klex wrote:

Hi, I have the same problem. I am very happy with the recordings with PianoTeq, but I am disappointed when I use it live. I have a really good speakersystem from KS, the singer sounds great, the rhodes with pianoteq sounds great, but the acoustic pianoteq instruments are underperforming.
I tried to get the same conditions as a real piano and decided to use the monophonic sound, with speaker on the ground, near me. So I hoped to get a "body" of the instrument. I used also a sound disperser from deeflexx http://www.thomann.de/at/deeflexx.html , what is really great for the rhodes sound again, but not for the acoustic sounds.
the pianosounds are loosing their lively impression and sound synthethic.
Klemens

What model and specification is the "really good speakersystem from KS"?

Ian

Hi Ian,
I use 2 KS Audio CPD8 and 1 KS Audio CPD B2

Hi, I have the same problem. I am very happy with the recordings with PianoTeq, but I am disappointed when I use it live. I have a really good speakersystem from KS, the singer sounds great, the rhodes with pianoteq sounds great, but the acoustic pianoteq instruments are underperforming.
I tried to get the same conditions as a real piano and decided to use the monophonic sound, with speaker on the ground, near me. So I hoped to get a "body" of the instrument. I used also a sound disperser from deeflexx http://www.thomann.de/at/deeflexx.html , what is really great for the rhodes sound again, but not for the acoustic sounds.
the pianosounds are loosing their lively impression and sound synthethic.
Klemens

What model and specification is the "really good speakersystem from KS"?

Ian

And then you might need your own headset to avoid hearing the speakers because the distance/delay might be throwing you off.

I also have  very bad room acoustics, and with organ playing ( Hauptwerk) I managed to insert some notch filtering (ReaEq) at certain annoying standing wave frequencies.

But with piano it is much more difficult, due to the dynamic properties of the pianotone compared to the organ tone.

You speak about a microphone and pink noise measurements, but I am afraid, although there is a mike input on the Microbook, and it also has some nice analysing tools, like phase and spectral analysis, it does not have what you have with the 896, that is, roomcompensation software onboard. Am I right??

Of course one could use ARC, but needs to buy it.  Perhas you can again explain how this is with the  896??

Yes but that's the goal: I put a measurement mic in the hall, at some distance in front of the speakers, and I play Pianoteq and/or send a pink noise, then I can hear/see if there are some corrections to be done.
Also, I think that you have an EQ on the main output (so that it will also correct Pianoteq). If it's the same setup than my 896...

Hi Luc, thanks
Could you please better explain your process signal?
For pianoteq sound do you use your Mac internal soundboard?

I use the built-in EQ of the MOTU 896 MKIII (6 full parametric EQ's) + a simple (low cost) measurement mic. The nice thing about it is that it is DSP based, so it adds no latency... and another nice thing is the superimposed FFT: no "guess work", you see immediately what should be done.
The "not so nice thing" is that the  896 has no MIDI ports... you have to connect your keyboard via another one. (most current kb's do it via USB nowadays)
AFAIK, your microbook is able to do just the same. :-)

I guess the cue mix EQ of the micro book works only when you have an audio signal

The micro book is audio and midi (USB) interface

@ Luc Henrion: what kind of equalization you do?

No choice: for live performance you need quality and power. I'm using either RCF 710A's for bigger venues (up to 500 people), or dB Technologies 410D for smaller ones (from 20 up to 100), both good quality bi-amplified systems (750 & 400 W respectively). Plus a (400W) sub or two when needed. Even so, the setup first needs to be EQ'ed in respect with the venue, this is usually done on my system via the MOTU 896 MKIII interface and its integrated RTA + EQ. It's quite a lot of work and a lot of money but it's the only way to go: power and quality. Why do you think classical pianists so often require a Steinway "D" to perform? Power and quality ! :-)

+1 to Luc's statements about power and quality.

Once every summer, my church holds an outdoor "tent" service that encloses several hundred parishioners.  In years past, we used to pipe the sound of a Yamaha Clavinova through their JBL portable six-unit mono PA system with "adequate" (meaning loud and more loud) but unremarkable sonic results.  In 2013, I schlepped my two Ohm Walsh 4 home speakers, a Bryston 4B power amplifier, and the necessary ancillary computer equipment to play Pianoteq (then Version 4.5) live at the event.

Well, Sir, there was no comparison between the holographic presence of a Pianoteq Blüthner played through a good stereo sound system, and the Clavinova piped through the six-channel-mono PA system.  Pianoteq blew the doors off the Clavinova in terms of detail, dynamic range, and overall palpable evidence of a real instrument in the outdoor tent environment.  In 2014, I chose not to repeat this chore because the equipment was too heavy (and uninsured outside of my home) to move by one person.  My MacPro computer, alone, weighs 40 pounds and I have zero desire to hand the audio output from my Apogee Duet to a church "sound man" in future tent events.

Power and quality:  Well stated, Messr. Henrion

Cheers,

Joe