Sample library producers just lurve the Steinway model D grand piano. Currently on offer are Gary Garritan's Authorized Steinway Virtual Concert Grand Piano (available in basic and professional versions), SampleTekk's Black Grand and Post Musical Instruments' Grandioso Steinway D. PMI also have 'The Old Lady', a 1923 Steinway Model D. Alternatively, if you want to splash out for a multi‑piano package, Synthogy's Ivory, Ultimate Sound Bank's Grand Piano Collection, Native Instruments' Classic Piano Collection and EastWest's massive Quantum Leap Pianos all include a Steinway D. In Galaxy Vintage D, as with its forerunner Galaxy Steinway 5.1, the effect of the sustain pedal is simulated by the provision of a 'resonance' sample (consisting of the sympathetic overtones of other undamped strings) for each note. The resonance samples kick in when you press the sustain pedal, producing a pleasant wash that's not a million miles away from the effect of a real‑life sustain pedal. Galaxy Vintage D runs stand‑alone or as a VST, Audio Units or RTAS plug‑in on Mac OS 10.5 'Leopard' or higher and Windows XP/Vista/7.
It runs only on Kontakt 4 and Kontakt Player 4 (earlier versions of Kontakt can't load it) and it will therefore not work with pre‑Intel Macs. The minimum system requirements are 1GB of RAM (2GB recommended); the 11GB sample pool has been losslessly compressed and requires only 5.02GB of disk space.
Kontakt Player 4 software is included on the DVD, but if you already have Kontakt 4 on your system the Player 4 software will not install — this shouldn't cause any hardship, since all the Player 4's functions are already included in Kontakt 4's software.No dongle or USB key is required — activation of the library is done at Native Instruments' web site using the supplied serial number. To make this easy, NI supply an application called 'Service Center' (sic) which guides you directly to their product activation page, where you can also find updates for NI products. All contents copyright © SOS Publications Group and/or its licensors, 1985-2019. All rights reserved.The contents of this article are subject to worldwide copyright protection and reproduction in whole or part, whether mechanical or electronic, is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the Publishers. Great care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this article but neither Sound On Sound Limited nor the publishers can be held responsible for its contents.
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