Prepared Piano by User Friendly
300 SAMPLES OF A PREPARED PIANO, READY TO PERFORM OR MANGLE • 300 WAV samples: 48k 32-bit, compatible with any DAW or hardware sampler • Two full preparations: 73 metallic keys and 63 softer keys sampled individually • Hammer releases: 73 individual hammer release samples for realistic playback • Performances and textures: 27 key mashes, 30 improvised micro performances, 13 piano manipulation samples, 16 plucks, bangs, strums and taps • Ableton Live 12 ready: Four Drum Kits and two Instrument Racks with built-in FX and tonal controls
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User Friendly
User Friendly is an electronic musician and sound designer.
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300 prepared piano samples
The prepared piano dates back to 1940, when American avant-garde composer John Cage began placing objects between and around piano strings to transform the instrument into something entirely different. These 300 stereo samples capture a Baldwin upright prepared twice over: once with metallic items like screws, nails, chains and utensils for a sharp, rattly character, and once with softer objects including wood, cardboard, and rubber for a warmer, resonant feel. Every key is sampled individually, and hammer releases are included so you hear the full mechanical life of the instrument.
Beyond the individual key samples, your download includes mashes, plucks, bangs, strums and 30 improvised wandering micro performances that bring the instrument to life as something played and prodded rather than just mapped. The samples are built for experimental music, horror film scoring, drum layering and anything that calls for percussive, atonal texture. Ableton Live 12 users can jump straight into four Drum Kits and two Instrument Racks, each with built-in FX and tonal controls, because getting to the sound should be immediate.
- 300 stereo WAV samples recorded at 48k 32-bit
- 73 metallic prepared keys sampled individually using screws, nails, chains and utensils for a sharp, rattly character
- 63 softer prepared keys sampled individually using wood, paper, cardboard, sunglasses, silicone wine stoppers and rubber for a warmer, resonant feel
- 73 hammer release samples capturing the mechanical release of each key for a realistic feel
- 27 key mashes: several keys played simultaneously for dense, atonal clusters
- 30 improvised wandering micro performances capturing the piano being played freely
- 13 samples of moving around and manipulating the piano, plus 16 samples of plucks, bangs, strums and tapping
- 8 example samples as heard on the Isotonik product page
- Four Drum Kits and two Instrument Racks for all versions of Ableton Live 12, with MIDI note mapping and hammer release triggering on key release
- Built-in FX and tonal controls in the Ableton racks for a wider variation of sounds and feels
- .adg racks
- .als project / demo
- .alp Ableton Live Pack
- WAV samples
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Prepared Piano
It sounds like a broken piano.
Objects placed on the strings make each key produce an atonal, often unrecognisable tone, far removed from a conventional piano. Metallic items create sharp, rattly sounds, while softer materials like rubber and cardboard produce something more resonant and muffled.
Objects on Strings
Everyday objects prepared the piano strings
The piano was prepared with metallic objects such as screws, nails, chains, and kitchen utensils, plus softer materials including wood, paper, cardboard, sunglasses, and rubber. Each group of objects gives a distinct tonal character.
Piano Interior
A Baldwin upright piano recorded in stereo
The source instrument is a Baldwin upright piano, recorded using a pair of Shure SM57 microphones in stereo. The open interior shows the strings and hardware captured across two separate preparation sessions.
Instrument Rack 1
Two Instrument Racks built and ready to load
The first Instrument Rack maps MIDI notes to the matching prepared piano keys and triggers hammer release samples automatically on key release. Built-in effects and tonal controls give a wider range of sounds without leaving the rack.
Instrument Rack 2
73-key and 63-key layouts available in Live
A second Instrument Rack provides access to the softer 63-key preparation alongside the metallic 73-key layout. Both racks include the same built-in FX and tonal controls for shaping the sound directly inside Ableton Live 12.
Drum Kits
Four Drum Kits included for Live 12 users
The pack includes four Drum Kits built from key mashes, plucks, bangs, strums, taps, and piano manipulation recordings. These are ready to load in Ableton Live 12 Intro, Standard, or Suite.
Key Mash Kit
Key mash samples loaded into a Drum Kit
The Key Mash Drum Kit maps 27 multi-key mash samples across pads, ready to trigger in Live 12. Built-in grain, pitch, filter and reverb controls let you shape the texture without leaving the rack.
