Not "the best" piano synth, but I use a Yamaha Motif rackmount - works great for recording and live gigs and lots of other great patches. Find a controller that you like the feel of.

I haven't heard it personally, but people are raving (Keyboard Mag for 1) about the new Roland V.

Piano sounds are very subjective - you should definitely play whatever you intend to purchase and hear side by side comparison if possible.

I'd also recommend

http://www.keyboardmag.com/

Cheers fella!

On a bit of a tangent, just spoke to one of my mates who's at Scarbourough uni doing a production degree and he says a load of them there use VST instruments as well. He didnt know much about it though. Don't suppose you know which VST's he was talking about? I tried searching the web & a few mags but cant seemt o find much on them.

Here's a ton of them. I can't comment on quality, never use them myself.

http://www.audiomastermind.com/browse-piano-5887027-1.html

apstrong wrote: Here's a ton of them. I can't comment on quality, never use them myself.

http://www.audiomastermind.com/browse-piano-5887027-1.html

Result. Thanks!

A lot of raves about [="http://www.synthogy.com/"]Ivory[/]="http://www.synthogy…"]Ivory[/]. Steinberg's "[[url=http://="http://www.steinber…"]The Grand[/]="http://www.steinber…"]The Grand[/]" sounds pretty good as well. Ok. Not free or cheap but cheaper than the real thing.

Emulator X3 Platinum 88 isn't bad. I wonder how it compares to Ivory?

http://www.emu.com/products/mp3s/Platinum_88_Demo.mp3

The Native Instruments Akoustik Piano software is pretty sweet and supports VST, RTAS, DXi, ASIO, etc .

Some of the online samples are a little long-hair for a hick like me, but they do give you a chance to hear how the different pianos 'breath' between notes.

http://www.native-instruments.com:80/index.php?id=apsounds&L=1

There's a Komplete Classics bundle that includes the acoustic pianos, B4 organ, prophet synth, & electric pianos/clav. that can be had pretty cheap. [ like $149 if you don't need the latest/greatest version ]

The organ alone is worth the price - if you like that sorta thing. - Scary good. Almost too good, no hum, no hiss.

I use Native instruments Akoustik Piano for many of my tunes...I'm sure there are even better sampled piano's out there....no doubt Ivory is one of those....but if you want 4 different piano's from classic grand's to upright the Native instruments stuff is very clean, very good sounding and has many settings available within the sample patches like reverb settings and microphone placements that let you customize and tweak any feature of the piano itself which is very cool. It can be used as a standalone instrument or as a VSTi or RTAS....

http://www.myspace.com/thedoon

Freebies I use

Jazz Baby
DSK Acoustic Piano
Provo Piana

I don't recall where I got them

I generally feed the midi info to both Jazz baby and the DSK model. Pan them a bit and add a little plate reverb and its pretty decent

Thats great thanks everyone! Loads that I can be cracking on with.

Will give you an update on which I like the most and why in due course. Unfortunately im stuck at work for the next 10 days....on a public holiday here too! Pfft. haha :?