I am looking for good quality stand alone piano VSTs that cost less than $200
My long term plan is to purchase keyscape however it is not affordable for me at this point in time. I also only want to use VSTs for the grand piano sound and don’t need any other features/sounds.
I am new in the DAW world and struggle enough with navigating through reaper, which I believe is less complicated than other DAWs. I am aware some VSTs require additional sample players such as kontakt, however I am trying to avoid complicating the process with additional software as I am still trying to learn the basics of how to use a DAW.
I would be open to any existing YouTube tutorials on how to use kontakt etc that you have come across.
@solomon23.st
At that price point, the Ravenscroft is a good choice. I have never tried the Pianoteq 9, but it sounds great. You might find this video useful.
Thanks for the recommendations. I’ll give these a lesson and also compare it with Addictive Keys to see if there are any observable differences as they are similar in cost
I use PianoTeq 9 and I am very happy with the piano models. Currently, I have the two Steinways and the three Bs (Bechstein, Bösendorfer, and Blüthner). They all have their differences, but it is nice and easy to change between them. There are presets for what it sounds like sitting at the bench or if you want to hear it in a space. I also have one of the historical instruments packs and it has some vintage instruments if you want to play something from before the development of the modern grand.
Goodness! I downloaded PianoTeq 9 from the AppStore to try it out and made the terrible mistake of selecting NY Steinway D Jazz…what a sound?! So, Michael, I may very well be sending you the bill for leading me astray like this
To be fair, I don’t use the Steinways as much as the others. That said, I prefer the NY model over the Hamburg - and the binaural setting. Also, I do adjust the dynamics a bit and roll back on the reverb. For jazz, I think the Kawai is regarded. PianoTeq does allow you to demo all their models. And, if you selected one that you don’t like, they will let you switch it for another if it is close to the original purchase date.
Yes, thanks…I am doing just that…and I enlisted Grok to help me with the most popular Jazz packs…I got this:
For jazz playing in Pianoteq 9, besides the NY Steinway D (a top choice for its balanced tone and dedicated jazz presets like “NY Steinway D Jazz”), users and forums frequently highlight these popular acoustic grand packs as favorites or strong alternatives:
Steinway Model B — Often called perfect for jazz, blues, and modern music due to its warm, biting character and versatility (Michel Legrand famously preferred Steinways for jazz recordings). Steingraeber E-272 — Frequently praised for its crisp, bright (but not harsh), expressive sound that shines in jazz; many jazz players call it a go-to for lightness and articulation. Petrof (Mistral/Ant. Petrof) — Loved for warm tone, tremendous bass, resonant treble, and intimate presets (e.g., “Petrof Warm”); commonly recommended for jazz alongside other genres. C. Bechstein DG — Sharp, powerful, and expressive; often chosen for jazz/blues with good “bite” in the registers. Bösendorfer 280 — Great bass and overall sound; users note it excels for smooth jazz standards and has a sweet spot for the genre.
For my ears, the Steinway D and Bösendorfer 280 will most probably be my picks. Thanks for pointing us to this software.
@BogusPomp Thanks for the tip on the Kawai…I would have missed it if I only went by Grok’s summary. Already bumped it to my second pick…very crisp Jazz option.
