THAT Cinematic Piano Sound With 4 Plugins 🎹

Howdy doody, Buckaroonies! Today I wanted to share how I make cinematic pianos in only 4 steps. And the best part is: you can even do it with free/stock plugins!
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Recommended Cheap/Free Piano Plugins:
Spitfire LABS Soft Piano (FREE)
Imagiro Piano ($20)
Spitfire Originals Firewood Piano ($30)
Pianobook Claustrophobic Piano (FREE)
Sinefactory Spindle (FREE)
Sinefactory Ratio (FREE)
Soundpaint 1928 Vintage Grand (FREE)
Pianobook has a ton of other amazing free pianos as well - browse around!
www.pianobook.co.uk/
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Gear In This Video:
Keyboard Tray: amzn.to/3dprjA6
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Chair: amzn.to/3001Xpk
Computer Monitor Stand: amzn.to/3In7O9u
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MIDI Keyboard: bit.ly/3G7OkDU
Audio Interface: bit.ly/31mZExn
▼▼▼TIMESTAMPZ:▼▼▼
0:00 Existence Is A Nightmare
1:23 Let's Have A Breakdown Together
2:07 Finding A Suitable Piano
4:16 Some Extra Piano Sound Tips
5:10 Piano Sound Step 2
6:23 Piano Sound Step 3
8:14 Piano Sound Step 4
9:09 How To Make It Sound Right
11:56 Get Off The Grid
13:39 It's About What You Don't Play
16:02 Adding Some Textures
18:01 Closing Thoughts
Stay classy!
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Disclosure:
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[@VenusTheory]

Also yes: I did stab the hell out of myself on those thorns for that intro shot. 😅 🎼 Hooktheory! ► hooktheory.com/affiliate/209.html

[@JohnSmith-pn2vl]

omg the poem! nice one VT!

[@pudoo6661]

3:51 this part just something else for me 🥰

[@killthelove1939]

i cried when you said "i really should order it with bacon" it's very touching

[@aviralxd3583]

Here’s a tip for those pads, sidechained reverb on the drones (also a good amount of pre-delay) with some mild distortion to make them crispier. Flangy super saw drones are quite nice for this.

[@VenusTheory]

Shhh....don't give away all the good secrets! 🤫

[@shawnalove5050]

That sounds really good!

[@SoleSpiritMusic]

man i love this vid. i still need a lot to learn about chord progression and stuff. it just gives me the chills by listening you “doodling around” thanks Cameron🙏🏻🎹

[@BrofUJu]

Spitfire Labs piano is great for free, and I bought the Waves piano years ago at 29 bucks, and it sounds fantastic and I use it all the time. Sometimes it can be nice to blend two piano sounds, too.

[@homerosanchez8481]

They just came out with a new one today too!

[@l-cityrecordsaju7282]

Besides from spitfire any other free suggestions?

[@TemmeSikkema]

@@l-cityrecordsaju7282 The free Novel Piano from Sonic Atoms is great (in the free Steinberg HalionSonic player). And the free piano by Westwood Instruments is also really good.

[@FadingPixel]

@@l-cityrecordsaju7282 Room piano v3

[@JohnFisk-OHS-78]

@Brodie 1+ Totally agree! Sometimes, you can get really interesting sounds by laying a couple piano voices, particularly if you "cook" one of them with a bit of delay, reverb, granular, shimmer, LP filter, etc. Lay out a MIDI track, solo the top layer piano, make sure you like the sound, then slowly add gain to the second, "baked" piano voice. This can give you very interesting sounds... it doesn't always have to be pads or strings backing to get a nice, cinematic sound.

[@profet1385]

You're a very good teacher, and a relatable and fun person, and you dig into how mind works with music and feelings. Thank you

[@thelanavishnuorchestra]

Very nice tips. I'm working on more cinematic styles atm and this was well timed advice.

[@BackSlashJvb125]

You have no idea how much i needed this video, i was searching as to how to make a piano soun cinematic and with what effects but i coulnt find none videos that helped xD. This is honestly like a god send GIFT

[@bricelory9534]

One of my favorite pianos in pianobook is The Gaffer, which can be quite intimate but also very bright and uniquiely plucky

[@-kentonwilson]

I’ve been looking for this for awhile now… the how-to for this very sound. Bravo, well communicated, well done. Thank you!

[@nickstalhood5380]

Nice vid man! Just started watching some of your stuff recently. Ive been in music production/creation for for over 20 yrs an within the last few years have started doing soumd design which ive become very passionate for. Love seeing how other designers do things, it really helps to have videos like these.

