Zargg
Hi. I just bought Eighty Eight Ensemble for 16.99$
I think it is a very good deal, and a really nice piano(s) 
All the best.

Thanks for the tip. 

soens
Just went there (everyplugin.com) and it's now $19.99. Sonivox's price: $69.99. Why the huge price difference?

It's been on sale for less than $20 for months now at various resellers. You can still get it at JRR Shop. Try using the code "forum" or "group" to bring it down further.
 
https://www.jrrshop.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Eighty+Eight+Ensemble&order=relevance&dir=desc

ilok is an insult to me... so no deal.

jb101

BobF
It's iLok'd if that matters to anyone.  This is the first time I've had to install iLok, so we'll see how it goes.  At least I'll only be out $17 bux if I end up doing an iLok root canal.

ARe we talking a dongle, or just a software iLok?

Mine installed fine with the software version.  The hardware dongle is an option too.

For Rock, country, blues or gospel I really the Quantum leap Yamaha C7. Their stienway is nice for jazz. I bounce down all three mic positions separately for crafting the sound. (Player mic, close mic, room mic) I do have the Native instruments Komplete 10 and will use their Upright piano for a more vintage or honky sound. I do like the cleanliness of the Quantum leap though. Plays nice over the low to high range.

husker
 
I've never bought anything from them - the order is complete, but I don't really know where to go from here.  Do I get an email with a download?

Yes, you'll get an email with a serial and a download link. I've bought from them several times and never had an issue.

You're not bothered by the high resonance on the Grand on the close mics? Drives me nuts after a while. Much prefer Ivory II or Keyscape.

telecharge

husker
 
I've never bought anything from them - the order is complete, but I don't really know where to go from here.  Do I get an email with a download?

Yes, you'll get an email with a serial and a download link. I've bought from them several times and never had an issue.

Are they generally quick about it, or do they operate only on the weekdays?
 
 

Thank you, appreciate it.

One must be aware that often the piano sound sounds great alone, but does not sit well in the mix.  That is really the most important fact.  How does your sound complement or augment the mix.  Does it get lost?  Is it bland?  Or does it sit very well with a distinctive piano sound, yet not overburdening the total output.  Just some thoughts from an old time recordist.

Billy86

Sanderxpander
That Upright is quite nice, there aren't that many well done regular uprights.
For grands, the only VSTs I've actually really liked and didn't feel like I need to wrestle with were Ivory and KeyScape. Different price bracket though. Addictive Keys is decent if you don't need to use the close/wide mics which have crazy high resonance in the highs.

I'm fighting with resonance in my Addictive Keys grand. Have you had any luck overcoming this with the mic choices? If so, what did you use for a configuration in the AD suite? 

Thanks for any help.
Billy
 

The ribbon mics are a lot better if you don't mind and a slightly different sound. Other than that, it does depend somewhat on the track, sometimes it doesn't matter as much. But on the whole I just use it somewhat less than I had hoped I would.

Sanderxpander

Billy86

Sanderxpander
That Upright is quite nice, there aren't that many well done regular uprights.
For grands, the only VSTs I've actually really liked and didn't feel like I need to wrestle with were Ivory and KeyScape. Different price bracket though. Addictive Keys is decent if you don't need to use the close/wide mics which have crazy high resonance in the highs.

 
I'm fighting with resonance in my Addictive Keys grand. Have you had any luck overcoming this with the mic choices? If so, what did you use for a configuration in the AD suite? 

Thanks for any help.
Billy
 

The ribbon mics are a lot better if you don't mind and a slightly different sound. Other than that, it does depend somewhat on the track, sometimes it doesn't matter as much. But on the whole I just use it somewhat less than I had hoped I would.

Thanks for the tip on the mic choice. I'll keep that in mind for the future...
 

ravenscroft

Cactus Music
+1 to " it has to sit in the mix" 
I've even reverted to using a TTS-1 piano on songs where True Pianos just wouldn't cut through the guitars. 
What every "sounds " right as far as I go. I'm looking at the recommendations on this thread as I'm not that thrilled with True Pianos Amber. Think I'll try the Air as so far I like what I've bought from them a lot. 

I don't have any high end piano VSTs to compare to, but ...
 
The AIR Mini Grand that I got with the AIR bundle is decent.  I like that sound better than any piano sound in the Cakewalk plugin bundle, including True Pianos Amber.  Dimension Pro actually has some decent piano samples, but it can be a challenge to tweak them to your liking without deep diving the synth parameters.  Check it out, but YMMV.
 
I also got the SONiVOX Eight Eight Ensemble 2.5 with their Premier bundle, which is a recreation of the Steinway 9-foot CD 327 grand piano.  I like this better than the AIR piano.  But I would try to find a good deal on the SONiVOX Premier or Film Score Companion bundle , for the price of the piano alone.  They have a trial version of the piano available to check out.  http://sonivoxmi.com/products/details/eighty-eight-ensemble-2
 
The recording philosophy employed in creating Eighty Eight Ensemble 2 was based on using a simple signal chain, the finest A/D converters, and exceptional microphone preamps. The result is some 1500 sample recordings, with 16 dynamic levels captured and preserved for every key.
 
The four-band EQ allows the timbre of the sound to be easily refined. An improved limiter offers enhanced dynamic control. Even the level of the sustain pedal and hammer release elements that help define the character of the piano can be individually controlled. Eighty Eight Ensemble 2 also adds a new robust reverb section. The high-frequency damping and room size parameters can add just the right ambience to your performance.

The SONiVOX Film Score Companion upgrade, which include the Eighty Eight Ensemble, is on sale for $46.74 at JRRshop.  Add to cart to see the discount.
 
https://www.jrrshop.com/sonivox-film-score-companion-upgrade
 
* You will need another SONiVOX product to quality for the upgrade price, and you can still get the Orchestral Strings Companion for $1 here https://www.audiodeluxe.com/products/virtual-instruments/sonivox-orchestral-companion-strings