Westwood Instruments has unveiled their latest release ‘Dust Piano’, a free upright piano library designed for Kontakt Player.
Dust Piano marks the third addition to Westwood’s ongoing Roots series, an ever-growing collection of free libraries for Kontakt Player. The series began with Untold Strings, focused on lush string ensembles, and followed with Drifting Winds, dedicated to evocative woodwind sounds. With Dust Piano, Westwood has introduced a melodic element to this evolving orchestral suite.
Westwood describes Dust Piano as a “Yamaha UC3 upright piano, wrapped in cotton and infused with a grainy, nostalgic character.” The UC3, typically seen as a modest and unassuming upright, transforms into something altogether unique with Westwood’s careful attention to detail.
What sets Dust Piano apart from similar instruments is its ability to capture a warm, vintage tone without sounding like a neglected piano lost in time. While many old-school libraries emphasize a dusty, almost broken sound, Dust Piano retains a cinematic quality, combining atmosphere and clarity in a way that enhances its musicality.
The library comes with five distinct presets, each highlighting a different aspect of its tonal palette: Ashes, Dust Piano, Faded Future, Film Grain, and Shadowlands. These presets allow users to explore various moods, from subtle and airy to more intense, textured atmospheres.
Two primary textural layers, Dust and Ash, enable you to dial in just the right amount of that hazy, nostalgic vibe. Lowering these layers reveals a clean, expressive upright piano sound that’s ideal for more traditional playing.
In addition to its textural options, Dust Piano offers control over parameters like Attack, Release, Age, and Grit, providing a wealth of options for shaping its tone to suit your project. An extra feature worth mentioning is the ability to adjust the key-click noise, adding a subtle layer of realism to your performance.
Get it here: Dust Piano (FREE – Kontakt Player required).
