Boz Digital Labs offers the New York L 1926 Lite, the magical sound of a 1926 Steinway Model L, for free (usually $19). I’m not sure when this limited-time offer will expire, so get it while you can.
It’s not the first time we’ve had the chance to download the New York L 1926 Lite for free; it was available for free towards the end of last year.
If you didn’t get it then, you should grab it now; it offers something slightly different from most pianos.
Before getting into the age of the sampled piano, being a Model L makes it more unusual than most since we typically see the Model D sampled most.
Although it’s a concert piano, many people refer to the Model L as a baby grand because it’s smaller than most concert pianos.
Being smaller gives it a different tone, perhaps not as thunderous in the low end as something like Kawai’s Shigeru SK-EX, but still bold with a more delicate mid-to-high range.
When it comes to the piano’s age, we might expect some of the tonal differences to come from flaws and imperfections. In this case, the 1926 Steinway Model L is all original and in pristine condition.
There’s still a difference that comes with age and use, but it’s not from wonky keys or a dead action, etc.; it’s a sound that’s rare to find these days.
The Lite version of New York L 1926 lacks some of the finesse found in the Pro version. New York L 1926 Lite offers one microphone position (Pro has four), and it’s missing things like pedal noise that add a little realism.
The Pro version has all the keys sampled; the Lite version doesn’t, so it won’t be quite as fluent and dynamic, but it’s a lovely sound for most purposes. What it lacks in the finer detail, it makes up for in charm.
If you fancy the Pro version, it’s currently available for $29 (usually $79)
If you want to go all in on an ultra-realistic concert piano sound, check out the latest addition to the Pianoteq 8 lineup.
Download: New York L 1926 Lite (FREE)
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