Galaxy Instruments has released Galaxy Vintage D, a virtual grand piano that is based on samples of Bauer Studios" famous 1920 Steinway D, which has served for legendary recordings. This exceptional Steinway concert grand was built in 1920 in Hamburg in the German factory of Steinway & Sons. Over the last 90 years it has achieved a deep and intimate character and a beautiful singing tone.
Some of the best pianists have recorded legendary albums on this instrument, among them Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Carla Bley, Guillermo and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Abdullah Ibrahim, Wolfgang Dauner, John Taylor and many others.
Richie Beirach called it "the best piano in the world".
"Legends" like Neumann U47 and KM53 Mikrophones ,old Siemens Tube-Preamps or the Neve Console at the Bauer Studios were used to capture the individual warm sounding expression of this exceptinal instrument.
Galaxy Instruments has now released this legendary piano as a virtual instrument.
Galaxy Vintage D is the first product of the Galaxypianos product line, equipped with the new Kontakt 4 engine offering more features, better performance, lossless sample compression and an all new user interface, designed specially for Galaxy Pianos.
Facts & Features
Based on samples of Bauer Studios" 1920 Steinway D, featured in legendary recordings
13 modeled velocity zones for a wide and smooth dynamic range
Chromatic mapping
Over 2000 samples in 24Bit (10GB/5GB with sample compression)
Chromatic and multiple velocity resonance and release samples
Multi-velocity pedal, damper, hammer and string noises
Real una corda samples
Real overtones
Powered by Kontakt Player 4 engine
New direct access user interface
Lossless sample compression for better disk streaming
True half pedaling when using a continuous sustain pedal
True repedaling and sostenuto
Adjustable pedal, hammer, damper and string noises
Pedal and damper noises dynamically playable with a continuous sustain pedal
Adjustable lid positiion
One-knob control of tone colour and dynamics
Intelligent EQ for warmth, punch and brilliance
Sympathetic string resonance with real overtones
Flexible and easy-to-use velocity editor
Convolution reverb with many different types of rooms, concert halls and ambience
Adjustable stereo width and position
Specially designed compressor for pop piano sounds
Pad Machine
Warp Engine for sound design beyond regular piano sounds
Tech Specs
PC
Windows XP (SP2 )/ Vista/ Win7 (32/64 Bit),
Pentium or Athlon XP 1.4 GHz, min. 2 GB RAM
Mac
OSX 10.5 / 10.6
Intel (!!!) Core Duo 1.66 GHz, min. 2 GB RAM
For All
1GB free disc space for player installation
additional hard disc space according to the library size
internet connection for product activation required (on any computer)
DVD drive
Time moves on, and as hard as it is to accept, yesterday’s favorites lose their relevance. It’s especially painful knowing that real soul and a huge amount of work once went into this product. Yet in my collection of affordable pianos this model turned out to be the last one — and unfortunately the worst. It simply doesn’t justify either the full price or the discounted price they’re still asking for it.
When I already have Pianoverse for $9 each model, UAD Ravel on Black Friday sale for $16, and Meldway Grand for $9, it’s clear that the era of Galaxy — and of the overrated The Grandeur — is over.
Among the older libraries that still hold up today as genuinely cheap and uncompromising options are Garritan CFX (Lite and Full) and Embertone Walker 1955. On sale they can be picked up for $40–60, and they offer the same essential features — re-pedaling and continuous half pedaling — that matter for classical playing.
I won’t even start to say about the newer, cheaper-yet-better instruments (Hammers & Waves being one example) that sound a clear step above, even if they lack that advanced pedal behaviour and still go for around $60–70 on sale.