Wander Kit
Micro-performances mapped across Drum Kit pads
The Wander Drum Kit arranges 30 improvised micro-performance samples across 16 pads, giving quick access to wandering, atmospheric takes. Onboard controls for transposition, room reverb and decay adjust the feel in real time.
Objects Kit
Plucks, bangs and taps in one Drum Kit
The Piano Objects Drum Kit collects the 16 plucks, bangs, strums and taps alongside manipulation recordings into a single playable kit. Labels such as Sparkle, Swipe, Slide, Rang and Clump identify each hit at a glance.
Prepared Piano
Objects placed on strings alter the piano sound
Everyday items including screws, nails, chains, wood, paper and rubber were placed between or tied around the strings of a Baldwin upright piano. This changes the way each key sounds, producing sharp metallic or softer resonant tones depending on the material used.
Important Information
INSTALLATION
Our Products are generally provided as Zip file downloads which in all cases will need to be extracted and saved to your hard drive prior to installation. Details on the different file type provided and what to do with them are below.
.alp Files – These are Ableton Live Packs and will either install directly into the Packs Section of the browser of Ableton Live or ask you to save them to your hard drive. For packs that install to the library, when you double click on them you will see a pop up window asking you to confirm that installation is ok as the files are described as “Legacy”. This is fine and you are ok to proceed, the packs are created using the format for an earlier version of Live and so remain compatible with the current version.
.amxd files – These are individual MaxforLive Devices and can be stored anywhere on your hard drive. We’d advise creating a folder for them and then adding that folder as a location within the Places section of Lives Browser.
LICENSE
END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR ISOTONIK STUDIOS SOFTWARE PRODUCTS.
PLEASE READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE CONTINUING WITH THIS PROGRAM INSTALL.
This End-User License Agreement (referred to as “EULA”) is a legal agreement between an individual or a single entity (referred to as “LICENSEE”) and Isotonik Studios for the Isotonik Studios software product(s) which may include associated software components, media, printed materials, and “online” or electronic documentation (referred to as “SOFTWARE PRODUCT”). By installing, copying, or otherwise using the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, the LICENSEE agrees to be bound by the terms of this EULA.
This EULA represents the entire agreement concerning the program between the LICENSEE and Isotonik Studios and it supersedes any prior proposal, representation, or understanding between the parties. If the LICENSEE does not agree to the terms of this EULA, the LICENSEE should not install or use the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is licensed, not sold.
- GRANT OF LICENSE.
The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is licensed as follows:
(a) Installation and Use. Providing that the LICENSEE has paid any applicable license fees, Isotonik Studios grants the LICENSEE the right to install and use copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT on up to two computers in the LICENSEE’s possession that are running a validly licensed copy of the operating system for which the SOFTWARE PRODUCT was designed [e.g., Windows 10, macOS]. The computer(s) must be owned by the LICENSEE.
(b) Backup Copies. The LICENSEE may also make copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT as may be necessary for backup and archival purposes.
- DESCRIPTION OF OTHER RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS.
(a) Maintenance of Copyright Notices. The LICENSEE must not remove or alter any copyright notices on any and all copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
(b) Distribution. The LICENSEE may not distribute registered copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT to third parties.
(c) Prohibition on Reverse Engineering, Decompilation, and Disassembly. The LICENSEE may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, except and only to the extent that such activity is expressly permitted by applicable law notwithstanding this limitation.
(d) Rental. The LICENSEE may not rent, lease, or lend the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
(e) License transfer The LICENSEE may not transfer their license to the SOFTWARE PRODUCT to any third party. Any attempt to do so will be considered a violation of this EULA.
(f) Support Services. Isotonik Studios may provide the LICENSEE with support services related to the SOFTWARE PRODUCT for a period of 12 months following the date of purchase. Any supplemental software code provided to the LICENSEE as part of the Support Services shall be considered part of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT and subject to the terms and conditions of this EULA.
(g) Compliance with Applicable Laws. The LICENSEE must comply with all applicable laws regarding use of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
- TERMINATION Without prejudice to any other rights, Isotonik Studios may terminate this EULA if the LICENSEE fails to comply with the terms and conditions of this EULA. In such event, the LICENSEE must destroy all copies of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT in the LICENSEE’s possession.
