Garritan Abbey Road CFX vs Native Instruments NOIRE 🎹 Best Piano Libraries

[@abath07]

00:47 Garritan Classic 01:19 Garritan Contemporary 01:50 Garritan Player 02:25 Noire

[@daniellevy892]

Noire for Wind Ensemble? Urban sound? 🖤

[@JohnDonasco]

I bought both because I believe they’re the best in the market today!

[@devidasa9637]

I felt I had to choose with a buying decision...I went with Noire. Brutal choice.

[@_seed2108]

We miss uuuuu! Please come back

[@DidoInFlames]

I'm using Noire and with tweaking I've achieved amazing sound but i use it for breakbeats and electronic music . If i make acoustic pure piano track i use Garritan . Garritan is great VST

[@opossumparty697]

Please come back mr. Urban I miss you so much. **sad boi noises**

[@JPDC624]

Wow, serious studio upgrade since the original 2015 video... Nice!

[@ToddUrban]

Yeah, a little extra experience and a lot more money. 😂 Thanks for noticing.

[@lewisalexander]

Firstly, this video though good, concentrates on a perfectly usable piano from Garritan, which is a VST / AU instrument. Noire is a cinematic instrument not designed for everyday playing, therefore it's not giving the best solution. I've used Noire and yes, nice, but it's more for cinematic and core work for film, not as a pure performance / stage instrument, although there are one or two programs in the library which do indeed work. also for the fact that NOIRE is not a VST, it's a kontakt library, meaning Kontakt or Komplete Kontrol is needed. Garritan's piano has a nice sweet and usable tone. I use the following though and do recommend them. VI Labs Audio Modern U, Ravenscroft and the truepianos pack, I also now and again use Spectrasonics Keyscape depending on needs. But I would highly recommend Modartt's Pianoteq 6 standard / Pro or the studio package and here's why. Firstly it requires less resources as it's a modelling instrument, now don't be put off by that word. Arturia's Piano V is a moddeling instrument and I can't stand it, it's cheap and tacky. PianoTeq is not, it provides you with an expandable and adaptable instrument system for various grands, uprights and unique instruments, it sounds and feels like you're working with the original instrument and that's coming from a blind pianist, so my ears listen for things the average sighted ear doesn't. If you're serious about a piano, I'd definitely recommend Pianoteq 6 pro or studio, VI Labs piano line and Garritan's Yamaha CFX. they're what I class as go-to's I have to say that I find Native Instruments pianos are not as charming as I'd hoped, yes, they're usable, but it depends on what you're doing and the mood and feel you want from the instrument, as well as the programability.

[@ToddUrban]

Agreed. These are all good points. (Especially Noire being more cinematic) Thanks for adding the info!

[@lewisalexander]

@@ToddUrban Thank you, much appreciated.

[@anthonyvinart6756]

Noire has a bad response feeling with the keyboard ? It's for stage use and record.

[@matikbe]

I've read a lot of good reviews about pianoteq and it's superior playability , but I just can't stand the sound of it.. Great software though. Garritan CFX all the way for me!

[@Robin_S78]

Noire is absolute winner, sound and package is unbeatable. Thanks!

[@felixlechat1780]

not really I own Garritan since a year any regrets!

[@JeffAlaniStanfill]

Another excellent review by the best recording engineer on the east coast! Go Todd!!!

[@ToddUrban]

Thanks Jeff! You'll love both of these on your next track!

[@professorslideraudio]

Very Well done Video & Analysis. As often with two competing similar products in pro audio, the debate over which is better usually ends with "Let's get both of them" :)

[@ToddUrban]

Thank you. You are right, I have both and use them both in different circumstances.

[@headsman2023]

Noire is a modified cfx and sound slightly darker... The purest cfx on the market is vsl cfx and of course the garritan

[@ToddUrban]

I never tried the VSL one, but have only heard great things!

