The "Piano in 162" by Ivy Audio is a celebrated free sample library that captures the soulful resonance of a Steinway Model B Grand Piano. Created by Simon Dalzell, it began as a personal project but evolved into a gift for the global music community, offering a professional-grade sound for both personal and commercial projects. A Story of the "Piano in 162"
The air in the studio was thick with anticipation as the lid of the Steinway Model B was lifted. This wasn't just any recording session; it was the birth of Piano in 162. Simon Dalzell wanted to capture more than just notes—he wanted the "wood," the intimacy, and the breathing life of a grand piano.
Every one of the 88 keys was meticulously sampled at five different velocity levels. This ensured that whether a composer wanted a delicate, cinematic whisper or a powerful, orchestral roar, the piano would respond with authentic dynamics.
To give users ultimate control, Simon used two microphone positions:
Close Mics: For a dry, intimate sound that puts the listener right at the keyboard.
Ambient Mics: To capture the natural character of the room, adding a lush, cinematic depth.
The result was a 5GB library (compressed to a manageable size in some versions) that became a legend among bedroom producers and professional film scorers alike. It proved that "free" didn't have to mean "low quality," offering a "surprisingly good" and "authentic" experience that rivaled many paid plugins.
For a deep dive into how this library sounds and its unique features: 06:45 Piano in 162 by Ivy Audio | Review | Computer Music Academy Computer Music Academy YouTube• Aug 14, 2015 Key Technical Features The "Best" of Piano in 162 comes from its technical depth:
lzap/Piano162Logic: EXS24 instrument and strips for Piano in 162
The old upright in the parlor had three dead keys and a pedal that squeaked like a rusted gate. Elias, a reclusive composer living in a drafty coastal cottage, needed a concert grand for his masterpiece. He had no money, only an aging laptop and a spotty internet connection.
Late one night, he discovered a legendary archive online: Piano in 162 by Ivy Audio. ivy audio piano in 162 best
It wasn't a synthesized imitation. It was a complete, meticulously recorded sampling of a Steinway Model B grand piano. A student had captured it using two pairs of microphones—close and ambient—recording every single note at five dynamic levels, both with the pedal up and down.
When Elias loaded the gigabytes of data into his software and pressed the first key on his cheap plastic controller, the room transformed. 🌊 The Night of the Storm
A massive storm rolled in off the Atlantic, rattling the cottage windows. Elias ignored it. He was lost in the sound of the digital Steinway. The Bass: Thunderous, rich, and dark. The Treble: Clear as breaking glass.
The Sustain: A long, natural decay that blended perfectly with the howling wind outside.
He began to play the final movement of his concerto. The Ivy Audio piano responded to his touch with breathtaking realism. It didn't sound like a computer program; it sounded like living wood and steel vibrating in a massive, empty hall. 🎹 Capturing the Masterpiece
Elias opened his recording software and poured his soul into the keys.
The Close Mics: Captured the intimate attack of the hammers hitting the strings.
The Ambient Mics: Picked up the vast, natural reverb of the room where it was sampled.
The Round Robins: Ensured that repeating the same note sounded slightly different every time, just like a real piano.
For hours, the storm raged outside while Elias recorded inside. The virtual Steinway groaned and sang under his fingers. ✨ The Morning After The "Piano in 162" by Ivy Audio is
When the sun rose, the storm had passed, leaving the ocean calm. Elias sat back and played the recording.
The music was breathtaking. He had successfully captured the raw emotion of the storm and the delicate peace of the morning. He packaged the audio file and emailed it to a prestigious film director who had been looking for a score. A week later, his phone rang. The director was ecstatic.
"Elias, this score is magnificent!" the director exclaimed. "The piano sounds incredible. Which concert hall did you rent to record this?"
Elias looked at his tiny plastic keyboard, his glowing laptop screen, and the free Ivy Audio files. He smiled. "Just a very special one," Elias replied. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
Piano in 162 is widely considered one of the most comprehensive and realistic piano sample libraries available . Based on a Steinway Model B grand piano
, it is highly regarded for its deep sampling and natural dynamic response. Key Specifications & Features Sample Source : Deeply sampled Steinway Model B grand piano. Dynamic Depth : Features 5 velocity layers (dynamic levels) per note for a wide expressive range. : Includes 2 round robins
to prevent the "machine gun" effect during repeated notes and separate pedal on/off samples for authentic sympathetic resonance. Microphone Perspectives : Two distinct signals: : High proximity for an intimate, clean sound.
: Captures the natural room sound for cinematic or orchestral applications. : Available in (requires full version), (works with the free Plogue sforzando ), and Korg Chronos formats. Library Size : Approximately of 24-bit audio data. Piano in 162 - LinuxMusicians
That text appears to be a collection of keywords, likely referring to a specific high-quality virtual instrument library for music production.
Here is a breakdown of what that text most likely signifies: "Ivy Audio": This is the name of a
In summary: The text is almost certainly referencing the Ivy Audio 162 Piano library, with the writer claiming it is one of the "best" options available for digital composers.
Subject: Product Analysis Report: Ivy Audio "Piano in 162"
Date: October 26, 2023
To: Interested Parties
From: [Your Name/AI Assistant]
For the engineers reading this, here is the data sheet that matters:
Yes, you read that right. An entire concert grand piano fit into under 1GB. That is the magic of intelligent sampling rather than obsessive multi-miking.
Because this is a free library, the feature set is streamlined.
Best for:
✅ Singer-songwriter demos
✅ Film/game underscore
✅ Jazz and neo-classical
❌ Aggressive pop or rock (lacks attack punch without processing)
If you’ve ever searched for “best free piano VST”, you’ve likely come across a cult classic: Ivy Audio’s “Piano in 162”.
Named after its recording space (Room 162) and sampled from a Yamaha C5 grand, this library gained a loyal following for its warmth, dynamic range, and surprising realism — all at no cost.
But is it still relevant in 2025? And why do some producers rank it among the best piano libraries, even against paid options?
Load the "Ambient" mic at 100% wet. Go to the "Release" trigger and max it out. The ambient recording in the 162 Best captures the room shape, not just the reverb tail. This creates a "haunted piano" sound perfect for horror scores or emotional documentaries.