Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX Concert Grand review
A detailed sampled grand with flexible microphone perspectives and performance controls.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX Concert Grand is a virtual piano based on Yamaha’s CFX concert grand, recorded in Abbey Road Studio One. It is aimed at composers, performers, and producers who want a piano-focused instrument for music production, composition, performance, or piano-led arrangements. The sampled instrument runs in the included ARIA Player, which can also operate as a standalone player; full and compact installation options are available for Windows and macOS.
Its main strength is the range of performance detail. Classic, Contemporary, and Player microphone perspectives offer distinct recorded presentations of the piano, while 20 layers of sampled detail include pedal articulations. Partial and re-pedaling support, customizable velocity and dynamic range, adjustable EQ and piano parameters, and convolution reverb with additional impulse responses provide further control over the sound and response. These features make it suited to detailed piano work, though its focus remains a single concert-grand instrument rather than a broad collection of instrument types.
According to the published plan, CFX Concert Grand costs $199.95 as a one-time purchase and includes the ARIA Player, three microphone perspectives, and full and compact installations. The vendor documents AAX, RTAS, VST, and AU compatibility, and the product is listed for Windows and macOS. Choose it if a sampled concert grand, pedal nuance, and standalone MIDI playback with audio recording fit your workflow. If you need a wider instrument palette or depend on a plugin format outside those documented, another instrument may be a better fit.
Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX Concert Grand pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Three microphone perspectives: Classic, Contemporary, and Player
- 20 sampled detail layers include pedal articulations and re-pedaling
- Standalone MIDI playback and audio recording via ARIA Player
- Where it doesn't
- Costs $199.95 as a one-time purchase
- Documented plugin formats are AAX, RTAS, VST, and AU
- Focused on piano rather than a broader instrument range
Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX Concert Grand fact sheet, pricing and score →
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