Ivory 3 American Concert D vs CFX Concert Grand

The most fundamental difference between these two instruments lies in their core engine technology and the specific piano they sample. Ivory 3 American Concert D utilizes a hybrid engine, combining sampling with modeling through its Real-time Gradient Blending (RGB) Engine, whereas Garritan CFX Concert Grand is a purely sampled instrument.

This difference in engine design results in distinct sonic characteristics and library sizes. Ivory 3 focuses on Continuous Velocity to achieve seamless velocity-to-timbre transitions on a vintage 1951 New York Steinway Model D (CD 121), chosen for its historical significance and character, and occupies a 38 GB library. In contrast, Garritan CFX captures the brighter tone of a Yamaha CFX grand piano through extensive sampling at Abbey Road Studio One, requiring a substantially larger 133 GB library to achieve its detailed sound.

Choose Ivory 3 American Concert D if you prioritize a unique vintage Steinway sound rendered with advanced hybrid modeling for fluid dynamics. Choose Garritan CFX Concert Grand if you seek the expansive, bright, and detailed sampled sound of a modern Yamaha CFX, captured in a renowned studio environment, and have the storage space for a larger library.

Products Compared

• Ivory 3 American Concert D
• CFX Concert Grand

Insights from Real-World Use

Ivory 3 American Concert D

• Each piano has a unique tone signature, suitable for different songs.
• I listened to the review twice and what my uneducated ears heard was Ivory 3 sounding a bit more airy with ambiance baked in. The piano seems a bit more open.
• It sounds slightly hollow in the mid highs. It’s missing some weight that makes it sound really static.
• American D is brighter (halfway to a Yamaha), while German one is darker.
• I listened to the review twice and what my uneducated ears heard was Ivory 3 sounding a bit more airy with ambiance baked in. The piano seems a bit more open.

CFX Concert Grand

• IMHO, the sound quality of VSL is way above Garritan. At least when I tested them with my Hifiman Sundara headphones. Yesterday I played for 30 minutes using Garritan until my ear got used to it, and
• All I can say is this: after extensive research a year or so ago, I found lots of people talking about Ravenscroft, and once I listened to the examples on their site I decided to buy it, and still gla
• The CFX Concert Grand is worth it, feels great, is well-priced, well-done, and highly recommended.
• The CFX Concert Grand is an awesome library, ranking among the top three with Keyscape and Pianoteq, perfectly excelling in its category.
• The CFX Concert Grand is recommended for its authentic recording, making it ideal for piano lessons or college courses.