[@DoubleHouse]

"I should have ordered with bacon" I've already been locing your stuff, but that was the exact moment you became my absolute favorite YT channel. You're too awesome, man. Keep it up!

[@LittleFellaDynamics]

All these emotive piano-centric tutorials are absolutely perfect for a project that I am developing 🎹🎶😎 thank you for all your time and effort 👌💯👀🌟

[@dmitripopov8570]

Man, you are a brilliant host! God bless you for bringing the mood to a great level - every time! Thank you!

[@cheesecake4lyfe196]

I find going with a lower mix on reverb and taking an even lower (-50ish db) comp means you don't have to miss out on attack or body. A little reverb after the fact helps hide the comp artifacts. For a super fun tip, try shifting the reverb signal up a couple of octaves for a cool shimmer effect, and using a multiband comp to flatten out the low-mids makes sure it doesn't get too muddy down there with all the rolled off reverbs!

[@retrigger_]

Thank you for this. Loved every tip and technique. perfect

[@Leohalo123456]

Fantastic video, exactly what i was looking for!!

[@nathanthrash5068]

Amazing techniques. Also reminded me to plug in the keyboard more often!

[@samthesomniator]

😊 I've waited for that tutorial. Thank You! 😊

[@Frank.Zimmermann]

Truly excellent, Cameron, thank you so much! :)

[@dillipphunbar7924]

Enjoyed this change of pace

[@storiesreadaloud5635]

nice playing lesson included in there too. Please do more on this

[@Bartolomeusable]

That velocity trick did it for me already!!

[@sound.silence]

Bro. That opener. I bow to you. F’ng exquisite!! I was toasting a bagel by the way.

[@Dan_eckholm]

Holy crap i learned so much from this video alone! Thank you so much!

[@bernabesalvador260]

Really nice sound! Thanks!

[@_mickmccarthy]

Obviously the sounds you produce, and the teaching of the theory behind what you're playing are awesome and I'm sure will keep me engaged until (and likely long after!) you stop producing content. But man your intros get me every time, they're utterly amazing. Keep up the great work!

[@atrus3823]

This channel is criminally under-subscribed! Such useful and well-presented content.

[@Keyversio]

Man you are the best!Thank you!

[@Gokshata]

Awesome video, really good tips!!

[@JakeDavies]

This is brilliant. Thank You!

[@TadDoylemusic]

This is the one that got me to subscribe. Thanks buckarooney!

[@YankInches]

Fantastic as always

[@nicerperson1]

I was feeling a bit down but the first 100 or so seconds really cheered me up, thank you 💖

[@Grydient]

lmao thamks for the laugh, it helped my day

[@flickeringscreens211]

I think the audiolatry free piano is pretty good. Great Video!

[@gylp2]

love these videos

[@AdamtheADHDev]

So awesome!!

[@oldsongsstereo]

Love this channel 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@afi6061]

So many great tips there! 👍 Love your humour too.

[@davidkyle2073]

Excellent thank you 🎉

[@horizontalblanking]

Loved the “Werner Herzog” opening of this video! Going to try this technique today.

[@susanneaubert8907]

Ah that intro was everything. Thank you!

[@karmatosed7211]

One can always find some of the absolute best topics on this channel. =]

[@LotusEater14]

I love your opening spiels

[@makeaguitarnoise]

Piano in Blue from Cine samples is amazing and right in your face

[@hannesbengsch5515]

That intro poem kicked the urge in me to sample it and turn it into "deep ... meaningfull" house/techno music, but with your atmosheric pads underneath it, shimmering into the clearer second thought. I realized that this would be on the not so cool side of music production. And also way to easy, cause most of the epic stuff is kind of already there.

[@pianosongbook]

I´m still looking for a nice decent piano sound... so, thx for your inspirations!

[@brandonallen5566]

Dude, your content is so rich man! Not only the musical aspects, but the juxtaposition of deep philosophical questioning, and humor is so delightful man! Love it, keep it coming bro!

[@TraxtasyMedia]

I appreciate all of your tutorial videos :D And these first piano pieces remind me strongly of deadmau5 - 777 or 7

[@mikeisnottoast]

Wow, nailed my mood

[@BeniRoseMusic]

Ends up being able to play the piano really well is key to making GORGEOUS Cinematic Pianos.

[@VenusTheory]

Haha that does also help - check out Pianote on YT if you haven't already. It's a fantastic channel and I've been using it a ton to try and get better at piano!

[@BeniRoseMusic]

@@VenusTheory Thanks for the recommendation!

