Pianos is the third plug-in in MHC’s series of hybrid synthesizers which use a set of waveforms/samples as the main oscillator source combined with a powerful synthesizer and effect section which processes the waveforms.
The plug-in features hundreds of piano recordings and layers which are combined to create a collection of piano sounds. There are traditional acoustic pianos, grand pianos, electric pianos and synth pianos of many kinds. Pianos includes 1024 presets.
Pianos is available as a VST plugin for Windows and MHC tell us that it will soon be available as an Audio Unit for Mac OS X. Below they tell us about it in their own words…
About Pianos
Pianos plays hundreds of waveforms/samples and processes these using the plug-in's synth engine and its advanced effects processor, which has 133 different effect modes.
If you're looking for a piano plug-in which contains over one thousand (!!!) piano presets, then Pianos is the right thing for you. And as if that wasn't enough, you may adjust the synth and effect parameters to create your own piano sounds.
1024 Presets Included
Pianos includes 1024 presets. 256 of them are installed with the plugin. When you feel ready for more, then just download a new "soundpack", which includes a new set of piano waveforms/samples and 256 new presets to explore. Three soundpacks are included with the purchase of the plug-in.
You can start with the plugin-in itself (a 22 MB download) and its 256 presets and come back later on and download a new soundpack when you need new sounds. Or download everything immediately if you wish (each soundpack is 15 MB, 6 MB and 8 MB respectively).
There are 1024 presets in total to explore. Or create your own.
Effects
There are 133 effect modes, including crossfading effects and layered effects. The effects section features a large set of filter banks, a resonator, flanger, reverb, pitch shift, a sub oscillator, amplitude modulation, distortion, plus layered and crossfading versions of these effects.
Crossfading effects means that the plug-in can alternate between effects. Many of the presets make use of this feature.
The sound of the filter banks can be adjusted. The effects (except the reverb) may be controlled by an LFO with 7 different waveforms and two variations of each (14 in total). The reverb includes a lowpass filter for realistic damping. In addition, the plug-in has a dedicated ensemble section and a built-in stereo delay.
Voice
The number of voices that you'll get from the plugin is only dependant on the power of your CPU. But you may set a voice limit, if you want to, for example maximum 8 or 16 voices or any number.
MIDI Controllers
The plug-in features an easy-to-use "learn mode" to support MIDI controllers. That makes it easy for you to, say, draw a waveform in your sequencer and then let it control any of the knobs. Or hook up a a cheap external MIDI controller and control the plug-in with it.
Selecting Patches
Patches are organized into groups and they are selected using two drop down menus (one for the group and one for the patch itself). The drop down menus make it easy for you to browse through the patch collection. If you download a new soundpack, then you just have to run the installer and then the new presets appear as new patch groups (new menu choices).
Other
Each voice has its own resonant filter, which can be controlled by an envelope or with velocity. You may adjust the waveform pitch and there's a traditional amp envelope there too.
A manual (PDF) is included.
Pricing and Availability:
Available now. $99 USD. More information:

• www.mhc.se
  
  
  

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