Pianoteq 5 impressions (Page 2 of 7)

First time buyer here, tried 4.5 demo but didn't like the sound.

I got excited about the update so rushed to buy Stage. Love the concept, excellent playability and cool interface (velocity setting is best in class). I play classical on a Numa Nero, mostly on Vintage D (favorite samples/playability combo by far).

Overall I'm quite happy with the sound, and was favorably surprised by the Pleyel for instance (quite close to the OldBlackGrand samples, but far more playable).

But one thing that strikes me is that at medium-low velocities the sound (on D4, K2) is too close to an e-piano sound and not that realistic...at higher (and lower) velocities the attack improves (although "Beethoven" style FF chords sound too sterile and not very musical)...

I have not run through all the presets yet, but is there an obvious setting that I should look at to get less of the "bell sound" of an electric piano at medium-low velocities? I tried the "pop" Eq setting for instance, and it does improve things as little...
Thanks for any help.

It is intresting, I made a comparison of Ivory 1.6 Steinway and Pianoteq 5 D4 in Cubase. Side by side. There is such little difference in timbre, that it is sometimes hard to say, when one play and when another Later I'll make some video comparison.

Could be my impression, but it seems as if the limiter has also improved when playing at loud volume. Or am I just imagining things? I used to have to lower the volume a bit when using Binaural mode but this is no longer true. (Maybe it's just the mic gain that is fixed/improved)

...except Pianoteq does do the Steinway D sound with the D4 model.

Wow, five hours non-stop since 4am and man I love PT5 more and more. Huge improvements over 4.5 and I have fallen absolutely head over heels for the "new" YC5. Yeah it's a "rock" piano, but try rockin' some Bach Goldberg variations or WTK. It's brilliant!!!

Yet YC5 can also be sweet and delicate... so beautiful

When E. Dragon was young and his heart was an open book
He used to say live and let live
(you know he did, you know he did you know he did)
But if this ever changing software world in which we're living
Makes he give in and cry

Say live and let die
Live and let die

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swVoXHVW-jI

;-)

It just saddens me that you don't seem to be able to hear the slightly artificial tone is in the upper range, (especially when you play loud). The best sampled libraries sound more realistic.

But pianoteq is the best tool in the world when you want to create your own piano, hands down! Plus, it's the most playable virtual instrument I've ever played. so Pianoteq is great, no doubt, but stop claming in every forum that pianoteq sounds better than any sampled libraries , it's not true, plus, I'm sure you don't even know all the new sampled libraries.

Jordan, some people, when listening piano music, find the harmonics interaction more important than few aspect not fully 100% natural in tone.

I presume some people can hear more harmonic aspects, while others notice more tone details.

Pianoteq goal it'n not just playing and adjust at own taste, but also about listen the natural harmonics too.

Well, maybe I'm not really updated about the lastesyt version of the best piano sampled libraries, since some have algorithms to try recreate some harmonics. But as far as I was concerned the recreation of harmonicsin sample base technology were somewhat limited.

But that's what Jordan said.
Well I won't speak for him because if he's the 'original' one has enough balls and piano knowledge to reply by himself but I understand his message.

From the pure sound or tone side PTQ is closer and closer to the real instrument and every new model is a big step up. The PTQ team is very good and I found betatest sessions very pleasing and constructive; the results are under our eyes (ears?) but again, only from the tone side, samples are still unbeatable. Yes, the give a static image of the sound but is a prefect image. As a pianist I always hear something 'uncomfortable' in PTQ sound even if, with newer versions, is more and more difficult to feel it. But is still there and every acoustic pianist can feel it. I started to play at the age of 4 thus I know very well the 'right' sound; maybe I couldn't describe it but I can feel it.

Said that PTQ remains my first virtual piano choice since version 2 when I play, create and even mix. Its playability is miles ahead from sampled instruments. From this point of view is a real piano since the first version I used. I considered it, in the past, as an instrument by itself: a strange sounding piano, but definitely a piano (obviously played with a good keyboard) with its special but definite character.
Now as experience on model programming and CPU power become bigger and bigger the sound is very close to the real thing and this new version is almost perfect.

Following this path I assume we'll be there very soon

Well, my point of view.

In my opinion every change towards version 4.5 is an improvement. However, sampled pianos won't be outdated that soon, I think. You just have to accept that neither sampling nor modelling are equal to a real piano. Both technologies contain restrictions and simplifications. It's a matter of weighing up pros and cons and of course taste.

