EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

I haven't been reading this list for a week, but the two best ones 
I've heard are Post B\ufffdsendorfer and Ivory. All three pianos in Ivory 
are miked fairly closely, so they're good for a "pop" sound, and the 
way they're mapped to the keyboard is outstanding - very playable.

The Bos is recorded from two positions, but both are fairly ambient; 
it's just outstanding for a concert sound, and it blends well with 
sampled orchestra. It's also softer. I bought it after hearing a 
demo, and I don't regret it.

These two really raise the bar above other sampled pianos I've heard; 
for years the one in the Kurzweil K250 piano (which was done by Joe 
Ierardi, the same guy who did Ivory) was my favorite. But I haven't 
heard SampleTek's White or Black Grands, and Art Vista is coming out 
with a new piano soon that sounds great - I got to play with a very 
early demo version a few months ago, and it has a lot of charm.

There is no "best" piano, since they all sound different. Each one 
can sound very wrong or very right, depending on the context.
-- 
Nick Batzdorf - editor
Virtual Instruments magazine
(the world of softsynths and samplers)
www.Virtualinstrumentsmag.com
1-877 VImagzn (846-2496), 818/905-9101, cell 590-9101