Pianos are the only instruments for which good VI emulations exist.
I can’t agree with that, I’m afraid,
Thereus. If you had said ‘claves’, I’d have nodded affirmatively, but as for virtual pianos, I’m inclined to agree with the Colonel — though *only* on this particular subject — even if ‘load of crap’ is perhaps too strong a threesome of words to describe the imperfect state of today’s virtual solutions.
In my opinion, the best piano emulation, be it sampled or modelled, is today — December of
het jaar des heren 2017 — somewhere at about 15% on the road towards being more or less convincing and satisfying. To listen to and to play, that is. So, still a loooong way (and many technical innovations and revolutions) to go, I believe.
That being said, 15% seems plenty — even enough — for many applications and situations. But it's painfully inadequate if the suggestion of the true sound, timbral complexity, depth, dynamics, majesty, presence, adaptibility, radiance, endless versatility and sheer musicality of a good real piano needs to be summoned.
Play the real thing for a good while, if you have the chance, and in piano-sympathetic surroundings if possible, and I think you’ll agree: still a loooong way to go.
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André, in answer to your question: all of them have pretty much the same treatment, being sent through the same channel strip that had various plug-ins inserted.
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