Ivory 3 German D vs Ivory 3 American Concert D
The fundamental distinction between Ivory 3 German D and Ivory 3 American Concert D lies in their source instruments: one captures a contemporary German Steinway Model D, while the other samples a vintage 1951 New York Steinway Model D. This results in each VST imparting a unique sonic character derived from its respective piano's heritage and age.
Beyond the origin of the Steinways, the American Concert D uniquely highlights "groundbreaking Continuous Velocity for seamless velocity-to-timbre on every strike," a specific refinement in its sound engine implementation. Both share the advanced RGB Engine, which blends modeling with sampled realism, and offer four mic positions, but the German D is characterized by a "powerful, deep, resonant bass, and the round, singing tone of its treble" from a D-274 model, contrasting with the acclaimed vintage character of the American D. The German D also features a slightly larger library size at 42 GB compared to the American D's 38 GB.
Choose Ivory 3 German D for a modern, balanced, and clean sound from a contemporary Hamburg Steinway, ideal for precise classical or film scoring where clarity is paramount. Opt for Ivory 3 American Concert D if you seek the distinct character of a vintage 1951 New York Steinway, along with its specific Continuous Velocity enhancement, to evoke a classic, artist-lauded tone.
Products Compared
Insights from Real-World Use
Ivory 3 German D
- Ivory 3 German D excels in dynamic range, allowing for unrestricted fortissimo, which is its strong suit.
- The spectral modeling and sampling, especially the tamber shift, make Ivory 3 German D sound nice and covered.
- Ivory 3 German D's modeling makes playing more musical and expressive.
- Ivory 3's awesome effects are amazing, offering quality usually found elsewhere.
- The dynamic range of Ivory 3 German D, from true fortissimo to very soft, is highly appreciated.
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.