- COPYRIGHT All title, including but not limited to copyrights, in and to the SOFTWARE PRODUCT and any copies thereof are owned by Isotonik Studios or its suppliers. All title and intellectual property rights in and to the content which may be accessed through use of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is the property of the respective content owner and may be protected by applicable copyright or other intellectual property laws and treaties. This EULA grants the LICENSEE no rights to use such content. All rights not expressly granted are reserved by Isotonik Studios.
- NO WARRANTIES Isotonik Studios expressly disclaims any warranty for the SOFTWARE PRODUCT. The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is provided ‘As Is’ without any express or implied warranty of any kind, including but not limited to any warranties of merchantability, noninfringement, or fitness of a particular purpose. Isotonik Studios does not warrant or assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within the SOFTWARE PRODUCT. Isotonik Studios makes no warranties respecting any harm that may be caused by the transmission of a computer virus, worm, time bomb, logic bomb, or other such computer program. Isotonik Studios further expressly disclaims any warranty or representation to the LICENSEE or to any third party.
- LIMITATION OF LIABILITY In no event shall Isotonik Studios be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, lost profits, business interruption, or lost information) arising out of the LICENSEE’s use of or inability to use the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, even if Isotonik Studios has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event will Isotonik Studios be liable for loss of data or for indirect, special, incidental, consequential (including lost profit), or other damages based in contract, tort or otherwise. Isotonik Studios shall have no liability with respect to the content of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT or any part thereof, including but not limited to errors or omissions contained therein, libel, infringements of rights of publicity, privacy, trademark rights, business interruption, personal injury, loss of privacy, moral rights or the disclosure of confidential information.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many samples are included and what will they work with?
There are 300 samples in total. They work with any DAW or hardware sampler capable of playing 48k 32-bit WAV files
Do I need Ableton Live to use this pack?
No. The WAV files work in any DAW or hardware sampler. However, if you use Ableton Live 12 (Intro, Standard or Suite), you also get four Drum Kits and two Instrument Racks with built-in FX and tonal controls ready to load and play.
What kind of music are these samples suited to?
The samples are intended for percussive and atonal music. They work well for experimental music, horror film scoring, sample mangling, layering with drums, and wacky or unconventional productions. The sounds are highly atonal, so you can mix and match them freely.
In Depth
What Is a Prepared Piano?
In 1940, American avant-garde composer John Cage invented the prepared piano. The idea is straightforward: objects are placed between or tied around the strings inside the piano changing the way it sounds.
What Was Recorded
The source instrument here is a Baldwin upright piano, recorded in stereo using a pair of Shure SM57 microphones. The piano was prepared twice, in two distinct ways. The first pass used metallic objects: screws, nails, chains, and kitchen utensils. The second pass used softer materials: wood, paper, cardboard, sunglasses, silicone wine stoppers, and rubber. Those two preparations give you a sharp, rattly metallic character on one side and a softer, more resonant quality on the other.
What Is in the Pack
The pack contains 300 samples in total, delivered as 48kHz 32-bit WAV files. Every prepared key was individually sampled, and every hammer release was captured as separate pieces to work with. On top of the individual key samples, there are group key mashes, improvised micro-performances, manipulation recordings, and a set of plucks, bangs, strums, and taps. The full breakdown is 73 metallic prepared keys, 63 softer prepared keys, 73 hammer release samples, 27 key mashes with several keys played at once, 30 improvised wandering micro-performances, 13 samples of moving around and manipulating the piano, 16 samples of plucks, bangs, strums, and tapping, and 8 example samples as featured on the Isotonik store. Because the files are standard WAV, they work in any DAW or hardware sampler capable of playing samples.
The Ableton Live Racks
For Ableton Live 12 users on Intro, Standard, or Suite, the pack includes four Drum Kits and two Instrument Racks, already built and ready to load. The Instrument Racks are programmed so that MIDI notes correspond to the matching prepared piano keys. When you release a key, you hear the hammer release sample automatically, which gives a more realistic and physical feel. The racks also include built-in effects and tonal controls, giving you a wider range of sounds from the same source material without leaving the rack.
Keyboard Options and How to Use Them
There is a 73-key layout and a 63-key layout available. That said, the sounds are highly atonal, which means you can mix and match keys from either preparation freely. There is no wrong note here because tonal harmony is not really the point. The samples suit experimental music, horror film scoring, sample mangling, layering with drums, and anything that calls for percussive, atonal texture. They are designed for situations where you want something that sounds like a broken piano.
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