Rescued and Restored 100 year old Upright Piano finds new lease of life in the Digital Domain.

The marketplace is certainly not short on great-sounding “piano” virtual instruments, and like real pianos they all have their own unique characteristics.

Well, we think we have found a virtual piano with more character than most. This VST from Imagi.ro in collaboration with Shearwater Studios doesn’t just deliver exquisite sound; it comes with a rich backstory, a sense of heritage, and a beautifully designed interface that sets it apart.

The Backstory

this piano was salvaged from the woody foothills of Dartmoor in the UK (Not far from us in fact)
Having had over 100 years of use it was restored by its previous owners back in the 80’s. And now all this heritage can be yours in the form of a meticulously sampled virtual instrument.

Piano Modes

This Piano comes in 3 distinct modes.

  • Original piano: Professionally recorded using 5 sets of studio microphones. You can fade between the different mics for different tones
  • Tape Piano: Each note was individually fed through a tape machine to create a unique vintage warmth. Use the ‘lofi’ and ‘noise’ sliders to go back and forth in time.
  • Paper Piano: masking tape was placed over the piano strings turning the piano into a bouncy pluck machine.

Features

You are not short on editable options for this piano. from multiple mics to the obligatory lofi wobble. Heres a breakdown of its main functions.

Microphone Controls:

  • Blend up to five microphone configurations (Condensers, Fet47, Overheads, Ribbons, and Room Mic) to achieve a custom sound.

Tone Sculpting Effects:

  • Clarity and Room Macros: Simplify the adjustment of tonal clarity and reverb.
  • Wobble: Adds tape-style pitch modulation for character.
  • Pad: Extends attack and release for creating lush pad-like sounds.

Advanced Features:

  • Microtuning: Compatible with Scala files and MTS-ESP for playing in various scales.
  • Velocity Curve Editor: Tailor the response to your MIDI keyboard.
  • MPE Support: Allows bending individual notes using MPE controllers.
  • Presets: Includes factory presets and supports custom preset creation.

The Sound

While the Shearwater Piano boasts an impressive array of features, the true test lies in its sound—and it absolutely delivers. The meticulous sampling captures a warm, nostalgic tone that’s both comforting and evocative. Even in the original piano mode, the instrument’s character stands out, offering an authentic, intimate feel.

Switching to tape mode brings a lofi charm, immersing you in rich, vintage textures that feel effortlessly timeless. For more experimental palettes, the Paper mode introduces a plucky, rhythmic quality, while functions such as reverse and pad effects open doors to lush soundscaping.

To hear the Shearwater Piano in action check out the walkthrough below from Spinlight Studio

Video courtesy of Spinlight Studio

Visual Aesthetic

One of the first things you’ll notice about this instrument is its GUI. The design strikes a perfect balance between style and functionality, offering an interface that’s both visually appealing and practical. It’s evident that a lot of passion and care went into this instruments creation, with meticulous attention to detail. A particularly nice touch is the piano’s animated retro paternation while in Original mode.

While sound quality will always be the top priority, a beautifully designed GUI can significantly elevate the overall user experience, making the instrument even more enjoyable to use.

Summary

Imagi.ro have crafted a beautiful upright piano virtual instrument packed with character, but it’s entering a competitive market. At $40, it’s fairly priced and offers good value, especially if you’re searching for a vintage-inspired, character-rich piano.

Its versatile and inspiring sound-shaping features make it particularly appealing to lofi and ambient producers. However, the Shearwater Piano’s unique tonal qualities also give it the potential to become a staple tool in any producer’s collection, regardless of genre.

  • Available for macOS and Windows in VST3, AU, and standalone formats (Pro Tools/AAX not supported).
  • Price: $40
  • available to download here: https://imagi.ro/product/shearwater

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