[@theflyingpiano4547]

Very neat review man. I feel that with noire, you can't really play fast runs. But it sounds amazing, no doubt. I still have the CFX and I see no need for a switch :D

[@ToddUrban]

Thanks. That’s an interesting point. They do react differently due to their transients. But that can also be adjusted in Noire. Both are great though. Thanks for watching.

[@JitinMisra]

Todd Urban do you feels vst have more latency than onboard keyboard sounds?

[@blackcatcentralmusic]

I'm searching for the best VST plugin for piano and it's down to these two. I am leaning towards the Garritan. A Yamaha grand should have a bright sound that cuts through, yet warm and not as bright as a Baldwin. The Noire sounds like it is more for people who want experimental sounds. However, it is vitally important to have a piano sound that works in a live setting, not just standalone. For example, a good VST for solo classical piano may not be the best VST for a jazz or rock group. This is one of my decision points. Also, the instrument must respond like a "real" piano. Too often, VST pianos sound good but the "feel" is wrong. For example, Air Technologies Mini-Grand - the upper octaves are much brighter than the rest of octaves and the velocity in those octaves is far too sensitive. That plugin also has a few notes that are just a hair out of tune. I wish I could "test drive" the Garritan to see how the VST responds on a weighted action controller.

[@ToddUrban]

Agreed. They are both great, but very different.

[@droughdough]

You could very well download the demo or even a cracked version. If your intent is to test drive before you buy and don't use anything produced for published work, I think there's a fair ethical argument that you're simply being a thorough investigatory consumer. I'll readily admit that I've done this before. If there demos provided, or if none exist, are insufficient, I typically feel okay doing a full test drive. It's like buying a car. I'm going to insist that I'm permitted to spend at least an hour test driving, hooking up a OBD monitor, and checking fluids before and after a long drive that includes highway speeds, etc. If I'm not allowed that, I'm not going to buy the car. Am even better comparison is an actual instrument. It goes without saying that ample time spent with a new instrument is essential before buying. Why should a digital instrument be any different? The Garritan demo is 4 minutes before sound is disabled. To me, that's insufficient, and if I went to the local music shop and was told I only had four minutes with each guitar, for example, I'm going to find a better shop. This is just my personal opinion about software "piracy" and the nature of intent.

[@JohnDonasco]

@@droughdough i can’t find any cracked version of Garritan CFX Grand! Would you have a link?

[@Xethis]

@@JohnDonasco You can look at some torrent page...

[@PianoScoreVids]

Great review! Especially now since NI offers 50% on the noire now.

[@ToddUrban]

Thanks. Yeah, it’s a great deal. Definitely the best sounding of their pianos in my opinion.

[@PianoScoreVids]

@@ToddUrban I've been using the grandeur for literally hundreds of videos already. Do you think Noire sounds better and is as good to play (or even better) in comparison?

[@Groovemasterflex1]

16gb(Noire) VS 122gb(Garritan) I think that says it all.

[@ToddUrban]

Agreed. Library size doesn’t tell the entire story, but it does tell a lot.

[@johnyang799]

For some reason noire just sounds muffled when I play using my keyboard but when clicked using mouse it's crisp and clear. Garritan doesn't have this difference. It sounds clear and clean.

[@ToddUrban]

@johnyang799 strange. Maybe it is because your keyboard isn’t transmitting velocities as high as your mouse clicks? What if you play your keyboard really hard or adjust the scaling?

[@AlonsoJoaquinComposer]

​@@johnyang799Ive never heard about an issue like this, its definitely not the VST whats failing here

[@athenilein6509]

@@johnyang799I have the exact same issue with Noire :(

[@rosariox-plane1172]

Hello good morning, I installed the Garritan cfx, I connected my CVP 605 with the PC via USB, but the sound comes out only from the PC, the sound of the CVP remains unchanged, in addition to the Garritan is there any other program needed to make the sound come out of the CVP?

[@ToddUrban]

What is a CVP?

