In Pianoteq 6, 7, and 8 (standard version), there was always something off in the stereo space and the tone that I could never quite fix, so I kept going back to Pianoteq 5.

But this time... I've finally found the equivalent with the NY Steinway D Sombre preset, which also allows me to fully appreciate the progress made since Pianoteq 5 (especially in the treble range). I really hope this preset will remain available in future versions.

By the way, I totally agree with the comments above: the thunder pedal really is an absolutely brilliant idea. I wonder how we ever managed without such a tool until now!

Just some little things...

I can't see or assign "mic position xyz" with "right button"

I would like the velocity offset red line to stay visible, little dash disappears behind letters... Is it possible ?

In preset manager I like to filter with key words. All instruments have "warm" "sombre" "binaural" "player" presets.
Why not preselection of these words, avoiding having to type them on Azerty keyboard...
Or better, why not a possibility of several personnal "favorites" (without to have to copy presets)
For it would be "binaural favorites" "warm favorites" and "sombre favorites" for example.

Every time I open Pianoteq, I return to the compact interface even if I had left it in an other configuration. Is it possible to memorize?
Thank you...

imyself wrote:

This latest version (9) of Pianoteq is, in my humble opinion, almost perfect, and feels like the most accomplished version yet.

Finally, it's here! When I play on my VPC1, I have the complete sensation and feel the same emotions as if I were sitting in front of a magnificent concert grand piano.

I agree. With previous versions of Pianoteq I would get some "ear fatigue" if I played for hours, as though there were something that was not quite achieving an ideal imagined real acoustic piano sound (it didn't sound quite like what I remembered, was accustomed to and expected from a real physical piano). But with Pianoteq version 9 I haven't felt any of that: it seems extremely lifelike in its expression and nuances, like playing a real physical piano. It's very gratifying.

THANKS AGAIN, Modartt team!

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(Traduit en français par Google)
Je suis d'accord. Avec les versions précédentes de Pianoteq, je ressentais une certaine fatigue auditive si je jouais pendant des heures, comme si quelque chose n'atteignait pas le son idéal d'un piano acoustique réel (le son ne correspondait pas tout à fait à mes souvenirs, à ce à quoi j'étais habitué et à ce que j'attendais d'un vrai piano). Mais avec la version 9 de Pianoteq, je n'ai rien ressenti de tel : le son est extrêmement réaliste dans son expression et ses nuances, comme si je jouais sur un vrai piano. C'est très gratifiant.

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I agree! It's as if in the last one and a half versions (before 9) there was something that was causing auditory fatigue. A certain tension in the inner ear developed during and after playing. Now (version 9), this effect has either significantly diminished or disappeared completely. More testing is needed. Overall, there have been very positive changes. Let's keep playing.

This latest version (9) of Pianoteq is, in my humble opinion, almost perfect, and feels like the most accomplished version yet.

Finally, it's here! When I play on my VPC1, I have the complete sensation and feel the same emotions as if I were sitting in front of a magnificent concert grand piano.

I agree. With previous versions of Pianoteq I would get some "ear fatigue" if I played for hours, as though there were something that was not quite achieving an ideal imagined real acoustic piano sound (it didn't sound quite like what I remembered, was accustomed to and expected from a real physical piano). But with Pianoteq version 9 I haven't felt any of that: it seems extremely lifelike in its expression and nuances, like playing a real physical piano. It's very gratifying.

THANKS AGAIN, Modartt team!

--- --- --- --- ---

(Traduit en français par Google)
Je suis d'accord. Avec les versions précédentes de Pianoteq, je ressentais une certaine fatigue auditive si je jouais pendant des heures, comme si quelque chose n'atteignait pas le son idéal d'un piano acoustique réel (le son ne correspondait pas tout à fait à mes souvenirs, à ce à quoi j'étais habitué et à ce que j'attendais d'un vrai piano). Mais avec la version 9 de Pianoteq, je n'ai rien ressenti de tel : le son est extrêmement réaliste dans son expression et ses nuances, comme si je jouais sur un vrai piano. C'est très gratifiant.

---

Cette dernière version (9) de Pianoteq est, à mon humble avis, quasiment parfaite, et ressentie comme la plus aboutie.

Enfin, ça y est..! Lorsque je joue sur mon VPC1 j'ai l’entière sensation et ressens les mêmes émotions que d’être devant un magnifique piano de concert.

(NY Steinway D Classique / vélocité légèrement retouché)

Merci à Modart pour ce soft unique en son genre.

NB: je savais que tôt ou tard ce jour arriverait ...

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Hello everyone,

This latest version (9) of Pianoteq is, in my humble opinion, almost perfect, and feels like the most accomplished version yet.

