I just wanted to be able to do two tweaks.  To my ears, the highest notes in all the presets I've tried ring out a little too long.  I wanted to shorten just the highest notes with the impedance scaling.  Second, I wanted to detune the double strings a little randomly.  I believe some of the presets in the standard

I agree with you the higher notes ring a little too long , so if i upgrade to Standard ill have the option to shorten the notes is that correct ?

1. When using Stage I was always confused regarding microphones location. I was constantly afraid that I am somehow ruining the experience by selecting "Binaural" when default for that particular instrument was "Stereophonic". Since I didn't hear that 3D sound very well I was simply confused as to what is happening. All confusion is gone with Standard - I can just click on "microphone" button and just learn what is happening.

So... I believe that Stage should also get "microphone" button, but simply *without* the ability to move mics around. Even if I was the only confused person in the world about that I think that it would still be useful as a great demo of the feature - people would be eager to try and relocate those mics.

2. I know I said in the title that I'm not going to be a "tweaker", but I just became one What encouraged me to tweak settings were three things:
* Introduction to Pianoteq 5 video (I wish I have seen it before... somehow Pianoteq software seems very simple, so I didn't feel like I needed to check out any documentation or tutorials - I wish someone told me that I will benefit it that much!)
* I love Blanchet harpsichord. I started playing Bach pieces that I learn with it and it just made me appreciate alternative sounds.
* I was checking mics location on different instruments and I was puzzled when I found that D4 Binaural has that dummy head located on top of the piano, even beyond keybed. I thought that it should be located where the player's head is. So I just moved it to where I thought it should be and that was my first step. From there next steps are much easier. I started to tweak everything

Although I don't save my settings yet, I only experiment. It's probably silly but I am afraid that if I play with my mods it will somehow change my perception of what is a good piano sound

3. I only discovered calibration after I started with Standard. Whenever I calibrate it gives me less control, sound is too loud and less pleasant (sound is slightly different when you hit keys hard and that's what I hear all the time). I know it's not Pianoteq's fault - probably just me being beginner pianist and not having much control over my fingers (how light or hard I press the keys, what is appropriate amount of "half pedal"). Somehow as a beginner I'm getting worse experience when calibrating than without it. Or maybe it's just me being used to flat curves (after 2-3 weeks of playing with Pianoteq)...

And thank you OrganoPleno for the idea - I always wanted to try those and just didn't realize it's now possible!

But I know for fact I will not be tweaking my pianos...

So for my use case - would I gain anything by going Standard?

If you like to choose historic tunings for the historic instruments, then Standard is essential.

Coldsalmon, that was a great point - I wouldn't thought about it before!

And btw, I am now a happy owner of a Standard license - thank you everyone!

Congrats, and enjoy!

Coldsalmon, that was a great point - I wouldn't thought about it before!

And btw, I am now a happy owner of a Standard license - thank you everyone!

Please keep us posted as to your experience with the Standard license. 

Cheers,
Joe

And btw, I am now a happy owner of a Standard license - thank you everyone!

http://www.forum-pianoteq.com/viewtopic.php?id=2996

"Actually, the stereophonic output is included in Pianoteq since version 3 mainly to ensure compatibility with the previous instruments that were not equipped with the possibility to place microphones around the instrument (versions 1 and 2). It is redundant with the "Sound Recording" output mode where you can place yourself the microphones."

Why did I want the pro version over the standard?  Personally, I just wanted to be able to do two tweaks.  To my ears, the highest notes in all the presets I've tried ring out a little too long.  I wanted to shorten just the highest notes with the impedance scaling.  Second, I wanted to detune the double strings a little randomly.  I believe some of the presets in the standard version already do this, but I wanted that control.  When you add "age" to the models it sort of does this, but it also throws some notes a little out of tune and I didn't want to do that.

Aside from those two adjustments, the standard version would have really been fine.  Getting those two adjustments plus another model pack is why I immediately upgraded my new standard version to pro.

So for my use case - would I gain anything by going Standard? Would I be able to somehow tweak mics to fell the sound better (on my headphones)?

Yes, you will be able to tweak the microphones and send each mic to a separate plugin output (or your surround system!). You will also be able to change mic types as well.

Binaural mode is specifically designed for use with headphones. It's using HRTF and modeling dummy head recording method.

I would definitely suggest to go Standard. It's IMHO a lot more useful than Stage. And what do you know, perhaps you will start tweaking stuff and discover entirely new sounds!