Update Avant-garde grand piano sound • Experimental sequel to Claire • Unique sounds achieved through unconventional techniques, including matte shades, soft left pedal, harmonics and more • Create rippling textures with the Particles engine and new Patterns Tool presets Manual (PDF)
Hidden Secrets of a Grand Piano
Claire: Avant is not just another piano. Recorded with the lid off, it captures the whispers, echoes, and raw textures hidden in traditional piano libraries. From metallic strikes to delicate touches, deep bass to highly grained tones, each sound invites you to try something new. Discover raspy, sharp, plucked, and muted tones perfect for film soundtracks, experimental works, and more.
Color your sound
Claire: Avant turns the piano into a canvas, offering nine unique articulations including matte textures, harmonics, a soft left pedal (una corda), soft and metallic hammers, muted strings, plucked wood and bone plectrums, and more. With 13 velocity levels and three circular repeats, every sound feels alive and changes with every touch.
Patterns Tool and Particles
The Particles engine infuses every note with shimmering harmonics and dynamic, responsive elements, turning simple key presses into rich, evolving soundscapes. Over 40 customizable presets for Kontakt’s Pattern Tool, plus randomization options, make it easy to generate new ideas. Combine these engines to create complex, organic passages that unfold as you play.
Compatible with Kontrol keyboards
Claire: Avant integrates seamlessly with our Kontrol S-series keyboards, offering an intuitive velocity editor, professional presets, and easy sound browsing and control via a detailed display for a truly immersive workflow.
Created in collaboration with Galaxy Instruments
Claire: Avant was created in collaboration with Galaxy Instruments. Company founder Uli Baronowsky and his team have previously worked on the critically acclaimed virtual piano libraries Noire, Claire, Piano Colors, The Giant, Una Corda, and The Definitive Piano Collection, as well as Alicia’s Electric Keys, Electric Keys: Diamond, Electric Keys: Phoenix, Vocal Colors, Mysteria, Thrill, and Rise & Hit.
- Recorded from inside a grand piano, Claire: Avant delivers rich, unconventional timbres that turn the piano into a playground for sound design and experimentation
- Quick access to near and room mic settings that can be easily combined, plus controls for color, dynamics, reverb, and delay
- The Piano page lets you dive deeper into sound shaping, offering full control over resonance, overtones, pedal noise, and more
- Add movement and depth to your sound with the Particles engine, creating shimmering harmonics and shifting textures that respond to your performance
- Easily filter nine unique articulations, different mic positions, and sound aesthetics to quickly find the perfect sound
- Fine-tune the FX page for EQ, shaping, stereo imaging, and ambience
Fixed:
- Some NKS controls were displaying incorrect value after tool initialization
Installing the update
Copy and replace the contents of the distribution to the root folder of the library .
