Get John Legend’s Ordinary People piano sound with this new virtual instrument from Splice

Splice has teamed up with John Legend on a new piano sound for its flagship virtual instrument player, Splice Instrument.

Built in partnership with Spitfire Audio – which Splice acquired for reported $50 million earlier this year – Splice Instrument was unveiled earlier this month, offering over 1,200 playable instrument presets, with many taking inspiration from the gear collections of world-class musicians.

Modelled on the piano at the heart of John Legend’s ballad Ordinary People, John Legend: Ordinary People Piano (simply named, we must point out…) is the result of a close collaboration between Splice and the veteran hitmaker, using Spitfire Audio’s award-winning recording techniques through the same vintage mics, desk and signal chain as the original track.

A total of six presets are included in the instrument: Close, Ultra Close, Pop Close, Ribbon Mics, Room Mics and the Ordinary People Piano.

“Sometimes people just want that natural, raw sound of an acoustic instrument, and pianos, they’re undefeated,” says John Legend. 

“These songs I’ve recorded with the piano have become an iconic part of my identity as an artist. I hope when a producer loads this piano sound, they’ll feel connected to the music that inspired it, and that it inspires them to create their own story.”

Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava adds: “Being able to combine John’s artistry, the quality and precision of the Spitfire Audio recording technology, and Splice innovation has been powerful. This is a new frontier in music creation and a model for how creators of all expertise can collaborate with the artists who inspire them, and it’s only just the beginning.”

“John’s piano sound has a timeless quality, rich in soul, vibe and emotion,” says Spitfire Audio Co-Founder Paul Thomson. “Being able to offer a signature sound like this was always an important part of the plan for Instrument. 

“Producers will find inspiration in being able to play the sound that has defined so many iconic songs, and shape their own stories with the same character and depth – using the same magical signal path. The reaction to INSTRUMENT so far has been incredibly encouraging, and we have an exciting roadmap of features to come.”

John Legend: Ordinary People Piano is available now for Splice Instrument users – a subscription to the virtual instrument platform costs $12.99 per month.

Learn more at Splice.

Sam is the Associate News Editor for Guitar.com and MusicTech. Thoroughly immersed in music culture for the majority of his life, Sam has played guitar for 20 years, studied music technology and production at university, and also written for the likes of MusicRadar, Guitar World, Total Guitar and Metal Hammer.