Checking Out: Pripyat Pianos by Strix Instruments
Pripyat Pianos has one of the most unique stories behind a Kontakt library with a sample set of pianos and spaces captured in the Chernobyl disaster area. Unique, atmospheric and dripping with character, I am loving this “radioactive” Kontakt instrument.
Jump to the Videos of Pripyat Pianos by Strix Instruments
Jump to the Demos of Pripyat Pianos by Strix Instruments
Checking Out: Pripyat Pianos by Strix Instruments
Pripyat Pianos normally sell for $199.00 from Strix Instruments.
At the time of posting Pripyat Pianos is available for 70% OFF ($59.99) from Audio Plugin Deals
Thoughts
After reviewing hundereds of sample libraries, Pripyat Pianos has got to have one to the most unique stories behind a Kontakt library we have heard. Captured over the last seven years, developer Strix Instruments has made more than 25 trips to the city of Pripyat in the Chernobyl disaster area to sample the spaces and some pianos in the area.
In this checking out video, (above) I play through the presets and get a feel for the included IRs and controls that the instrument has to offer.
The 23 unique IRs can be selected from the front of the interface.
The instruments interface allows for the user to choose between 3 microphone positions, select one of 23 unique convolutions, and change the “age knob” which “reproduces the effects of years of wear and radiation”.
This piano has a great sample quality. It has a unique creepy and detuned character and will be great for creating for suspense, horror and thriller scores.
The 14 Snapshot presets give a nice overview of what the instrument is capable of.
That said, I would have liked to have seen additional sound design presets with a focus on using the great IRs included for pure atmospheres and textures. As the instrument is now, it is difficult to get away from hearing the original piano samples even when manipulating the engines controls. The library seems to be calling for something like this and with the current interface alone you just can’t get as far out as I was hoping.
The other thing I would have really loved to see is the inclusion of the unique IRs that are assessable in the instrument included as WAV files so I could use them in other software. It seems like a shame to have the 23 one-of-a-kind impulse responses but only to be able to work with them inside the confines of the instrument.
I was really pleased with the character and functionality of the instrument. I don’t think it will be right for everyone, but I am have already been inspired to start a few tracks thanks to the special sound of this library.
Facts
Pripyat Pianos downloads as 3.9 GB and includes a sample set recorded at the site of Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
The 2900 samples are stored as 48kHz/24bits with 9 Velocity Layers and 4 to 16 Round Robins per note.
The instrument includes 14 snapshots and also utilizes 23 unique Impulse Responses presets that have been sampled from the area ranging from Simming Pools, Music School Halls to apartment complex staircases and the Lenin Square.
Pripyat Pianos does require the full version of Native Instruments Kontakt version 5.8.1 or higher.
Pripyat Pianos normally sell for $199.00 from Strix Instruments.
At the time of posting Pripyat Pianos is available for 70% OFF ($59.99) from Audio Plugin Deals
Demos of Pripyat Pianos by Strix Instruments
Videos of Pripyat Pianos by Strix Instruments
Thanks! Your review helped me decide to buy this instruments. I had some troubles installing it : I had to install 7zip as built-in win10 could not unzip it. Then I could not use the snapshots because the path seems to be hardcoded to an abolute path on L:\… so I had to copy the snapshot to the user preset folder. That being said, everything works fine.
Side note, you can use all those IR in any Kontakt instruments! Just go to the instrument editing and go to the SendEffect tab. Now, get the IR/convolution settings that you like and save it as a user preset. You can now use it in any Kontakt instrument of your choice! That gives you a lot more flexibility and might even most of your downside to this instrument. I still could not find how to directly use the IR from outside Kontakt but with a bit of imagination, it would still be possible to do it (just check how to make IR files and it might give you some good idea of how to do it by using the convolution on an instrument… say Battery loading a custom “special” sample… ok, I guess I already said too much ;)).