Discover the New Studio Piano Plugin in Logic Pro 11

Today, we're diving into the new Studio Piano plugin in Logic Pro. Let's get started!

Loading the Studio Piano Plugin

I've got a project loaded up with a piano part, and I'm going to show you how to load the new Studio Piano plugin. To do this, either select an existing track or create a new track using the plus button. Choose a software instrument, select the track, and then go to where it says "Instrument." Click on that and select "Studio Piano."

Exploring the Studio Piano Plugin

When you first load up the Studio Piano plugin, you'll notice that it looks quite different from previous versions. In earlier versions of Logic Pro, you'd load the piano using the Sampler. You can still access those patches by selecting the sampler, but today, we're focusing on the new Studio Pianos in Logic Pro 11.

Presets and Piano Options

The Studio Piano plugin comes with several presets for different pianos, including a Concert Grand, Studio Grand, and Vintage Upright. Let's explore each of these pianos individually.

Studio Grand

By default, we have the Studio Grand One Mic, likely a Yamaha grand piano. It offers a variety of microphone options:

• Stereo Mic A: A pair of condenser microphones
• Stereo Mic B: A pair of ribbon microphones, slightly darker in tone
• Mono Mic: A single ribbon microphone, providing a more centered sound

You can blend these microphones to taste, creating a customized sound by adjusting the balance of the different microphones.

Noise and Resonance Parameters

The Studio Piano plugin allows you to adjust several parameters related to noise and resonance:

• Pedal Noise: The sound of the sustain pedal going on and off
• Key Noise: The noise of the keys being pressed
• Release Samples: The sound of the hammer returning to the key
• Sympathetic Resonance: The resonance of the undampened strings

By adjusting these settings, you can achieve a more natural or clean sound, depending on your preference.

Concert Grand

The Concert Grand is likely sampled from a Steinway piano and features only one main microphone for volume. It has a brighter sound compared to the Studio Grand and includes the same noise and resonance parameters for customization.

Vintage Upright

The Vintage Upright piano offers a darker, slightly out-of-tune sound with lots of character. It also features three microphones (condenser pair, ribbon pair, and ribbon mono) that you can blend to taste.

Final Thoughts

The new Studio Piano plugin in Logic Pro 11 provides a variety of high-quality piano sounds and customization options. Whether you're looking for a bright concert grand, a versatile studio grand, or a character-filled vintage upright, this plugin has you covered.

TIMECODES:
00:00 Intro
00:27 Loading Studio Piano
01:12 Sampler Piano Patches
02:31 Presets
03:04 Studio Grand
03:47 Microphone Options
06:19 Pedal Noise
07:37 Key Noise
08:14 Release Samples
08:59 Sympathetic Resonance
09:44 Concert Grand
10:45 Vintage Upright
11:28 Final Thoughts