I am a bit surprised at how dated sounding and dated looking The Grand 3 is. Then I realized, as a new owner of Absolute 6 collection (hello black friday sales), that it is the same product release in 2008.
It is mind boggling to me that Steinberg still lists this on their website with an MSRP of $200. At $200 US credits you could buy PianoTeq Studio I think.
While it’s good that it’s been updated to handle the new dongle-free licenser system, listening to it, I’m not impressed by the product. Isn’t “The Grand 4” about 15 years late in arriving?
Has there been even one new piano since then? Any thought of adding modern mic position, damper, lid, and dynamics engines to this aged and basically obsolete product?
There have been better piano VSTs and libraries given away free, perhaps it’s best to just put this one out to pasture.
I don’t totally agree with you, but not totally disagree either.
I bought this plugin several years ago and paid $99 for it during the sale during the Christmas and New Year holidays. I never regretted it. However, I wouldn’t pay $200 today given the competition in this area. There are currently much more interesting offers on the market than this one.
I still consider that it is an excellent product which can be suitable for various musical genres, given the diversity of pianos present in this plugin, but for so-called Classical music, it does not meet my expectations. There is much better. This is a question of taste and I believe that it is very personal to each person. I still use this plugin on a lot of occasions (Pop, Jazz); It was worth my investment at the time.
I don’t believe the plugin is worth updating. Is it even possible to do this? If Steinberg wanted to renew its plugin arsenal with a new plugin offering quality pianos that could be competitive in this broad market, it would find interested buyers, but the quality and diversity must be there and this at an affordable price, and this is rarely the case with Steinberg.
Warren, you made the right choice to buy this Absolute 6 Bundle, considering that in this context The Grand did not cost you $200 and that ultimately you have neither a bad nor a top plugin in your possession at a reasonable price .
I don’t think instruments have ever really been Steinberg’s strong point, which is ok. You can’t be good at everything.
I’ve always found their instruments quite underwhelming and poorly supported. Their HSO was really weak (haven’t tested that new orchestral thing yet tho).
I wish they’d just partner with someone (NI perhaps) and include lite versions of their stuff instead of doing this stop-start-abandon approach.
I’d rather they spend their resources on fixing some of the shortcomings of the platform.
I just wish Steinberg would obviate the need for Caveat Emptors by pricing this in a sane way, so that if you paid $20 for it, you’d be getting a good deal. Anyone who paid $200 for this should be livid.
I think that $20 would be too little considering the quality of the piano sounds available which is not WOW! but not bad either.
By doing a little research on the internet, you can notice that between 99 and 400 euros there is a wide range of pianos available. You have to choose according to your needs.
Considering that The Grand is a plugin that is a little outdated and that it seems to have no possibility of updating, except for reasons of compatibility, the right price in my opinion could easily be $99. That would be a fair price. Seriously, who is going to buy a $200 plugin knowing that…
For anyone who would like to buy instruments from Steinberg, he should consider The Absolute Bundle, it is the best option.
Absolute 6 is outstanding. I’ve been using Cubase since the late 90’s, last version up until now was v6.5, 10 years ago. I can say now with Cubase 13, with their instruments integration in Cubase, and how fantastic they sound, they have arrived. It all works beautifully together. 10 years ago, all my instruments and plugins were 3rd party. Currently, other than my Uadx plugins and a few Spitfire instruments, there is nothing else in my computer other than Steinberg products. If your on the fence with a Daw and sounds, Get Cubase 13 and Absolute 6, you will not be disappointed.
Personally when you invest in a few instrument expansions, get absolute I would put Steinberg with the best in the game. Personally Hallion 7 is 1 followed by UVI and Kontakt. I feel like I can make an entire universe with Steinberg instruments. All I need from them now is some better modulation.
Not to deviate to much. I also made a post hoping for the Grande 3 to be updated. Or just take it out. But as it currently stands it’s a waste of 30gb space on my HD sadly. I don’t want it to be. But it is lol
I bought The Grand in the last sale for $100. While not disappointed with its sound, I am rather annoyed to realize it’s included in Absolute which I’m hoping to buy during the upcoming summer sale.
