Native Instruments The Grandeur 120 12 Guide
This piece is designed to be elegant but driving, utilizing the mechanical precision of the software's sampling. š¼ Technical Settings 120 BPM Time Signature: 12/8 (Compound Quadruple Meter)
Features the iconic lid control (Open, Half, Closed) to change the brightness, and a "Tone" knob that moves from soft to bright.
Native Instruments' The Grandeur is widely considered a "workhorse" virtual piano, prized for its balanced, bright tone and its ability to cut through a mix. Sampled from a Hamburg Steinway D
is more than a random string of digitsāit is a philosophy of restraint. By capping your MIDI velocity at the instrumentās true dynamic maximum (120) and lowering your output headroom to a safe, mix-ready -12 dB, you transform a great sampled piano into an irreplaceable production tool.
: Separate overtone and resonance samples simulate how strings vibrate together in a real piano body, a feature known as Sympathetic String Resonance. Professional Use Cases Reviewers from platforms like VI-Control often praise it for its "mix-readiness". THE GRANDEUR Manual English - Native Instruments native instruments the grandeur 120 12
Before we decode the "120 12," letās revisit the source. Released as part of the Definitive Piano Collection (alongside The Giant and The Maverick ), captures a premium 9-foot Concert Grand Piano (a Hamburg Steinway D-274, to be precise).
, plus dedicated resonance and noise samples (pedal, damper, string, and hammer). Sound Shaping Controls: Lid Control:
: 9 velocity layers for key releases to capture natural mechanical decay.
Captured with 18 velocity layers for smooth transitions between soft pianissimos and powerful fortissimos. This piece is designed to be elegant but
"It doesn't sound like the YouTube tutorials." Solution: Many producers claiming "120 12" also add a tape emulation plugin (like RC-20 or UAD Studer) after The Grandeur. The 120 12 is the raw input; the magic happens with an analog-style bus compressor afterward.
VI ā VII (Fmaj to Gmaj) ā The "climax" chords. Bars 11-12: V ā i (E7 to Am) ā The resolution. 3. Dynamic Performance Tips
The Grandeur is available as a standalone purchase or as part of the Komplete 15
Because of its balanced sampling approach, this plugin transitions seamlessly across wildly different musical genres. Pop and Rock Production Sampled from a Hamburg Steinway D is more
: Over 2,500 individual high-definition samples.
The Grandeur 120/12 is a meticulous recreation of the original EMT 120 plate reverb, with a few modern twists. Here are just a few of its standout features:
Adjusts the timbre from warm and soft to hard and crisp by remapping samples.