Best pianos on iOS, 2024 update
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- 7 best acoustic pianos apps for iOS from the performer point of view.
This is my list based on my own experience, considering playability, realism and overall sound.
-Pianoteq, Modartt
-Ravenscroft 275, UVI
-Pure Upright, e-Instruments
-Pure piano, e-Instruments
-Just Piano, GSI
-Oasys, Korg Module pro
-Studio Grand, Apple Logic Pro
Each app presents several adjustable parameters, presets and/or sample sets. All of these will be analyzed in specific reviews for each app.
Here are only presented the default presets.
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Thank you Fausto for your review of all these IOS pianos. The problem LOL, is that your playing is so good you make an out of tune spinet sound like a Steinway LOL. Kidding aside, your review is very much appreciated.
@@charliebarredafriends61 Thank you! I'll try to do worst next time😉
I would love to see you comparing Oasys and Ivory Special D
I’m more amazed at how good Fausto is! The pianos are alright too! lol 😂
Thanks! Yes, these pianos help a bit😅
What a nice review! I learned so much out of it. Thank you very much, Fausto! P.S. Pianoteq has a new release (8.3) which includes a new piano - the Viennese Bösendorfer VC 290.
Thank you! Yes, all these small steps are adding up to a nearlly perfect instrument. Full review available soon.
My main problem about apianoteq's synthetic sound is the attack part of the sound (the very beginning part when the hammer hits the strings),
and with the new Steinway in Pianoteq 8 was already a nice little improvement on the "unsynthetic-isation" of the attack,
but the newest Bösendorfer sounds even better.
I highly suggest, Fuasto, to test the Bösendorfer - Player preset. I think that preset has the least synthetic attack sound out of all existing Pianoteq presets so far. I hope Pianoteq will consider to improve the attack even more in the future.
Thank you for your helpful videos!
Thanks for the suggestion. I will test it here. And I agree, we miss a little bit "caos" and punch on the attack, but also on the release part.
I got the sound of Oasys by combining Pianoteq with Just Piano and a bit of the sythetic pianos from Korg iM1
We should share recipes😂
@@FaustoFerreira😂 That’s the only weird combination I have up to now.
Hey, there is KingB organ from yonac, it would be amazing if you could also revisit your hammond comparison video with this new one, sadly, blueB3 organ is now out of the market.
@jjptech I will try KingB. Thanks for the suggestion
Im using korg module pro on my stage live performance im using almost a year now for my iPad Pro and Arturia Midi 49Keys MK3
thank a lot
@@marcos00 Thanks for watching!
I would love to see your review about “stage Piano” plugin from Air. It can be used as vts and also for the MPC device
Thanks! I would love to, but unfortunatelly not available for iPadOs
If you cannot afford a Nord, a Studiologic keyboard and iPad (with an audio interface such as iRig) could be a very good alternative
It can be considerably more powerfull than a Nord. But I still use a Nord Stage Compact sometimes for the simplicity and hands on aproach on stage and rehearsalls.
pianoteq is playable but for whatever reason is lacking in tone. I've heard it sound great from others but mine always sounds thin. glad to hear you support Raven as it just always feels good and sings both softly and quietly, so I'm not crazy! 😂
pianoteq is modeled. Years ago it sounded synthetic, now it's very close to perfect. Every update makes it a little bit better, even the new update for version 8 is subtle but meaningfull. Baby steps. Ravenscroft is still the best sample based piano for iOS. I just miss the extra GB and fuctionality that we have on PC, and the gap is closing, comparing the competition
I agree. I have Ravenscroft and it is the only thing I will play. I have the Piano tech demo but just can't get it to sound as good as R275 no matter how much I tweak it....
The best physical model against the best hybrid sampling available: sampling sounds real ( it is real ), but lacks in expressiveness. Physical modelling sounds synthetic ( it is synthetic ) but gives you the most possible expressiveness in a digital system. Both aproaches are closing the gap nowadays.
@kamranhamidfar1725 Thank you!
Intially I had the same issue with Pianoteq. I think the „issue“ with Pianoteq is that you need to tweak it to your liking. While Ravencroft sounds nice out-of-the-box Pianoteq is more of a make-it-your-own thing. For me the Steinway Model B with a small amount of aging and a bit of reverb works quite well. I might also add that I am mostly playing classical peaces from the romatic era and Pianoteq gives my the dynamic range I was looking for. So yeah, after a bit of tweaking I am now super happy. Sure it does not sound and behave like a real upright or grand piano, but it is still very playable and enjoyable.
Lovely playing, sir 👌🏼
Thanks!
Thank you for this.
Thanks for watching!
