Tascam's CVPiano is the best FREE piano hands down. Warning, not much of a user manual so it will take a little effort to figure it out. Works stand-alone, or in a host as a VSTI.
I recently bought a digital piano. It was mainly to learn piano, but also as a controller to use with Omnisphere. I really did think it would be as simple as installing the discs, connecting the keyboard by USB to my PC and then synthesizing away.I thought I didn't need anything else and that I could get to grips with DAWs at a later date, but clearly I was wrong! So my question is: what is the simplest — ie. most idiot-proof — way of getting sound from Omnisphere on my PC that won't require too much technical ability and know-how?
This is Spectrasonic's Omnisphere running as a stand-alone soft synth inside Herman Seib's excellent Savihost utility. Savihost is one of the simplest VST hosts, as well as being a valuable test tool.
Via SOS web site
SOS contributor Martin Walker replies: To use a plug-in like Omnisphere without a DAW, you require a host application capable of loading VST instruments. Examples of suitable 'full-featured' hosts include Ableton Live, Cubase, GarageBand, Logic and Reaper. Developers do get occasional complaints from users if they don't provide a standalone version of their software instruments as well as the plug-in version, but there's really no need for them to take the time, trouble and expense of creating their own stand-alone application when so many simple host utilities are also already available to let you run any VST instrument in stand-alone mode.
Mac users can download VST Lord (http://arne.knup.de/?page_id=32) for OS X use, while PC users have several choices, including the free Cantabile Lite (www.cantabilesoftware.com), Tobybear's donationware Minihost (www.tobybear.de/p_minihost.html), and Herman Seib's Savihost (www.hermannseib.com/english/Savihost.htm).
Savihost is probably the simplest to use of all of those listed above. It was created for the sole purpose of automatically loading only one VSTi, is extremely quick to load, is light on system resources, is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions to suit whichever format of soft synth you're using, and also supports ASIO drivers for low latency during performance. You just unzip the Savihost file into the same folder as the DLL file for your VST instrument (in this case Omnisphere.dll), then rename the file Savihost.exe to the name of your instrument (so, in this case, Omnisphere.exe).
Finally, double-click on this renamed file and your instrument will appear in all its glory. Just use Savihost's Devices menu to choose your MIDI input device and audio output device and you can start playing it. Even if you don't have a keyboard controller on hand, you can download a different version of Savihost including its own software version that you can play with your mouse.
I've used Savihost myself on quite a few occasions over the years, and not only for playing soft synths as stand-alone applications. It's also a very useful tool if you have any problems running a particular soft synth in a DAW, since you can use it to check that the synth is installed and running correctly without all the extra paraphernalia associated with sequencers, editors and so on. As before, just drop the Savihost file into the same folder as the problem synth DLL, rename it and then double-click on it. If the synth works properly in Savihost, any problem is most likely to be with your DAW. The other advantage of the renaming process is that you can have several instances of Savihost in one 'vstplugins' folder, each launching a different stand-alone synth.
The Hammond B3 organ.
Additive synthesis at its best !
Suitable for Jazz, Rock, Gospel, Blues, Ballad, House, Funk, Cheesy reprise of anything, Ballad, Dance, Pop, Hard Rock, etc..
Some history here : http://theatreorgans.com/grounds/docs/history.html + some facts
i have selected 7 free drawbar organ VSTi emulations of the Hammond B3.
Let’s groove :
1. AZR3 by Rumpelrausch
Not only free, it’s also open source.
This is a very good drawbar emulation, with onboard FX, nice saturation, and the speaker leslie emulation. Perfect for emulating gospel organ and rock organ. And check the “NHL” preset!
WhiterShadeOfPale
https://blog.wavosaur.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/whiter-shade-of-zr3.mp3
As all the other plugins in this list are 32 bit, it could be nice to compile a 64 bit version.
** EDIT** => here is the 64 bit version for Windows : download Azr3 B3 organ VST 64 bit
and the sources
There’s also a MAC version here
2. Organized Trio
Organized Trio VST
Present in the same package as “Mr Ray”, it’s the perfect companion for your funky tracks.
And of course it can do the perc dance organ “ala” Korg M1 :
Gypsy Woman:
https://blog.wavosaur.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Gypsy-Women-Organized-Trio.mp3
3. NubiPlus by fxPointAudio
http://www.fxpointaudio.com/ & download
Nubi Plus VSTi come with a VST FX for adding the Leslie effect : Spinner VST. The two make a super groovy combo, and gives you this nice Hammond B3 organ sound.
She’s just like you and me, but she’s homeless:
https://blog.wavosaur.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Gypsy-Woman-NubiPlus.mp3
4. DirtBag and LightBag by Istvan Kaldor
LightBag II VST
Best Free Standalone Piano Vst
Good old Synthedit creations : the sound is dirty like it should. You get a nasty B3 organ sound in an instant. Leslie speaker effect is included. There are also some nice reed emulation sounds. And some crazy wicked presets in dirtbag too!
Standalone Piano Vst Free Download
Whiter shade of Dirtbag :
https://blog.wavosaur.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/whiter-shade-of-dirtbag.mp3
5. Euthymia VST by Iliadis
This free organ VST has a clean sound. You can add a Leslie speaker as free external effect : iSpinner VST
Standalone Piano Vst Free
6. OddlyOrgan by OdO
Oddly Organ
A little more synthetic, you can go creative with this VST !
You can also find other organ VSTis made by OdO
7. VL122 by AM Music Technology
info & download
Discontinued & free drawbar organ : it sounds nice, it’s clean.
You can switch off the motor !
It includes the famous Leslie effect, and also a reverb.
+ a tube/drive effect for more dirty sound.
Cool jazz organ presets.