I'm curious about how the Steinway sounds the D4 is based on. Could be that some people just don't like the sound of the source. Every piano sounds different...

So Modartt: I'd appreciate it if you offered a comparison with same mics and mic positions.

And: Please model the Vintage D source Steinway at Bauer Studios in Ludwigsburg, Germany !

Hear, hear. It's always nice to have alternatives to Steinways -- they're done to death and you hear them everywhere, you'd think other makes didn't exist the way some people talk.

Of course, they are everywhere, by fair means or foul (if some of the stories are to be believed) and consequently I tend to have a knee-jerk reaction against Steinways for those reasons.

Now I have a question.
With this new Pianoteq, it's really important he sound like a real piano ?
Never this question was posed but are you sure that Franzt Liszt and Chopin had the problem to create the sound piano of the XXème siècle like a piano-forte from Beethoven ?
I think no, they wanted more possibility under their fingers and they don't watch behind them.

I really enjoyed your improvisation. I can hear your joy in your playing. It is a good example of how the expressiveness of the Pianoteq models allow us to get pleasantly lost in creativity. Thank you for sharing your moment with us.

I have to admit that a minute ago I just fell in love with the Blüthner. That's the sound I love. Now my brain has to understand that there's not only Steinway + I need to test it with a proper hammer action I'm going to get soon. Then it should be time to change my user name .

Version 5 is still very disappointing compared to the C instrument of version 3.

Sound cards shouldn't be cheaped out on. Rather save some cash and buy a proper one...

Hello, thanks for your opinion and it's true, if I wanted record this improvisation it's really because the new K2 give me joy.

Just felt obliged to drag myself away from being glued to v.5 in order to say a big well done for these massive improvements!
Thank You Modarrt!

Thanks Modartt. The K2 sounds great. I like too the Dohnal PianoForte and look forward the Walter update.

Hi all

I've played new version just 20 minutes so this is really FIRST impression. I hear new deepness or detail which was not there before. I'd say there's improvement.

Still I hear those problematic qualities which few years ago made me go back to sampled solution. To me it's this upper bass register and f-ff dynamics which sound most unnatural to my ears. You may call it lack of woodiness or whatever. Good or bad but it sounds like pianoteq. Some like it, others not. To me PTQ is best for  cinematic or bigger space pianosound. If you wanna sound like Chick Corea or Kenny Barron, PTQ isn't the best option IMO.

P.S. Still my favorite PTQ instrument is vibraphone. Don't take this as a joke or anything like that, I was a vibraphone player when I was young...

after a few hours of music I can say .. wow ... all models sound very good but the Bluethner is my favorite ......

Regards . Paolo

Hi all,

Following the very positive changes made in version 5; I have no choice but to return to Pianoteq...

I preferred bluthner in ptq4.5 somehow, the bigger problem of ptq modelling being for me the attack sound (when mallets hit the strings). I have a stage version, don't know if it depends on this.

I feel like in every piano sound, ptq 4.5 (and more v5 mabye?!?) generates a "pizzicato" sound instead of a "hammer hitting a chord" sound.
I close my eyes and feel like there's some kind of modern or electrical cembalo playing, or a classical guitar with nylon strings and a guitarist nail playing them somehow.

Jazz improvising playing single swinging notes (which is the thing that I do) clearly shows this limit that my ears can't bear.
I agree with Ecaroh, here above, that ptq in general is good for classical or spatial music, mabye also for chords accompaining, even on jazz playing.
Armonization is undoubtable better than in any sampled instrument.

I'm in love with modelling theory, but that's not enought for me once again.

And I hear good demos here and there and sometime wonder if I'm missing something, mabye a good sound card (I'm playing with a integrated windows8 card and asio for all driver) or if that's for the good spatial qualities vs jazz swing limits not showing in those demos...

?

Congrats with the PTQ v5 release!

My first impressions: K1 was already very good, and K2 is even better. Sounds both warm and clear, with good dynamics and playability. But it still does not convince me when doing the most difficult and simple test I know: When I just hit one central C, mezzoforte, no pedal, no reverb ... It still does not give me the "real" experience. But none of the virtual/modelled/sampled pianos I have tried have succesfully passed that test :-)

I find the new Kremsegg collections very interesting. The Modartt people must have been working very hard all these months. I need more time to try all the new stuff. I am afraid I will not be able to resist buying them.