digital piano you're using. As a piano player, I used to detest the idea of digital pianos replacing the need for acoustic craftsmanship.