Native Instruments has introduced Alicia’s Keys – a virtual recreation of Alicia Keys’ personal grand piano.
It looks like Native is moving from recreating well-known synths brands to branding virtual instruments with pop stars.
What do you think of the idea? Is a virtual piano more valuable to you if you know that somebody like Alicia Keys is putting her name on it?
Description
Designed as a comprehensive digital recreation of Alicia Key’s own custom Yamaha “C3 Neo” grand piano, and based on Native Instruments’ industry-leading Kontakt 4 sampler platform, Alicia’s Keys provides a soulful and intimate piano sound that accommodates R&B, soul and pop styles. The instrument was recorded in Alicia’s personal studio by her engineer Ann Mincieli and sampling expert Thomas Scarbee over the course of two years, using vintage microphones and high-end outboard studio gear that produced an exquisite piano tone with supreme sonic fidelity.
“I love this software so much that I used it on my entire new album. Not once did I record a live piano because there was just no need”, says Alicia Keys. “I plan to tour with this sound and use it all around the world. I love how it gives those who may not be able to buy an acoustic piano a true piano experience.”
Alicia’s Keys utilizes 17 GB of samples with 12 discrete velocity layers per note and emulation of sonic aspects like key release, sustain pedal functionality and sympathetic resonance. The user interface of the software gives control over the sound to further adjust it to the musical context and personal playing style, and also includes a convolution reverb that provides various room ambiences ranging from a small piano chamber to a large stage or concert hall.
Alicia’s Keys can be used on any Windows and Macintosh computer with the included free Kontakt Player, and can also be loaded into Kontakt 4 sampler for additional in-depth sound editing.
Alicia’s Keys will be available in April 2010 for price of $119 / 99 Euro.
Her piano sounds on the current album are phenomenal. I watched this video and find it hard to believe all the piano sounds on the album were NI samples. Kudos to NI and Alicia Keys on this-
so it's real? When I saw the "april 1st" release date I thought it was NI's april fools!!!
so it's real? When I saw the "april 1st" release date I thought it was NI's april fools!!!
I don't believe that at all. This is most likely marketing buzz.
I don't believe that at all. This is most likely marketing buzz.
A much better option:
http://vsl.co.at/en/211/442/478/449/287.htm
A much better option:
http://vsl.co.at/en/211/442/478/449/287.htm
its great that NI is working with artists to bring mainstream and indie together. i personally use a hybrid subtractive synth *gasp* that i believe rivals this (at least for what i do). i have a lot of respect for alicia and hope this gets a great many synth-heads to check her music out that wouldn't have a reason to otherwise.
its great that NI is working with artists to bring mainstream and indie together. i personally use a hybrid subtractive synth *gasp* that i believe rivals this (at least for what i do). i have a lot of respect for alicia and hope this gets a great many synth-heads to check her music out that wouldn't have a reason to otherwise.
actually the release date said March 29th
Just picked this up and, IMHO, feel that it amazingly sounds as described in Alecia's clips. I wanted a convincing grand piano sound that I could sit and compose in standalone mode and as a plug-in. When I saw the clip with Herbie Hancock's(legendary master and my idol) reaction, that was enough for me to check it out!…And it didn't disappoint. I read some blogs where folks were questioning the value(without trying it) becuz it only had one piano and there were claims of free vst's and others that had more sounds. Well to be nice, this is hogwash! Everyone wants a whole lot for nothing, it's sickening! Alecia is not claiming to be selling some all-in-one piano production tool. She loves the way her piano sounds and how it inspires her and is, basically, giving you access to her piano in your own home. I am a musician and a novice producer trying to hone my piano skills and needed realistic sounds that would inspire me to play and record as though I was sitting at a real grand, and this does it. I'm not against all freebies, but at some point you have to give back monetarily to the industry or everything we are working on will be devalued to the point that many of our dreams to make a living at this will dissipate. It's already happening. Don't knock it if its not what you need or without trying it.
Just picked this up and, IMHO, feel that it amazingly sounds as described in Alecia's clips. I wanted a convincing grand piano sound that I could sit and compose in standalone mode and as a plug-in. When I saw the clip with Herbie Hancock's(legendary master and my idol) reaction, that was enough for me to check it out!…And it didn't disappoint. I read some blogs where folks were questioning the value(without trying it) becuz it only had one piano and there were claims of free vst's and others that had more sounds. Well to be nice, this is hogwash! Everyone wants a whole lot for nothing, it's sickening! Alecia is not claiming to be selling some all-in-one piano production tool. She loves the way her piano sounds and how it inspires her and is, basically, giving you access to her piano in your own home. I am a musician and a novice producer trying to hone my piano skills and needed realistic sounds that would inspire me to play and record as though I was sitting at a real grand, and this does it. I'm not against all freebies, but at some point you have to give back monetarily to the industry or everything we are working on will be devalued to the point that many of our dreams to make a living at this will dissipate. It's already happening. Don't knock it if its not what you need or without trying it.