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Has anyone purchased this VI yet? I'm very tempted, but the middle range of samples have a tone that does not quite sound authentic....or maybe I have a picky ear about it. I use the Garritan and Noire CFX models and love both, but they are Yamaha and I really don't have a good Steinway. Anyway...if you've picked this up, lemme know how you like it. Today is the last day to get it for $119.

Ilok required, unfortunately.
...
So ... piano rejected, unfortunately.

I don't think it requires iLok? Looks like it's just watermarked, according to the info on the site. I don't think there are any iLok'd Kontakt instruments.

And from the videos I've seen of it, it looks more like a scoring piano. I'm gonna pass on this one for the moment, might grab it on a sale though.

Don't look at me. The web site said Ilok.

What is a "scoring piano"?

Wait, where does it say that on the site? If you scroll down there are four tabs at the bottom. In requirements it doesn't state iLok. there is a tab "watermarking".
I don't know if "scoring piano" is a thing, what I mean is a piano to be used within your DAW software for composition purposes, instead of being played live. What I mean is that I don't feel like this piano shines when you play it in real time. But I don't know.

A piano that scores frequently!

Is this the secret that eluded me back when I was in school? I just needed a piano to solve matters for me???

To answer a few questions from the info I have, a scoring piano is primarily intended for music composition with either playing or drawing in the notes, and for use with other instrumentation to provide an atmospheric backdrop. Usually these libraries add some special variants or effects in using filters, modulators, or envelopes to give some sound shaping options. These are not intended as a priority to be highly playable substitutes for an acoustic piano.

That being said, Ascend offers 18 velocity layers with the basic core piano according to the developer and some attempt at including sympathetic resonance. I do not, however, see any half or repedal support. I'm not sure also if there are separate pedal down samples. I do like the sound and it is on my list to consider though as I think I could tweak it a bit. There are three mics offered, which is nice, and a variety of special patches with just the ppp layer, the strings stuck or bowed, and modulations between different soundsets.

As far as iLok, this is a Kontakt library that works in the free player version as well. Kontakt does not use iLok. So iLok is not required. It is watermarked where they embed a 'sonic' fingerprint in samples somewhere so if they find a pirated copy they can trace it back to the customer. Generally though this is more of a scare tactic to get people to avoid pirated copies. Although the intro price is reasonable, Heavyocity will eventually offer a better deal, perhaps during black Friday. If you want a more playable library under Kontakt, I would look at Vintage D or Grandeur for a Steinway D, or Noire for a CFX although Noire is a little more diffuse sounding and not as good for fast passage work.

Thank you for clearing that up bsntn99, appreciate the info.

Thanks bsntn....as I was thinking too...probably go on sale again. That mid range just doesn’t turn me on. Sounds quite thin and cheap. But, I *do* like the options for designing a unique patch. Noire gives me quite a bit of that tho.

"First Look" at the Heavocity Ascend piano by Daniel James; it gives an idea of some sounds and the interface.