Ravenscroft 275 is a sample-based virtual concert grand piano with nearly 17,000 samples, four microphone perspectives, and advanced resonance and pedal controls, offering a realistic and versatile playing experience.
Authentic Concert Grand Sampling
The Ravenscroft 275 virtual instrument captures the voice of the one-of-a-kind Model 275 Titanium concert grand, built by Ravenscroft Pianos. Using nearly 17,000 samples, the library reproduces the piano’s precise velocities and complex harmonic interactions. It is entirely sample-based, with no modeling or synthesis, and it is officially approved by the makers.
The instrument includes 19 velocity layers, including silent strikes, and records four discrete microphone perspectives that can be mixed individually. The sound is designed to offer a warm yet brilliant tone across all registers, with deep bass and clear treble overtones, suitable for both delicate passages and powerful orchestral settings.
Key Capabilities and Controls
The interface provides comprehensive control over the piano’s sound. Features include fully sampled Una Corda, repedal, and true pedal action, with sample-based half-pedal control. Muted strikes offer a unique percussive timbre, while thousands of release samples, including staccato releases, add realism to performances.
Sympathetic and pedal resonances are sample-based and adjustable, with a user-controllable polyphony setting. The instrument also includes customizable MIDI and dynamics response, a tuning panel with presets, and powerful sound-shaping tools like Timbre Shift and Stereo Width. Twenty-two convolution reverbs provide a range of acoustic spaces.
Workflow and Integration
The Ravenscroft 275 loads quickly and maintains efficient RAM and CPU usage, thanks to lossless FLAC compression. Microphones can be activated or deactivated without reloading samples, allowing for flexible mixing during a session. It runs on the free UVI Workstation 3, which supports standalone operation and plugin formats (VST, AU, AAX) in 64-bit.
The instrument is designed to be responsive with any MIDI controller, with touch consistent across different hardware. The interface allows for real-time switching between muted and normal strikes, and detailed pedal controls enable nuanced sustain and sostenuto effects. Computer-based activation permits installation on up to three machines without a dongle.
Practical Applications
This virtual piano suits a wide range of musical styles, from classical and jazz to pop and cinematic compositions. Its powerful tone and extensive articulation options make it ideal for solo piano performances, while the multiple microphone mixes allow it to sit well in dense productions. The mutes and release trails are particularly useful for creative sound design.
The adjustable sympathetic resonance and pedal action give composers realistic control over sustained notes and chord progressions. The tuning panel supports micro-tuning, which is valuable for genres requiring non-standard temperaments. Whether for studio recordings, live performances, or film scoring, the Ravenscroft 275 offers a versatile and expressive piano voice.
Key features
- Nearly 17,000 samples of the Ravenscroft 275 Titanium concert grand
- Four discrete microphone perspectives, individually mixable
- Fully sampled Una Corda and sympathetic/pedal resonances
- Muted strikes and thousands of release samples, including staccato
- Repedal and sample-based half-pedal control
- Customizable MIDI response, tuning, and 22 convolution reverbs
- Efficient RAM/CPU usage with lossless FLAC and fast loading
Best for
Best for pianists and composers seeking a realistic, sample-based concert grand with deep expressive control, suitable for classical, jazz, and cinematic music, especially when a distinctive titanium-accented tone is desired.