[@zaqareemalcolm]

me who has no choice but to draw midi: "guess ill die" 🤷‍♀

[@nikzaaaaad]

who would've thought lol me here looking for a magic solution

[@tosvus]

At least for experimenting and getting all sorts of sounds, including similar to this (also includes textures), I really like the Hammer + Waves pianos.

[@gyur6]

beautiful

[@midiman5045]

Very great info.

[@gesslr]

Brilliant opening. 🙂

[@smkh2890]

In PianoBook there is one called WinterPiano, which is not muffled like felt, but still quiet and wistful.

[@lebronzejames9738]

You good sir, as I've eluded to in other comments on your videos, are a grand master teacher of actually "how to be an artist and @#$% the rulebook here's how to bring out your energy driving that is your musical thoughts" it makes Art more personal, as it ought be, and less scientific. while there's always a needed understanding of the tension/release in music, just having that *feeling* and being in touch with your music is all that matters. irony often the theory can't keep up haha ;) Edit: your energy your humor and your videos always inspire me to make more music even when I don't feel up to it, the blocks go away, I fire up the DAW with a free piano + verb and I just push keys, that's zen state for me; thank you so much! keep doing what you do good sir!

[@elijah3300]

This video is a piece of education I never wanted but always deserved.

[@alainterieur794]

My favorite free piano is Room Piano v3, it's super light on the CPU and barely takes any hard drive space (it's less than 60 MB) plus it sounds great.

[@jeffjones1359]

@Ceres Lee Very cool! Pat Moraz is a favorite of mine. The first time that I saw Yes he was playing with them, (Relayer tour circ. 1975) That show left an indelible mark on my psyche. Yes, electronic music production has come a long way since those days. We’re living in a golden age for music production.

[@GooZe...]

XD I should've ordered it with bacon... Thanks for making this video :) I've been asking for that in the stream and this is incredibly helpful and some good advice. Love.

[@JohnFisk-OHS-78]

Huge thanks! As a pianist / keyboardist, I'm always looking for a new sound. Gotta shout out to the folks at Spitfire Audio - they make some cracking great libraries. My current personal favorite (at $29 USD) is their Originals Firewood Piano, which they describe as "a detailed upright piano, with cracked bridge, creating unique resonances. Performed by Jeremiah Fraites of The Lumineers." It has as pretty sweet, smooth, but still interesting timbre. Bake it a bit with the recipe you outline in the video, and... *voila*! Instant cinematic sweetness. _¡Muy hermoso!_ Kudos and best wishes mate! J

[@DerekJohn]

Lol love this voice it’s like your classic documentary voice idk how to explain it besides my guy is the Bob Ross of sound design lol great vids

[@brucecameron1499]

❤❤❤ Antici...... ....... ....... pation ❤❤❤ Love it, well done!

[@degenhardt_v_A]

How is your channel not one of the biggest on youtube!? Your voice alone makes watching worthwhile!

[@VenusTheory]

Haha well thanks. Hopefully things will keep growing!

[@degenhardt_v_A]

@@VenusTheory I do hope so! I'll try to spread the word. :) Thanks for the great content!

[@johndurrant9262]

Nice touch listing the gear used in the video. Your audio is great, what mic are you using for voice?

[@bearsdj]

you rocking the tuts...and you are rocking the stache as well...

[@Skyverb]

I agree with the felt piano being weird to mix. I have some, but have only used them once. Wanted to learn more before trying to mess with them again. Never really got them to sound how I wanted them to in a full track. Thanks for the vid!

[@Snyde70]

Then he rolls off all the top end... making it sound like a felt piano. This guy is not our best and brightest lol.

[@Skyverb]

@@Snyde70 lol!! To be fair, he did say to mess with it to fit your needs. And with his method, you get a felt piano-like sound, but can control more of the sound/timber/color etc. So if you want more high end, for example, you get more options this way than using a felt piano library, potentially.

[@MadMan_MG]

If you have a focusrite Scarlett solo there should still be a thing to let you pick 1 of 3 libraries from addictive keys. I was able to do this as of early jan 2022

[@Euthymia]

More free pianos: Soundpaint comes with a very nice sampled 1928 Steinway with lots of variations. Meldaproduction MSoundFactory Player will allow you to play the excellent free Monastery Piano (and has a cool SuperSaw instrument as well)

[@JohnSmith-pn2vl]

to get the feel right i'm waiting for midi comping! then i pull the trigger again asap!

[@heavensubculture]

amazing mustache!!