[@MikeBurnsArrangedAccidents]

Garritan was one of my first purchases. 120GB plus. I'm locked out of it bcause I upgraded my computer and lost the key card. Waiting for Makemusic to get back to me. In the meantime, I'm amazed at how good NI Komplete's The Grandeur is. I like it better than Cinematic Studios' piano, and I really like that VST. If I ever bought another pianolibrary it would be Noire.

[@ToddUrban]

If you have an account online, you can download the key code. Try that. Otherwise, they are usually responsive when I’ve contacted help.

[@rosariox-plane1172]

Hi, I have a YAMAHA CVP 605, I wanted to know if by purchasing GARRITAN Abbey Road CFX Concert Grand, I can get more realistic piano sounds than my CVP.

[@ToddUrban]

Well, it is super realistic and a massive sample library. That being said, about a year ago I had some issues getting it to activate with some system updates. Make sure to double check with them about what is supported or see if you can demo it first.

[@muamarhafidz2350]

My Noire set up is Pure, Pop Grand

[@michaelkaercher]

I may be wrong but I did have the impression that the Abbey Road piano was louder which affect the judgement. But in general the differences between the software instruments had not been significant for me. I think you cannot make mistakes bei choosing either of them.

[@michaelkaercher]

@carlos fernandes We all have our opinions.

[@mustafaaltas1698]

This is a great review. I wanted to ask anyone , I just got a Yamaha N1X hybrid piano and I am about to get the Garitan CFX . I was wondering if you run the program using the internal speaker of the piano instead of getting a different speakers? Anyone has any idea

[@ToddUrban]

I guess you could if your keyboard has a separate audio input. However, I’ve never found built in keyboard speakers to be anything but sub par. However, that being said, there is something nice about feeling a little resonance from built in speakers. Personally, I would go with separate speakers just since you will get the full experience of the sound both libraries offer.

[@studiomanager5646]

Have your come across any sampled pianos that respond well to PPP controller/soft pedal? Im usually using a disklavier as controller, i have found most samplers be lacking in response to soft pedal.

[@ToddUrban]

If you pull the velocity down, these do reproduce it well. So it would be good to experiment with the velocity curve on them to get it to match your playing. But yes, nothing is exactly like a real piano

[@studiomanager5646]

​@@ToddUrban Hi Todd, thanks for the response, Im trying to deterimine if any piano samplers you're aware of would respond to soft pedal...( i think its controller #67)... yes using a disklavier makes it easy to transmit soft pedal having the 3 pedals but frequently in-between tunings or for various recording projects i might use ivory. for example on ivory, they have a setting/button for soft pedal, not that its anything special, but im wondering ,. do these other ones you have have any knobs or buttons regarding soft pedal?. tnx mike catalano ny

[@ToddUrban]

I’m not positive about this. I’d check the Garritan site. Maybe it has info there.

[@saulholguin9251]

The Noire definitely has a much warmer and fuller tone than the gartiton. Definitely love the low end on the garriton

[@ToddUrban]

Yeah, they each have a unique sound!

[@EdoardoBombace]

Hi Todd, would you mind sharing how you mixed Noire for this video? It's sounds amazing in some parts of the video and it seems all flat and also Kontakt volume not boosted considering the output of Noire is relatively low. Btw thanks a lot for these videos, your channel is really great!

[@ToddUrban]

Thank you. The only mixing I would have done was to balance levels so the volumes were matched between the products. I would have done this using the DAW Fader.

[@chrisSkordPiano]

How do you record this?? And how do connect it to my Roland fp 30

[@ToddUrban]

You can run your Roland to a computer via USB. In terms of recording, you can run them in standalone as an application, but I find that they both run best within a DAW. So load it into Logic, Cubase, Studio One, Live, etc and just record it as you play

[@chrisSkordPiano]

@@ToddUrban thank you for answering!

[@richgouette]

your reviews are superb

[@ToddUrban]

Thank you Rich.

[@tdyh1109]

I have CFX lite and NORIE,and i think CFX is much better than NORIE.

[@endyzyl]

both of our piano library sampled from two different Yamaha CFX

[@vardferd7073]

Hey Mr. Urban! Help I can't play cello...

