IMHO,  there is nothing subjective about the fact that the presets in PTQ 4  . .  can be altered to sound like a "4 ton"  grand piano if desired.  It is a pleasure to just play around with the individual note volume,  dynamics and then select an EQ set up.  You want it fat(?) . . . try the "FAT BASS" in the Equalizer section.

Kudos to the Pianoteq team !

Lanny Davis

With more parameters on interface the piano models can became complex enough to require a personal piano adjuster.  Someone skilled to turn the piano sound the closest possible to the client's taste.

Seriously...  imagine if was possible to needle pianoteq key by key.
It could also be used to train real piano technicians.

This supersedes my own poor attempt of an fxp by far.

Thanks for posting

I have uploaded in the fxp corner an fxp especially dedicated to this prelude, treating the recording point of view. The audio file was rendered using the excellent MIDI file provided by CyberGene. The starting point was D4 Classical BA. I didn’t do big changes, only small ones with the intention to give more live to the melody. Of course all this is a matter of taste, and this choice only reflects my own taste. Here are the changes (most edits are note per note):
- reduced the hammer hardness at piano level (global edit), benefits mostly to the chords, making them a bit softer
- increased the volume and the unison width in the C4 range (where the melody sits)
- increased the impedance by 10% in the C4 range to make the notes just a bit longer
- reduced the direct sound duration by about 25% in the same range (25% is maybe a bit too much), with the same purpose: augmenting the singing quality around C4.
Besides, to gain a bit intimacy, I have added some delay effect and augmented the stereo width. I hope you enjoy!

Thank you !

Well, basicly im doing the same as you, using the programs ready to go preset called D4 classical BA, but ive edited the microphone positions.

Im using 4 microphones, two inside the piano in typical AB stereo but with the vol level turned down to -12. Other two microphones are with normal 0db vol lev and are placed about half meter away from the piano on each side at about chest hight.

Also in the microphone section, under "compensation" Ive set both "level" and "delay" to OFF.

Adding to that, Ive panned all 4 microphone maximum, setting the 2 left microphones vol only on left side and vice versa for right side microphones.

Then the piano lid: Ive always hated at concerts when the staff turns the grand completly open, I dont like the brightness of sound. I prefer a grand closed or semiclosed. In this setting the lid is set at its lowest open position, in centimeters - I dunno, maybe about 30 ?

Finally, Ive turned the program limiter OFF.

Im impressed that you noticed that Im using a well-tempered tuning. I prefer it myself to a completly equal. Besides my roland fp5 which I use for pianoteq I keep an old brittish upright in my home which I tune and maintain myself and I always tune it well-tempered rather then equal. Guess it all comes down to personal flavour.

Ive used several sample libraries in the past but I was never satisfied, was both sceptical of sound and playing-feel of the ones Ive tried.

Stumbled upon Pianotec at version 3. Was first very critical, then amazed.

Sorry for my poor english abilities!

I have two basic presets for the D4 that Im working on now, one is for playing baroque music, and the other one (heard in the example posted) is intended for romantic and modern classical music.

I like the sound.   Can I assume it will be in the FXP corner when you have it developed to where you want it ?

First of all thanks for your interesting post. I downloaded both your mp3s and also the midi file and made some comparisions.

I acctually ended up testing your midi file with my own settings that Im currently working on for the Pianotec D4.

I uploaded the results here:

http://www.forum-pianoteq.com/uploads.p...ce_k1d.mp3

I guess it all about personal flavour and taste, but this Is how I usually want to hear music from the romantic era: less bright and with more warmth and darkness.

I have two basic presets for the D4 that Im working on now, one is for playing baroque music, and the other one (heard in the example posted) is intended for romantic and modern classical music.

I did'nt knew that both mp3 recordings had the complete performance.  That's  why I said it's wasn't right such comparisom, cause I  had suposed the short time for pianoteq was intentional.

May I ask you to put the FXP you used ?

I've attempted to create an fxp that produces a sound closer to your galaxy d file.

D4 Classical BA Galaxy D.fxp

Chopin - Prelude - Pianoteq 4 - new fxp.mp3

That's not bad at all, thanks.

P.S. Well, sorry, I have to correct myself. I have just got my Sennheiser HD595-s and listened again to your recording and I can hear way too much metallic overtones... I prefer the default Pianoteq 4 sound which I have posted above. I am not sure what's wrong with your preset exactly but it sounds more like Pianoteq 3 to me

Not sure if this is right... The pianoteq mp3 was too short...

I suppose your download failed. Or maybe a web server problem...

I am not sure that I specifically looked to imply I was trying to find only the weak points in Pianoteq. What I said is that it was fairly common perception among users that Pianoteq sounded metallic, that's why I checked whether this has changed. Pianoteq is indeed quite playable piano. However I feel equally comfortable playing both Pianoteq and Vintage D, that's why I also compare the sound. Both playability and sound are subjective and a matter of taste. However, the playability can be experienced only when one plays the instrument himself whereas the sound can be checked by downloading audio files. That's what I did here.

That's a little bit over the edge. The fact that a modeled piano is a closer approximation to a real piano in terms of physical phenomena recreation, doesn't necessarily mean that we have to love it without any objections. I am personally a big believer in the modeled piano technology and I have been following the progress of Pianoteq since the very beginning. I've tried numerous fxp-s with the Pianoteq 3 trial, however none of them could get close in sound quality to my current reference points: Ivory Steinway and Vintage D. It's something inherent in the low-level sound synthesis that I don't like. No high-level manipulations to the sound, such as hammer hardness, string length, etc. would change that. I am afraid that I can hear the same shortcomings in Pianoteq 4 as well, however I must admit there's a definite improvement. To me personally Pianoteq gets closer to sampled libraries than ever.

D4 Classical BA Galaxy D.fxp

Chopin - Prelude - Pianoteq 4 - new fxp.mp3