Woodchester Piano vs Chicago Upright 1927

The fundamental difference between these two sampled upright pianos lies in their unique sonic signatures and the creative additions offered by each developer. Woodchester Piano features a contemporary character derived from a revered Wilh. Steinberg German Series upright, while Chicago Upright 1927 authentically captures the aged, characterful tone of a nearly century-old Baldwin Monarch.

Woodchester Piano stands out with its distinct felt layer, a characteristic of modern Neoclassical scoring, offering a more mellow and controlled attack. Its inclusion of "Atmosphere Layers," crafted from processed elements, provides additional textural depth and mood for cinematic or ambient compositions. In contrast, Chicago Upright 1927 embraces its vintage heritage, with a darker timbre, an emphasis on a "tubby" low end, and a worn-in midrange, reflecting a more raw and unpolished realism.

Choose Woodchester Piano if you prioritize a contemporary, intimate felt piano sound with built-in atmospheric textures for film scoring or ambient music. Opt for Chicago Upright 1927 if you desire an authentic, aged upright piano with a dark, characterful tone and distinct vintage imperfections.

Products Compared

• Woodchester Piano
• Chicago Upright 1927

Insights from Real-World Use

Woodchester Piano

• Woodchester Piano is very useful for mellow songs, great for background and atmospheres.
• Both pianos are solid, affordable scoring must-haves for intimate and cinematic projects.
• Woodchester Piano is a cool, accessible, and worthwhile purchase.
• Woodchester Piano delivered the cinematic, felted sound I sought.
• I then bought the Woodchester piano after posting the comment: I can say that the sound definitely has its merits, and as you say, it has its own character, but unfortunately, it's a bit "empty" in te

Chicago Upright 1927

• Reverb and mic choices yield beautiful, spacious results; Chicago Upright 1927 has an aged vibe.
• Prefers the more forward mix setting and finds the reverb sound pleasing.
• Frustrated by lack of a control and presets resetting output to zero.
• Chicago Upright 1927 is a vintage (and it shows) 48" upright Baldwin Monarch. This thing has serious character and grime. You won't be getting any shiny clear.
• Notes upright character with slight pitch wariness as part of its sound.