[@2kouaxiong]

I wouldn't buy Noire at full price since it's about the same price as Garritan CFX. Garritan CFX is my favorite.

[@moisesherreraa]

Don't waste your time figuring out which is the best sound. Use it improving your skills in the instrument!

[@chrisrdgymnastics]

Hi New Fam here...

[@joshtamargoderothschild2420]

120 Gb vs 14 Gb.....

[@nox4298]

The quality is what matters more.

[@endyzyl]

ill go with the 14 Gb

[@joshtamargoderothschild2420]

@@endyzyl me too

[@Kougeru]

GB not gb. And irrelevant when storage is cheap

[@oBCHANo]

@@endyzyl Whyy? Do you live in the 80's? This is a complete non-issue, the highest quality wins by default, it wouldn't matter if it was a terabyte because that's like $15 of storage.

[@lalnunsangaasanga5801]

Garritan best.

[@ToddUrban]

Thanks for watching!

[@MarkHopewell]

No matter how I change my settings in the Garritan CFX (Full) Aria Player app, I can't remotely get the "authentic" piano sound you are getting here. Presumably, you're using post production audio techniques to polish the otherwise dull as ditchwater sound coming at of the application. Subsequently, I very much regret buying the Garritan CFX. My search for a more authentic sounding VST goes on...

[@ToddUrban]

Hmm. Nothing was tweaked and there was no processing. This was just the raw audio. I currently find that I cannot load the CFX with my M1. I think they are in need of an update. Maybe there is a bug affecting the sound engine….. I’ll reach out to them again and see if I can get a followup.

[@royzevisionneur2045]

Wow good thing you mentioned that, I was about to buy Garritan on my M1 MacMini

[@MarkHopewell]

@@royzevisionneur2045 The authenticy of the Garittan is not all it's cracked up to be. Then again, the more experience I develop when working with and listening to Piano VST's the more able I am to discern their shortcomings, in terms of "sounding real". The key (sorry about the pun) to making the best user listening experience is to ensure the best quality of speaker used to reproduce the sound. This would seem obvious advice but even "good quality" speakers can colour the sound in such a way to make the experience less than rewarding. Whether studio monitors help, I don't know? I use my Garritan CFX on headphones - a set of standard Roland RH5's. This removes "colour" from the sound but requires a good headphone amp since they're such high impedance. My Focusrite 2i2 audio interface headphone out isn't sufficient to drive the Roland RS5's because of the high impedance of the Roland's. Other means to enhance the authenticy of the Garritan would be to invest in a good equaliser, if possible. You may have that already but where does one stop with these additions to get the thing to sound "authentic"?... With all that said, after listening to many piano VST's from many company products, I'm decidedly underwhelmed by all of them. So much so, I tend to use my wife's 100 year old acoustic piano just to feel "connected" to the instrument. I switch to the VST when I want silent practice or to generate a mood for a given score that the acoustic can't give - i.e. reverb, sound stage, timbre etc; It takes a lot of investment in extra gear for these VST's. Moreover, the more recent the VST in terms of its date of recording/production, the better they are. The Garritan is quite "old" now, compared to others. If I were to invest in a VST today it would be the VSL range but they are very expensive and also have their limitations (I tried one on trial a couple of years ago). Also I would opt for a Steinway-based VST, as that is my favourite piano sound. In fact the Garritan sounded better than the VSL in many ways but overall the VSL pipped it to the post. Swings and roundabouts but at £150 to £500+ per VST, it's an expensive trial and error process. Good luck. I'd like to hear how you get on with your eventual choice.

[@rosariox-plane1172]

CVP 605

[@ToddUrban]

Ah. I’m not familiar with it. But if it outputs MIDI, you should be able to just send that midi channel to the standalone application or to your DAW for the insert plugin.

[@ozzelthecomposer5825]

These sound like trash

[@kingbuffbeats]

You have bad taste then...

[@elias7748]

You got 8 bit ears.

[@devidasa9637]

troll