Rigid Audio has announced the release of the Rick Allen Sculptor Series: Piano FX, a Kontakt library that reimagines the traditional piano in an entirely unconventional way. A company spokesperson explained that this is not the standard polished grand piano collection, but a creatively mangled and sonically adventurous instrument designed to expand the limits of what a piano can sound like. Developed through Rick Allen’s unique and experimental recording techniques, the library delivers raw, gritty, and highly distinctive piano textures that aim to bring a unique edge to any musical composition.
Piano FX takes musicians into a sound world well beyond classical or jazz piano timbres. The library features aggressive attacks, thunderous percussive impacts, eerie string scrapes, unsettling metallic resonances, and a wide range of experimental textures. It’s a resource aimed at composers and producers working in horror scoring, avant-garde soundscapes, or any genre that calls for non-traditional and raw piano tones. A demo track is available to highlight the full range of sounds and onboard processing tools offered in this library.
Ease of use is a core feature of Piano FX. All the content is housed within a single NKI file, making it quick to load and navigate within Kontakt. For those seeking more control in their digital audio workstations, the raw WAV files are also included, allowing direct manipulation and integration into any project. The library is split into three sample categories to help users find exactly what they need quickly and efficiently. These include “Hits,” offering deep, resonant percussive sounds directly from the piano soundboard and strings; “Scrape,” which explores distorted string manipulations and metallic abrasions; and “FX,” a set of processed sounds rich in atmosphere and tonal character.
The library comes equipped with a suite of intuitive controls and sound-sculpting tools that give users creative freedom. Among the notable features is reverse playback, which enables reversed sample performances for eerie or abstract effects. The sample start point can be fine-tuned for precise timing adjustments, and a preview selection button allows for one sample to be stretched chromatically across the keyboard, opening possibilities for melodic experimentation. Further manipulation controls include volume, pitch, and playback speed adjustments, along with stutter functions that introduce rhythmically complex textures.
Sound design tools continue with a resonance filter for tonal sculpting and a lowpass filter for shaping high frequencies. Each control can be right-clicked for easy MIDI automation, providing flexibility for live performance or dynamic modulation. An ADSR envelope section gives detailed control over each sample’s attack, decay, sustain, and release stages. For more advanced sound designers, a granular processor breaks samples into grains for experimental reshaping and rhythmic layering.
A dedicated effects section enhances the library further, offering a selection of processors such as a chorus effect for added width, lo-fi tools for crunchy textures, and a phaser for sweeping, psychedelic motion. Reverb options include both hall and room types for spaciousness, and stereo width control allows for spatial adjustments. Delay and tape saturation are included to inject movement and analog character, while a built-in EQ lets users fine-tune the final tonal output.
Piano FX requires Kontakt version 6.8.0 or higher and is not compatible with the free Kontakt Player. The system requirements include macOS 10.14 or newer for Intel Macs, or macOS 12 or newer for Apple Silicon (via Rosetta 2 & ARM), with 6 GB of RAM recommended. For Windows users, Windows 10 or later with an Intel Core i5 or equivalent processor and 6 GB RAM is recommended. At least 1 GB of disk space is required for the sample content. The plugin is available in standalone, VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX formats, all 64-bit only.
Currently offered at an introductory price of $29, down from the regular $59, Piano FX provides a compelling value for musicians and producers seeking fresh, unconventional piano sounds that push the boundaries of traditional instrumentation.
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