[@Jeronimo365]

Brilliant as ever. Uber useful and the humour really made this one of the few highlights of an otherwise pretty shitty day. Help me out, 🙏 I’m not familiar with what a ‘filter’ is or does. Is there a stock equivalent in Logic Pro? Thanks fella, much respectaroony from England. 🙏❤️😎

[@Cody_OConnell]

Sick vid. How do you have such an amazing voice over? Is there a boom mic off-camera?

[@AlanFullmer]

If you ever give up music (which I hope you don't! b/c I love your stuff), you can do movie trailers and commercials :) This is a great video.

[@LFPXX]

I have my new studio headphones and there are not enough low end in pretty much anything. Then I listen to Venus Theory's voice :)

[@nicerperson1]

getting some "wicked game" vibes here!

[@planetmullins]

Patience! OMG! So many things I should have said 18:40. Man, you are hilarious. Thanks for this vid. Cheers!

[@abbesatty9498]

Nice guide! Do I need to modify the built-in effects (reverb/EQ, itc..) in e.g Pianoteq?

[@Banquet...]

Hey, that intro makes me realise you're just like me, except younger and more positive!

[@GODANMEDIA]

Thank you for the lesson. Your introspective intro had me rolling. 😂

[@kbimm]

Your Pianoteq settings sound already amazing by themselves! Could you share that preset you created and used for this video?

[@Dabaski]

I'm interested in this as well

[@MrJoosebawkz]

isnt it all on screen?

[@kbimm]

@@MrJoosebawkz Thanks for your response! No, it's not all on screen. There are many more settings on a second layer of the GUI. These are, as you can guess from the visible part of the GUI, the settings for Action, Mallet Bounce, Equalizer, Effects, and Microphone. These settings also heavily influence the sound and I suspect the "secret sauce" why his preset sounds so amazing, lies within these settings. Pianoteq is a truly amazing sounding piano plugin, I got myself version 8, and it doesn't disappoint! Btw, nice nickname! 😎

[@RufusJacson]

As a fairly new viewer of your channel, I think that the dryly delivered "Howdy doody buckaroonies" is very probably the best video opening on KZbin... Also, great tutorials too, of course!

[@VenusTheory]

Come for the voice, stay for the spicy intros.

[@bizzleboy240]

It legitimately makes me tingle a bit every time.

[@bhaveshmistry3255]

Wow it sounds absolutely fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I need your regarding the best piano vst’s. I am a pianist & composer. Most of the my composition are solo piano so always wish to use best vst’s piano sounds but I am new in to this i played some vst’s but I didn’t satisfied with the sound because I am more used with acoustic piano sounds. It would a great if you can share some name of the best sounding piano vst’s so that I will go ahead with my purchase. Thank you so much. 🙏❤

[@nodexdnb9950]

Great video, your face on 14:41 reminded me of this meme i found -Me "hit the record Button" - All my musical talent "Adios"

[@johnmcvicker6728]

Soniccouture has Hammersmith Free which I've liked for a generally good piano to start with.

[@geoffwarren007]

Sadly, 'Not currently available' as of 06/03/22 :(

[@rajkamaljangir3618]

Nice

[@l-cityrecordsaju7282]

I love trying new this in my daw but I don't really understand the different chords and how to spread them across the paink to get a better and realistic sound

[@MrJoosebawkz]

can you do a video on drones and how to use them? the video kind of takes for granted we know what you’re doing in the texture part. are you playing that with a granular synth? how do you make drones? ive been trying and failing to use drones/ambient pads in my music for a bit now.

[@isajoha9962]

Hehe love the intro of the video

[@andrethorwirthakablaxx4010]

weltschmerz:-)

[@Gainn]

Ancient free plugin 'RubyTube' V1.. Adds a delicious texture to piano.

[@JamesRamboPearce]

Sorry but this is the best intro yet, the poem actually hit me but not as much as toaster rage after 😅

[@makeaguitarnoise]

Ah a philosopher as well as a musician!

[@iodfusj]

I cried the whole time

[@CraigRodmellMusic]

I have a feeling that this could work not just using VSTs or libraries, but with Hardware as well. I use a Roland RD-2000, and I see no reason why this could not work with that. I must give it a try.

[@nickkositsyn4597]

Thanks Thanks Thanks

[@SkjongSound]

Great video! What is the plugin you use to load in the samples at 16:02 ?

[@japzproductions]

brooo! where do you put your mic? you sound like a radio DJ with that deep buttery voice

[@unotoli]

Pianoteq got EQ, reverb and compressor built in. But good explanation / demonstraton.