I’m hoping Steinberg factors a small discount for me. Then again, NI is having a sale now on Komplete 14 standard. Hmmm.
Absolute changed the game for me. But Halion is definitely something that needs after market investment and I would personally argue that Absolute wasn’t enough for me. I am a bit of a audio fiend, this is my current Halion Library >
With plans for much more lol.
Steinberg easily have the best VST’s and loop/sounds…Too bad it’s all behind a paywall lol. But a paywall I could justify clearing over and over.
Ok. So maybe I can help.
If it is between Absolute 6 And Komplete Collectors or maybe ultimate I’m going NI.
Long term I’m going Absolute.
Absolute is something you have to build. Find sales.
There’s a 65% off sale for a bundle of Hybrid hit+Transverse that I bought this morning through a distributor. The sounds are insane! The Sheer quality of Steinberg…
Now the other non absolute libraries I got last month during the 50% off sale.
And Absolute I got at 50% off on sale as well.
So if it’s not currently on sale. I’d hold firm for now.
Hope this helps
Btw I have Komplete collectors. I would not consider another edition of Komplete If cinematic composing/landscape sound is your jam*
I was thinking Komplete Standard as an upgrade for the Maschine Mk3 I just acquired. It is on sale until 3 Apr. Absolute 6 will likely be on sale soon.
I’m enjoying the amazing sounds that came with Maschine and I’m told Kontact is a far better sampler environment than HaLion. Details are a bit confusing. I like traditional songwriting but I’m really excited by the immense possibilities in the sampling world.
I hear what you’re saying and I’m wondering which direction to go? Not certain about the more expensive versions of Komplete. I’ve been trying to get Maschine to record midi into Cubase Pro 12 but no luck. I’d like the choice with the most sounds and flexibility.
So to give you a idea of my favourite Komplete instruments:
Reaktor 6 is incredible as is it’s subtractive synth Razor being a standout.
Kontakt Banks: (In no order)
Action Strikes
Arkhis
Ashleight
Straylight
Damage
Thrill
East Asia
Evolve
Evolve r2
Evolve mutations
India
Middle East
Pharlight
Mysteria
Noir
Playbox!
Sequis
Thrill
West africa
Lores
Kinetic toys
These are the stars of the Library for me.
If your missing out on a lot of them I’d be less inclined to NI
Interesting. Thanks. Right now I’m listening to sound demos for Komplete 14 Standard. They’re amazing, especially the pianos and presumably will work flawlessly with Cubase. What do you think of Kontact versus HaLion?
I think Halion (Full version) Sits atop alone.
I would say UVI Falcon is better than Kontakt.
But Kontakt has far better LIbrary’s
What UVI gives you is some semblance of midi sound design tools that make up for some of what I lost moving here from Ableton.
But sound wise Kontakt probably has a slight edge over Falcon.
As I said though. Halion is alone at the top. A bit more complex to learn. But it’s also a spectral sampler. Synth. Sampler. Wavetable + sample library. I would say the possibilities are I bit more endless with Halion
But If your mainly pop/hip hop/trap modern production and you want presets out of the box I’d go Komplete.
Halion requires some sound design finesse and there’s a couple functionality bugs that are frustrating. Freezing values when dragging sometimes.
Flexphraser is something else tho
Don’t get me wrong. The halion presets are incredible.
Just out of the box the NI ones are probably abit more click and go.
Either way don’t overthink it. I’m sure you’ll be happy with whatever you choose!
Thanks for the chat. Off to sleep in Toronto. Was in Sydney last year and up the coast. Australia is a blast. Love Tas. Laid back folk. You’re lucky. Best of everything. Nite! And thanks again. Much appreciated. Think I’ll wait for Absolute sale.
Yeah I gotta say we have it good down here lol.
Never been to Tas but I hear great things.
Always here to help. This is my new Facebook. Learn a lot more as well.
How embarrassing. They’re very old lol. Been working on something massive but hush hush for the next 6 or so months not to jinx it
Enjoy the night!! I’ll probably still be here cubing when you wake up