Great video. What audio interface do you use to avoid latency?
@@dariosensi6078 I'm sensitive to latency, and didn't have any issue with it, never with any ipad generation. Now using Volt, but even with the headphones dongle there's no problem. I use 256 or 128 as my default buffer.
Dear Fausto, which MIDI controller are you playing in the video ? It's so capable to get your dynamic and has a perfect velocity curve and details.... ? Surprising !
I entered the store with the idea of spending 3000€ on a Nord Stage or Grand, but something didn't feel right on the keys. But then I tryed the Numa X 88. had my ipad with me. Straight out of the box it felt perfect with ravenscroft, default velo curves. It feels even better with pianoteq. No need to adjust anything. Yes, surprising, cause I'm picky about my keys
Which one is velocity sensitive?
Hello, you must be new to the piano world. Welcome! All instruments designed to simulate an acoustic poano have to be velocity sensitive.
Obrigado Fausto. Muito boa comparação e bela música que cria. Como faz para ligar o ipad ao controlador de modo a não ter atraso no sinal? Apenas usb nos dois sentidos ou usa um line out do ipad com adaptador? O teclado que usa recomenda para reportório clássico? É pesado o suficiente? Obrigado e continue!
Obrigado! Via USB, Hub USB Pd que permite ligar teclados, audio interface, etc... e alimentar iPad e devices simultaneamente. Quanto ao teclado, veja aqui:
ua-cam.com/video/dfH4qiCwCoQ/v-deo.htmlsi=kkI8VZjakpk0BOnF
I have Pianoteq with 4 pianos (Steinway, Petrof, Grotrian and K2) and am super happy with it. The electric pianos are as well awesome. All that thanks to the great reviews of Fausto.
P.S. there is a new iPad Air for around 700 Euro (some are sending it even for 650) with Apple M2 chip and 128 GB memory - really powerful version for a good price.
Glad I could help! And thanks for the iPad air suggestion, it seems like a good alternative to the more expensive Pro version, although I would not go for 128 GB if you are serious about iOS.
I think Pianoteq is too expensive... ravenscroft 275 is more afordable for me. But, i like Pianoteq more! :)
Thank you Fausto for this valuable analysis! I'm amazed at how good these iOS pianos are
Thank you! My first comment for this video!
How do you connect the korg module ipad version to your piano?
Three possible ways: directly with one USB C/ USB B ( the type keyboards usually use ); through a powered Hub to power the iPad and connect other devices; or connecting a USB C from the ipad to my Volt, which is a Midi and Audio interface, and a Midi cable from the Volt to the Midi out of the Studiologic. That way the keyboard acts just as a Midi controller, while the audio is processed by the Volt.
@ thank you so much! Will this work with a roland keyboard?
@@mike.pianomoods Sure, it is the same. Just be aware that not all audio interfaces have also a MIDI interface like the Volt, and very few keyboards have an audio interface integrated, like the Numa X. In those cases, you allways need a hub to connect at least the audio interface plus the Midi controller
Hi Fausto, do you still have the Numa X? did you had time to test the latest 2.4 Firmware with the new Stage D piano sound? I would love to hear your insights about it. I am preparing an overall review of the Numa X, but I don't have that fine hear you have.
Yes. Stage D is now the best one, next to Vintage grand. 2.4 firmware doesn't really improve much in terms of string resonance and duplex resonance. Sympathetic resonance is new, but as with all the other resonances on Numa X, they are the worst that I've heard comparing to other hardware or software. Besides all these issues, its still a very effective instrument. Rhodes work really well ! And they improved the playability ( better repetitions ). It's still one of my prefered 88 keys controller!
What is the exact model of your Ipad? In Pianoteq, what's the buffer size and max polyphony? What's your average performance index? Thank you for the video, very interesting
Pianoteq even worked on an old iPad mini 4, although with a higher buffer size, and latency. With iPad pro M2, 1T, 16 Gb ram, it performs flawlessely, even with 128 polyphony, at 256 buffer. That is inside a Daw or a host like Camelot, with a lot other things going on. Buffer 128 works the same, no difference at all. By default I allways use 256, there's no noticeable latency and it is safer. On iPad pro 2018, 1T, 6Gb, it performs the same, although with less room or other tracks or instruments at the same time.
@@FaustoFerreira thank you !
Thinking about getting the pianoteq license. So when you pick your pianos after you pay, for example, let’s say a Steinway.. do I get all the Steinway variations or just one bank?
Thanks 🙏🏻
You get one Steinway model, with a bank of variations.
