Studio One's Stock Piano Makes Me QUESTION Why I Bought Other VSTs!

If you’ve ever wondered whether your DAW’s built-in piano is “good enough,” this one’s for you. After years of chasing the perfect piano sound through expensive plugins and libraries, I took a fresh listen to Studio One’s stock grand piano — and what I found made me question everything.

From tone and warmth to built-in effects and tweakability, this instrument might just be one of the most underrated pianos out there. Let’s dig in.

Studio One’s Stock Piano: More Than Just “Basic”

This grand piano runs inside Presence XT, Studio One’s stock sampler, and it’s been around since version 4 or 5. But don’t let that fool you — it still holds up in 2025. The tone is warm, woody, and surprisingly expressive. From subtle hammer noise to organic release resonance, it has the kind of detail you normally associate with premium plugins.

What really impressed me was how playable it felt. The attack was just right. The dynamic range was usable. And you could really hear those harmonics bloom when you dug in.

Built-In Effects That Actually Matter

What sets Studio One’s piano apart is the macro control system. Right out of the box, you can shape the sound to fit your production:

• Adjust sustain pedal noise and release resonance
• Shape velocity curves and envelopes
• Add reverb and delay inside the plugin — no inserts needed
• Use modulation and filter controls to craft signature tones

Honestly, I’ve used paid plugins that offer less flexibility than this “free” piano included in your DAW.

Skip the Hype, Use What You Already Own

We live in an age of constant plugin FOMO — and while there’s a time and place for premium VSTs like Keyscape or Ravenscroft, you might already have a gem sitting in your DAW that rivals them. Studio One users: this stock grand piano might be all you need.

Want My Custom Studio One Piano Presets?

I’ve crafted 10 custom presets that push the Studio One piano to its creative limit — from lush cinematic reverb tones to tight gospel and R&B cuts.

Grab the Studio One Grand Piano Presets here →

They’re just $10 and will immediately elevate your sound. Plus, you’ll be supporting the channel and my content — win-win!

Final Thoughts

Sometimes the best piano isn’t the one that costs the most. It’s the one that fits your workflow, sounds great, and gives you room to shape it how you like. Studio One’s stock piano checks all those boxes — and it’s already sitting on your system.

Let me know what you think in the comments, and if you’ve slept on your stock plugins… maybe it’s time to give them a second listen.