In Summary

Although cinematic piano is nothing new in the VI sphere, getting quick usable soundscapes with the instrument has been harder to crack. We check out UJAM’s latest Virtual Pianist to see how non-players can get a slice of cinematic action.

Going Deeper

Any musician, engineer, or composer can confirm that instruments’ main divisions are just the beginning. Inside each is a whole world of styles, shapes, and sizes, and the one covering the most ground is arguably the piano. Spanning not only centuries in its current form, one of music’s most expressive voices spans continents, cultures and styles the world over.

With flavours ranging from pristine classical grands, dusty honky-tonk uprights, right through to digital interpretations that became sounds in their own right there are plenty to choose from. In the 21st century, a particular cinematic style has driven compositions for game and film that are characterised by highly dynamic performance delivered using epic, widescreen sounds to match.

UJAM Virtual Pianist SCORE

UJAM’s growing list of VI helpers are characterised by great sounds that are easy to use. We’ve used quite a few, and we can confirm that the only time composers will waste on these is looking for some hidden ‘Expert’ controls that don’t exist!

The latest in their Virtual Pianist series is SCORE, which sets out to bring cinematic piano to productions even for non-players to play. This is thanks to the Player mode that lets composers hold down root notes to pin down chord progressions. The rest is a formidable stash of highly musical MIDI riffs, licks, motifs, and arpeggios to allow anyone to realise what they hear.

In the video we show how players can play Virtual Pianist SCORE just like any other VI with their own inputs, while tweaking its Finisher and Ambience modes to get inspiring sounds quickly. We then use the Player to its full advantage for a whole part with just one finger and twenty five keys plugged in…

Virtual Pianist SCORE Features:

• Grand piano model based on recordings of a Steinway D Grand piano

• 45 Finisher Multi-Effect Modes and 45 Ambience FX Presets custom-tailored for

• More than 175 Presets for instant inspiration

• MIDI Drag & Drop (use the player with other instruments)

Piano For Dummies?

With very few composers working without a deadline, instruments must be above all else quick and good. Other more casual composers-in-waiting will need something that looks like a piano and not like the bridge of a super-tanker!

While no-one is pretending that top flight composers for film are going to ditch high-end instruments for stripped-back ‘sketch’ instruments, some will secretly wish they had what Virtual Pianist SCORE can offer. That is sounds that bite at the heels of the established piano libraries, and an immediacy that approaches sitting at the real thing.

Virtual Pianist SCORE does that, and has bags of cinematic and ‘designed’ piano sounds for simple productions with a lot more in reserve as well.

A Word About This Article

As the Experts team considered how we could better help the community we thought that some of you are time poor and don’t have the time to read a long article or a watch a long video. In 2023 we are going to be trying out articles that have the fast takeaway right at the start and then an opportunity to go deeper if you wish. Let us know if you like this idea in the comments.