Review: e-Instruments Pure Piano – iOS Piano App

e-Instruments Pure Piano—the name speaks for itself, yet it’s somewhat deceptive: This iOS piano app offers far more than just a pure piano sound.

At its core, this app stays true to its name: a pure piano app, dedicated entirely to piano sound. Yet, Pure Piano is also an excellent choice for those who enjoy exploring soundscapes. From the brilliance of a grand piano to the dreamy subtleties of a neo-classical piano with intricate sound details, you can seamlessly morph between these characteristic sounds using intuitive touch controls. Sounds impressive? It truly is!

Like e-instruments‘ piano VSTs, Pure Piano incorporates their visually intuitive sound editing system. Mobile devices are the ideal platform here, as Pure Piano is a “touch instrument” designed for ease of use. The same goes for e-instruments Pure Upright, which offers a charming living room-piano sound and serves as a great complement to Pure Piano.

Piano Apps – Can the iPad Replace a Digital Piano?

Well, for a complete digital piano, you still need a high-quality keyboard— and e-instruments Pure Piano definitely deserves one. The app allows for expressive playing, from delicate pianissimo to powerful forte. If you’re using a digital piano as a MIDI controller, or a MIDI controller with weighted keys, the musical possibilities when paired with an iPhone are surprisingly expansive.

e-instruments Pure Piano: A Broad Range of Sounds

While a broad range of sounds is often associated with the sheer number of sounds available on conventional digital pianos, e-instruments takes a different approach: Pure Piano offers just one piano sound—no more, no less. However, you can adjust this single sound with remarkable nuance, embodying the core concept of a pure piano.

1 Sound – 1,000 Possibilities

The foundation is a grand piano: broad, brilliant, with a clearly defined attack and a rich, resonant decay. You can shape the sound to suit various musical styles—whether you’re creating full accompaniments, rhythmic and percussive accents, or delicate piano solos. Moreover, the sound is so incredibly versatile that it transcends genres: Whether you’re playing classical, neo-classical, rock, pop, jazz, soul, or funk, there’s far more to the sound than meets the eye. You can see this as soon as you start using the Morph Pad in the main display.

Morphing Piano Sounds – What’s the Point?

Initially, you might think that sound morphing could turn a piano into something completely different, like a marimba—similar to the groundbreaking capabilities of Modartt Pianoteq 7. However, that’s not the case with Pure Piano, as it always remains a “pure piano” sound. Instead, the Morph Pad allows you to subtly modify the sound of the piano to bring out different qualities. For example, as you move the Morph Pad downward, you can gradually transform the piano’s initially brilliant sound into a softer, more intimate tone.

Simply swipe across the display to adjust multiple layers of background parameters, including timbre, dynamic response, and effects such as EQ, delay, and reverb. Doing so even reveals subtle sound details. For instance, the Intimate setting offers a beautifully mellow tone enriched with mechanical nuances. You get an intimate sound with atmospheric depth, perfect for neo-classical music.

The sound can change dramatically as you explore settings like “Cinematic” or “Reverse.” These allow for truly adventurous soundscapes. In addition to “Pure,” there are eight distinct sound extremes that you can seamlessly morph between. Want to add more overtones to the Intimate piano sound? No problem—just move the Morph Pad slightly towards “Pure” or “Bright.”

e-Instruments Pure Piano in Practice

e-Instruments Pure Piano is a versatile app for anyone who wants to use their iPad as a high-quality piano sound module. Whether you’re upgrading an older digital piano with a modern, professional sound or playing live with a MIDI controller, Pure Piano is an affordable and practical solution.

What makes Pure Piano innovative is its playful and intuitive approach to sound design. With its excellent user interface, Pure Piano provides endless enjoyment for sound enthusiasts. The Morph Pad allows for exciting sonic explorations while also simplifying everyday adjustments. Tasks like tweaking EQ, reverb, delay, or the dynamic curve are straightforward and visually intuitive, thanks to the app’s thoughtfully designed interface.

The sound simulation accounts for details such as fallback noise, key-off effects, damper noise, and damper resonance. While e-instruments Pure Piano does without sympathetic resonance, this isn’t a major drawback. What is more noticeable, though, is the lack of a half-pedal function. Another limitation is the inability to repedal using the sustain pedal. Otherwise, e-instruments Pure Piano fully supports the standard soft and sostenuto pedal functions.

Conclusion: A New Take on Sonic Variety

Although e-Instruments Pure Piano might initially seem like an app for piano purists, there is much more to it than meets the eye. It offers the professional-grade sound of a grand piano, bringing the high standards of piano VST instruments to the iOS platform.

The piano sound is vibrant and highly customizable, with the intuitive Morph Pad allowing for nuanced adjustments. Importantly, sound editing isn’t limited to seasoned experts—the innovative and user-friendly design ensures that anyone can explore its vast possibilities. Most importantly, Pure Piano sounds absolutely stunning. A must-have!

E-Instruments Pure Piano – Overview

Release date: April 2021
Technical specifications: Compatible with iPhone and iPad (iOS 13 or later); AU support; 1.1 GB of storage space required; 24-bit / 44.1 kHz audio quality
Download: Available on the Apple App Store
Price: €29.99
Manufacturer: e-Instruments