Steinberg Etude Overview & First Impressions: An Affordable Piano Library That Shines in the Mix

When it comes to virtual piano libraries, the market is flooded with options ranging from ultra-premium concert grand pianos to budget-friendly alternatives. As a musician and producer, finding the right piano sound that fits your workflow, budget, and musical style can be overwhelming. I recently had the chance to explore the new Steinberg A2 Grand Piano library, and in this article, I’ll share my honest first impressions and a detailed overview of what this instrument brings to the table.

Whether you’re a seasoned keyboardist, a home studio owner, or just getting started with software pianos, understanding the strengths and limitations of a piano library is crucial. Let’s dive into what makes the Steinberg A2 Grand Piano stand out and who it’s best suited for.

Getting to Know the Steinberg A2 Grand Piano

The Steinberg A2 Grand Piano is a relatively new addition to Steinberg’s lineup of virtual instruments, and I’ve had it for about a week and a half. Without delving too deeply into the manual, I jumped straight into creating a demo track to get a feel for its sound and usability. You can check out that demo track (linked below) to hear the piano in action.

One of the first things I noticed is how straightforward the interface is. On the right side, you have access to presets like “Warm Jazz Club,” which I used initially. The sound is immediately pleasing with a mellow, warm tone that feels inviting.

The piano settings include options for tuning, polyphony noises, dynamic control, MIDI input velocity curves, mic positions, player MIDI, reverb, master fader levels, and effects such as compression and reverb. All of these controls are laid out intuitively on the front panel and bottom of the interface, making it easy to tweak without getting lost in complicated menus.

For those familiar with Kontakt or similar platforms, there’s a “multi” option that lets you load and stack different libraries, but since I was focusing on just this one piano, I kept it simple. The core controls are MIDI, mixer, effects, multi options, and edit, which cover everything you need without overwhelming you.

Sound Quality: A Mellow and Versatile Piano

Listening to the Steinberg A2 Grand Piano, it’s clear that this instrument has a cool, mellow character. The tone is smooth and well-rounded, especially in the preset I tried, which felt like it would fit nicely in many musical contexts, especially jazz or softer pop productions.

The dynamic range is decent, but after comparing it to more premium libraries like Ravenscroft or Pianoverse, it’s apparent that the A2 Grand isn’t designed to be a concert grand piano replacement for solo performances. It has a bit of a compressed feel, not in the sense that it’s artificially squashed, but more that the notes don’t open up fully in terms of their acoustic space and dynamic breadth.

This characteristic makes it less ideal for solo piano work where you want that expansive, organic sound that breathes and evolves with every touch. However, it excels when placed in a mix with other instruments, providing a clear and present piano sound that doesn’t overpower or get lost.

Pricing and Value: A Budget-Friendly Alternative

One of the biggest selling points of the Steinberg A2 Grand Piano is the price. Currently, it’s available for $79.99, which is highly competitive compared to other popular piano libraries.

• Pianoverse, Keyscape, and Ravenscroft often retail for $199 and up, with Keyscape even reaching $375.
• Piano Tech by Garritan FX is around $130.

For less than $80, the Steinberg A2 Grand Piano offers remarkable value, especially if you consider it as a versatile instrument to have in your toolkit for songwriting, production, or live performance setups.

Who Is This Piano Library For?

This piano is perfect for:

• Keyboardists and producers looking for an affordable, good-sounding piano to use in mixes.
• Musicians who want a simple, easy-to-navigate interface without the complexity of deep tweaking.
• Those in the Cubase ecosystem or familiar with Steinberg’s HALion Sonic environment, who want seamless integration.
• Beginners or intermediate players looking for a budget-friendly virtual piano that doesn’t compromise too much on quality.

It’s less suited for:

• Concert pianists or solo performers seeking ultra-realistic, highly expressive grand piano libraries.
• Users who want to dive deeply into granular sound design and extensive customization.

Usability and Interface: Simple but Effective

The user interface is one of the highlights of this library. Unlike some other piano software that can feel intimidating due to the sheer number of parameters, the Steinberg A2 Grand Piano strikes a balance between functionality and simplicity.

You have essential controls like MIDI velocity curves, mic positioning, dynamic control, and effects right at your fingertips. The reverb and compression settings are straightforward, allowing you to shape the sound without needing to be an expert sound engineer.

For those who want to load multiple instruments or tweak layers, the multi option is available, but for most users, the one-instrument setup will be sufficient.

Sound in the Mix: Where the A2 Grand Really Shines

One of the strongest aspects of the Steinberg A2 Grand Piano is how well it sits in a mix. While it may not have the open, expansive sound of some high-end concert pianos, that actually works in its favor when layering with other instruments.

The piano has a focused, intimate sound that doesn’t clash with vocals, guitars, or synths. This makes it an excellent choice for producers who want a warm piano presence without the piano dominating the entire track.

In my experience, this piano “kills in the mix,” providing a solid harmonic foundation and melodic clarity, especially in genres like jazz, pop, R&B, and singer-songwriter styles.

Comparing to Other Piano Libraries

To put it in perspective, here’s how the Steinberg A2 Grand stacks up against some other well-known piano libraries:

• Ravenscroft 275: A big, organic, concert-grade piano with a lot of dynamic range and openness. Great for solo piano work but comes at a higher price point.
• Pianoverse: Known for its natural, expressive sound and detailed sampling. Also more expensive and with a steeper learning curve for customization.
• Keyscape: A flagship piano instrument with extensive sound-shaping options, huge dynamic range, and a premium price tag.
• Garritan Piano Tech: Mid-range with decent quality but less dynamic range than the Steinberg A2 Grand.
• Steinberg A2 Grand: Affordable, simple, great in mixes, with a warm, mellow tone but somewhat limited dynamic expressivity for solo performances.

For those looking to own multiple piano libraries, the Steinberg A2 Grand is a fantastic addition for its price and usability.

Customization: Enough to Tweak, Not Overwhelm

While the Steinberg A2 Grand doesn’t offer the deep granular control of some other libraries, it provides enough customization to shape your sound according to your needs. You can adjust tuning, mic positions, velocity curves, and effects like reverb and compression without feeling lost in endless menus.

This is ideal for musicians who want to focus on playing and recording rather than sound design. The interface is designed to prevent “messing up” the sound, which can be reassuring for those newer to virtual instruments.

Final Thoughts: A Pleasant Surprise in the Budget Category

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting too much inspiration from the Steinberg A2 Grand Piano at first. With so many piano libraries out there, it’s easy to feel like the market is saturated. But after spending time with this instrument and considering its price point, I’m pleasantly surprised.

It’s a solid piano library that delivers a lovely sound, great usability, and excellent value. If you’re in the Cubase or Steinberg ecosystem, it integrates seamlessly with HALion Sonic and their other software instruments.

For anyone on a budget or looking for a piano that works well in mixes without breaking the bank, this is one I highly recommend checking out.

Where to Go From Here

If you want to hear the Steinberg A2 Grand Piano in action, I’ve linked a sound demo below that showcases its capabilities in a mix. Feel free to explore it and see if the character and tone fit your musical style.

Also, if you have questions or want me to review other piano libraries or virtual instruments, drop a comment below. I’m always eager to share insights and help musicians find the right tools for their creative journey.

Thanks for reading, and happy playing!