@@FaustoFerreira thank you! which one did you pick up? For modern music
@@x3a3x3 I have Steinway model D, Model B, Petrof, Grotrian, Bechstein, electric pianos. The Model D should be the first one to get, the more versatile one
@@FaustoFerreira thank you, I’ll add it to my list..
Korg Oasis ❤❤🎉
Hi Sir. How about sustain pedal resonance of the pianoteq? Is it good also like the ravenscroft?
Of course sustain prdal resonance is excelent on Pianoteq! I just love that on Ravenscroft.
@@FaustoFerreira Thank you Sir. God bless.
There is a good free iPad piano: NUMA Player. No it’s not as good as, say, Pianoteq. But it’s plenty good, with some adjustable parameters (such as resonance) and even the little ‘thunk’ of the sustain pedal. Its Clavinet is very good, its Rhodes sounds very much like the Rhodes of Matt Johnson (Jamiroquai), and it has good strings as well as some other useful sounds. For a price of zero dollars, it’s a great value.
Thanks for the suggestion. I know it and have it, and for 0 euros it is very good. But it is not usable for me. With the exception of Pianoteq ( yes, it is expensive ), you will not break the bank buying any of the other pianos on this list, and you get a level of realism and dynamics that the Numa Player can't reach.
Why don’t you use SL grand Studiologic instead of Numa X, since a Studiologic Specialist sad that it has the same keys of GT, with is the top? itamirbarros Have ever tried Numa GT or SL grand? How do you compare the X keys with them?
@@pianobis777 Here you have my review about the Numa X 88
ua-cam.com/video/dfH4qiCwCoQ/v-deo.htmlsi=SZqf_nG-UEYUzwcg
But for a short answer, here it goes: weight ( 14 kgs vs 20 kgs ), usb audio and the keys on Numa X just works for me. It is personall choice and subjective.
Also, the SL grand uses the TP40 wood, which I don't like, while the Numa X GT uses the new TP400 wood, which is very good, but the weight rises to a back breaking 22 kgs. 30 years in the business destroying my back and my fingers, Numa X 88 ( with iPad runing Pianoteq and other goodies) and Nord Stage compact just saved me.
@@FaustoFerreira as I’m not an professional pianist as you, I changed my Numa X for Dexibell S10 (also TP400w). Since I don’t have to care around. But I wish I could learn how to play like you. Do you teach? How can I get there?
Hi. What is with latency,is have in IOS?? I have Ipad 6 (2018). Can I will use Korg module ? Thanks.
Hi. Never had any issues with latency, since iPad 2, when Android was impossible to use for performance purposes. I'm very sensitive to latency, that's why iOS was and still is my only choice. iPad Pro 2018 can still handle a full production with 70 plus teacks. The 2018 regular iPad is sure able to handle Korg Module, and some other apps simultaneously.
Thanks 👍. Is it possible that iOS has a completely different sound design and architecture? interesting. Android and pure windows don't get sound like that.
Yes they work differently. The closed system from Apple has a big advantage here. Every part of the hardware and the OS are designed to work together. Android and windows have to deal with severall layers of software and deal with different components from device ro device.
Is this Ravenscroft275 can Load it to ipad?
Yes
We need MainStage on IPad!
You don't. There's something called AUM on the IOS, which is very good
KeyStage is excellent. Does everything Mainstage does, and more.
Why don’t have Pianoteq for MacBook?
You can have Pianoteq wherever you want, I have it on my two iPad Pro, it works for me. Good that we have choices, no?
@@FaustoFerreira it’s no option on MacBook, just for iPad or windows
@pianobis777 "Pianoteq is an award-winning virtual instrument for PC, Mac, Linux and iOS. It can be used both in standalone mode and as an instrument plug-in in VST, AAX, and AudioUnits hosts."
It's in their webpage
www.modartt.com/pianoteq_overview?ref=cGFnZT1waWFub3RlcSZleHQ9
@@FaustoFerreira I think you are right : )
Fausto, i have SSL 2+ and on my ipad, in Ravesncroft options i have only 256samples/48800hz buffer and latency 5.6ms.
It is posible to have low latency?
5.3 ms should be allready a good latency. If you feel that is a problem, then there must be something else slowing down your system. Bad cables can be responsible for a lot of problems. Unnecessary apps openned, auto updates, and other things like that should be avoided. Usually the buffer limit is also Audio interface dependent. Or you are running it inside of a DAW that has allredy a fixed buffer.
We need MainStage on IPad!
Yes, we need mainstage, and other good software. But contrary to most people opinion, I'm glad that iPadOs is taking is own way, It is a fresh take, light and junk free OS that is still evolving. I'm Using it from the begining, it's getting better and better every update.