> The use of mathematics to produce sounds resembling real instruments quickly became obsolete once we could just go out and sample the real thing. No. One of

> The use of mathematics to produce sounds resembling real instruments quickly became obsolete once we could just go out and sample the real thing. No. One of the most popular piano VSTs on the market is Pianoteq, which uses physical modelling of the instrument rather than being sample-based. It's often considered one of the most realistic-sounding piano VSTs all the same (they have models of many popular acoustic models, authorized by their builders), and offers a much higher degree of dynamism and reactivity than sample-based ones, and much more flexibility in simulated microphone placement, etc. This approach is still leading-edge in places.