piangio
I found Scarbee ALICIA'S KEYS absolutely perfect for me. Very tweakable and cheap...

It *is* a nice sounding piano, but I don't think it's one of the more flexible ones out there. If a 'brittle attack' is the problem, though, then AK could be just the ticket. I love it, but it's not a rock and roll piano IMO.
 
In that vein, I'll repeat a more specific plug for Pianoteq, as it allows you to model things such as hammer hardness (at least, the standard version does - not sure about the stage/basic version) which makes a tremendous difference.
 
Interesting to hear Glyn's comment about the Sampletekk black - I have been meaning to check that out as I, too, love the Old Lady and Emperor libraries. Glyn - do you find that Black sounds very different from the Old Lady, being that they're both samples of Steinways?

craigfowler
- do you find that Black sounds very different from the Old Lady, being that they're both samples of Steinways?

It's different, it sounds brighter. I think the samples are the same as the older "Black Grand" but it has scripts and a interface that makes it easier to tweak the sound.

Love Sampletekk's White Grand but I'm no pianist so don't trust me :) (audio demos are available on their site)

One still needs to load up Kontakt to use them. No separate VSTi...and the free player has many limitations for many 3rd party sound libraries that only run in "Demo Mode" (ie the sound cuts out after 15 minutes) so you are forced to buy the full version player.
 
If the free player allowed you to play any purchased 3rd party soundbanks fully, I would not have such an issue with it. Same as the requirement for dongles. When players are using a laptop on stage with limited USB port resources, having to "waste" one on a dongle is annoying. 
 
Just my view :)

joden
One still needs to load up Kontakt to use them. No separate VSTi...and the free player has many limitations for many 3rd party sound libraries that only run in "Demo Mode" (ie the sound cuts out after 15 minutes) so you are forced to buy the full version player.
 
If the free player allowed you to play any purchased 3rd party soundbanks fully, I would not have such an issue with it. Same as the requirement for dongles. When players are using a laptop on stage with limited USB port resources, having to "waste" one on a dongle is annoying. 
 
Just my view :)

All the Kontakt Player compatible libraries that I've bought appear to offer the full Kontakt flexibility. Demo mode is for products that don't offer Kontakt Player versions, and just run as demos. My reading of the Sampletekk offer is that it will run fully, not in demo mode
Simon

Hmm okay Simon...not saying you are wrong but the ones I tried (purchased, not pirated) only run in demo mode. And all 3rd party progs have to provide a Player version ;) and these are sold as fully functional sound libraries. They only run in the full purchased player version though.
 
This is a restriction placed by N.I. by the way not the 3rd part sound developers. Designed no doubt to force people into buying the full version. Like most other products these days, mostly spin to drag you in and then hit you with the "ahh... buts" so they can extract their full measure. That's business for you :)
 
 

I think you're talking about two separate Sampletekk products. The White grand requires full Kontakt; the Black Grand does not (the original sample set did, but the repackaged version is NI'd and ready to go)

Okay yes you are probs correct on that...can you rate (your personal view is fine ) the Black, against True Pianos? As I wrote earlier the "honkyness" between c3 and 4 is really starting to bug me.. It is not overly noticeable but I do notice it!!
 
It is so hard to tell from online MP3 demos, and with no demo of the actual VSTi...
 
thanks

Galaxy Pianos run on the free Kontakt player:
http://www.galaxy-instruments.com/galaxy-pianos.html
 
and can be purchased separately here:
http://www.soundsondemand.com/sort1.asp/best_service_galaxy_pianos/en
 
Also, there's a series of piano library comparison videos which includes pianos from Sampletekk, Reason, Kontakt, True Pianos, Galaxy Pianos, VI.One, etc.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAxtTOLiRe0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmlcvM5IPdo

joden
Okay yes you are probs correct on that...can you rate (your personal view is fine ) the Black, against True Pianos? As I wrote earlier the "honkyness" between c3 and 4 is really starting to bug me.. It is not overly noticeable but I do notice it!!
 
It is so hard to tell from online MP3 demos, and with no demo of the actual VSTi...
 
thanks

Sorry bud, I don't have either of 'em.  I can tell you that the other Sampletekk libraries I have are outstanding, and at the price you can get Black Grand for right now (50% sale just began), it's a bargain. It's not a *new* sample set, but it's a good 'un from what I've heard. I've got two other Steinway libraries by them, and they're both very, very good.