Do you know what U4 custom settings were used for "Brushed Up"?

The customization was probably very minor. I have a feeling you won't have trouble getting a U4 piano sound that is similar to that. I would start with U4 Tall, as that seems pretty close to my ears.

Piet is simply amazing

Just piping in a note to say I wholeheartedly share a fond appreciation of Piet. Like the Modartt folks, he's an all-too-humble yet supra-talented person IMO.

It actually does help a lot knowing that Piet designed these presets! It will help me narrow down my experimentation.

The other day I had some entertaining music running through my mind and I just had no idea what it was. It was really catchy and had this walking bass line... turns out it was none other than the Pianoteq Blues Demo. Really magical stuff, bravo Piet!

My question is, what kind of magic goes into recording a piece like "Brushed Up"? It says the U4 is customized, but how? How are all those other instruments generated... are those real players? What other effects and such are involved here?

How is that magical cafe ambience done for Bierkeller?

U4 is some great stuff... and Piet is simply amazing.

Piet is indeed a sound magician, not to mention a great composer. I don't know how he made the "Brushed Up" demo, but he designed some of the U4 presets that are present in Pianoteq: Bierkeller, America and Weathered. So if you use the Bierkeller preset, you should get the same sound as in his demo, except for the mastering stage (reverb, mix, compression...) where he is also a real master. Not sure it will help you much, but just in case...
BTW, welcome to the forum!

Just buy that Studio pack, it's on sale

Really? Unfortunately, your answer doesn't really help me.

Do you know what U4 custom settings were used for "Brushed Up"?

I'm assuming all the other effects and instruments in the Piet de Ridder pieces would be impossible for me, even with the Studio pack.

My question is, what kind of magic goes into recording a piece like "Brushed Up"? It says the U4 is customized, but how? How are all those other instruments generated... are those real players? What other effects and such are involved here?

How is that magical cafe ambience done for Bierkeller?

U4 is some great stuff... and Piet is simply amazing.