Finally, it's here! When I play on my VPC1, I have the complete sensation and feel the same emotions as if I were sitting in front of a magnificent concert grand piano.

(NY Steinway D Classic / velocity slightly adjusted)

Thank you to Modart for this unique software.

NB: I knew that sooner or later this day would come...

Jazz+ wrote:

I just upgraded for free from Pianoteq Stage 8 (purchased in June 2025) to Stage 9, but it doesn’t appear to include a .dll (VST plugin) file. I did not opt for a VST3 installation. When I search my system for *.dll, the only one I find is for Pianoteq 8.

The documentation for Pianoteq 9 Stage lists support for VST3, AU, and AAX formats, but it does not explicitly mention that it includes a VST2 (.dll) plugin.

Could you please confirm whether Stage 9 installs a VST2 (.dll) plugin, or if that format is no longer included?

AFAIK, the support for VST2 has been removed. It is mentioned in the change log.

I’m wondering why they stopped providing a .dll. I use Sibelius with Pianoteq, which requires a .dll, so I hope they might make one available again. Is that possible?

I just upgraded for free from Pianoteq Stage 8 (purchased in June 2025) to Stage 9, but it doesn’t appear to include a .dll (VST plugin) file. I did not opt for a VST3 installation. When I search my system for *.dll, the only one I find is for Pianoteq 8.

The documentation for Pianoteq 9 Stage lists support for VST3, AU, and AAX formats, but it does not explicitly mention that it includes a VST2 (.dll) plugin.

Could you please confirm whether Stage 9 installs a VST2 (.dll) plugin, or if that format is no longer included?

AFAIK, the support for VST2 has been removed. It is mentioned in the change log.

The documentation for Pianoteq 9 Stage lists support for VST3, AU, and AAX formats, but it does not explicitly mention that it includes a VST2 (.dll) plugin.

Could you please confirm whether Stage 9 installs a VST2 (.dll) plugin, or if that format is no longer included?

I noticed that you can now stretch the interface window freely, well done...

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Philippe Guillaume wrote:

YvesTh wrote:

As I understand it, the ‘thunder’ tool does not change the sounds in the ppp to fff range

It does, progressively from ppp (tiny difference between thunder on/off) up to fff. At mf the difference between thunder on/off is noticeable, and goes increasing with the velocity. In other words, the timbre expansion is made smooth across the whole velocity range.

Ok for the timbre and what about volume ? Is it the same for example for a f with and without thunder ( knowing that f Is obtain with velocity 100 in one case and 80 in the other) ? Thanks for your implication...

Sorry, I should have written "the volume and timbre expansion".

YvesTh wrote:

As I understand it, the ‘thunder’ tool does not change the sounds in the ppp to fff range

It does, progressively from ppp (tiny difference between thunder on/off) up to fff. At mf the difference between thunder on/off is noticeable, and goes increasing with the velocity. In other words, the timbre expansion is made smooth across the whole velocity range.

Ok for the timbre and what about volume ? Is it the same for example for a f with and without thunder ( knowing that f Is obtain with velocity 100 in one case and 80 in the other) ? Thanks for your implication...

As I understand it, the ‘thunder’ tool does not change the sounds in the ppp to fff range

It does, progressively from ppp (tiny difference between thunder on/off) up to fff. At mf the difference between thunder on/off is noticeable, and goes increasing with the velocity. In other words, the timbre expansion is made smooth across the whole velocity range.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

I tried and it's good fore me. i associated thunder pedal and velocy offset (0 to -0.16) to the same midi left pedal. So all the medium velocity playing Is the same but with more dynamics on high velocity when I use pedal.

Philippe Guillaume wrote:

YvesTh wrote:

Is there a fundamental difference between using the thunder pedal or setting the instrument's dynamics to maximum and adjust vélocité curve and volume?

Yes there is a significant difference, and it will be difficult to reproduce it unless you seriously go through the voicing process (hammer hardness, spectrum, etc.)

Would it be accurate/reasonable to think of the Thunder pedal as increasing the maximum hammer velocity that is generated at velocity 127?

I think this is indeed good way of seeing it. Alternatively you can see it as increasing the maximum velocity, with all depending parameters (including hammer hardness) following the move.

YvesTh wrote:

Philippe Guillaume wrote:

Yes, it adds more dynamics. So yes you still can play ppp with this pedal on.

Is there a fundamental difference between using the thunder pedal or setting the instrument's dynamics to maximum and adjust vélocité curve and volume?

Yes there is a significant difference, and it will be difficult to reproduce it unless you seriously go through the voicing process (hammer hardness, spectrum, etc.)

Would it be accurate/reasonable to think of the Thunder pedal as increasing the maximum hammer velocity that is generated at velocity 127?