Nothing sounds better, but be aware 
by Bob from Jacksonville, FL, March 2008
Music Background:  Recording Engineer, Live Sound Engineer

Before buying this package, know what you are getting yourself into! First, this software will not operate without an ilok hardware key. You must buy one if you don't already have one. Second, while you are buying things, go ahead and get another hard drive to dedicate to this software. I use an external SATA 1TB RAID 0 set. The software takes over 250GB of disk space, and USB 2.0 or Firewire 400 is just not fast enough to keep up with this program's data transfer needs when you really get going on it. Also, putting the sound library on the same drive as the operating system or the program portion of this software will also cause data transfer issues unless your drive is lightning fast! There is just too much data transfer! And another thing: the software comes on 35 dual-layer DVDS! Install time will exceed 16 hours, and cannot be interrupted!

Now that I have discouraged you, GET THIS SOFTWARE! The sound quality of the samples is magnificent, and so detailed that you lack for very little in piano articulations. The staccato sections are head and shoulders above any other software, at any price. I work with the lid position fully up, since this is the way the sound library was recorded, but the sounds are still most excellent with the position simulator active. And, the flexibilities of the sound adjustments are amazing in their scope! My main keyboard player owns a 1906 Steinway grand, and has never been satisfied with any recorded piano that I or anyone else has been able to do. Not anymore! With the fast dedicated drive, she can even play MIDI only at shows and let me supply the piano sounds 100% in the system! Now, EVERYBODY is happy! Am I gushing? Sorry, but it really has solved a lot of issues here, since other piano sound banks never were good enough.

In summary, you will never regret having these wonderful sounds; just prepare in advance to use them properly, because they take a lot of horsepower to work right.

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