Topic by Brogroove

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  • Brogroove
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Topic: Using Pianoteq live small club setting with sub optimal speakers.

I’ve got a question for those of you using Pianoteq 8 as your main sound source on a live gig in a restaurant/bar non-dance band situation. I’ve got a regular twice a week gig with house gear provided. I’m controlling Pianoteq on my iPad Pro on a Yamaha p255 running into a Scarlett 2i2 into a Yamaha mixer into a single (kind of beat up) JVC monitor. I can’t  get the piano to sound right to my ears yet. I’m hosting Pianoteq in AUM and I’m using tone booster EQ plug in and barricade. I have brought up the frequencies that were not cutting through but the whole thing still sounds somewhat unnatural to me. I’m using the Steinway sample. When I’m on a  gig where I bring my own keys I use my Nord Stage 88 with the Yamaha C7 sample (Lrg size). I still find for my ears the Nord cuts through better and I tend to use it over Pianoteq in a band situation when I have the option to use either.. Is there another Pianoteq piano sample that would work better in these situations? maybe it’s the white rock piano?  I love how the Steinway sounds when I’m in front of my studio monitors with the volume up and I’m playing solo. But on a gig situation with other band members and audience noise, room acoustics, etc. I’m still partial to my Nord.
Also I’m not a fan of the Rhodes yet. I think that VTines is better overall though it’s not a full 88 and the F and F# three octaves above middle C really seems to drop out at a soft volume. It’s overall more realistic than the Pianoteq version. I’m kind of disappointed in the Rhodes sounds if I”m to be honest . Maybe I’m using it the wrong way and would love some suggestions to improve it. I’m looking for that 70’s funky jazz blues clean tone with a touch of grit. I use the Sparkletop sample on my Nord. I tink that nails it. It’s the one that works for me in a band situation. Same thing with the Yamaha sample. Any advice, tips, thoughts or settings to check out would be most welcome. Again please keep this to those playing it “live” with a band.. I know it can sound great on its own and in recordings.

Reply by dikrek

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Re: Using Pianoteq live small club setting with sub optimal speakers.

Brogroove wrote:

I’ve got a question for those of you using Pianoteq 8 as your main sound source on a live gig in a restaurant/bar non-dance band situation. I’ve got a regular twice a week gig with house gear provided. I’m controlling Pianoteq on my iPad Pro on a Yamaha p255 running into a Scarlett 2i2 into a Yamaha mixer into a single (kind of beat up) JVC monitor. I can’t  get the piano to sound right to my ears yet. I’m hosting Pianoteq in AUM and I’m using tone booster EQ plug in and barricade. I have brought up the frequencies that were not cutting through but the whole thing still sounds somewhat unnatural to me. I’m using the Steinway sample. When I’m on a  gig where I bring my own keys I use my Nord Stage 88 with the Yamaha C7 sample (Lrg size). I still find for my ears the Nord cuts through better and I tend to use it over Pianoteq in a band situation when I have the option to use either.. Is there another Pianoteq piano sample that would work better in these situations? maybe it’s the white rock piano?  I love how the Steinway sounds when I’m in front of my studio monitors with the volume up and I’m playing solo. But on a gig situation with other band members and audience noise, room acoustics, etc. I’m still partial to my Nord.
Also I’m not a fan of the Rhodes yet. I think that VTines is better overall though it’s not a full 88 and the F and F# three octaves above middle C really seems to drop out at a soft volume. It’s overall more realistic than the Pianoteq version. I’m kind of disappointed in the Rhodes sounds if I”m to be honest . Maybe I’m using it the wrong way and would love some suggestions to improve it. I’m looking for that 70’s funky jazz blues clean tone with a touch of grit. I use the Sparkletop sample on my Nord. I tink that nails it. It’s the one that works for me in a band situation. Same thing with the Yamaha sample. Any advice, tips, thoughts or settings to check out would be most welcome. Again please keep this to those playing it “live” with a band.. I know it can sound great on its own and in recordings.

Some models sound radically different on various playback devices. My advice is to try all of them (multiple presets from each) on that setup. It won't take that long since they switch instantaneously.

Reply by Luc Henrion

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Re: Using Pianoteq live small club setting with sub optimal speakers.

+1

And for the Rhodes, try some (pseudo) re-amping, It completely changed the game for me: I used a free guitar plug-in (yes, for guitar !) called Voxengo Boogex. I admit, I spent a lot (no, really a lot!) on it, but the result was worth it.
And as it is free...https://www.voxengo.com/product/boogex/

Luc Henrion's Website

Reply by Brogroove

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Re: Using Pianoteq live small club setting with sub optimal speakers.

Luc Henrion wrote:

+1

And for the Rhodes, try some (pseudo) re-amping, It completely changed the game for me: I used a free guitar plug-in (yes, for guitar !) called Voxengo Boogex. I admit, I spent a lot (no, really a lot!) on it, but the result was worth it.
And as it is free...https://www.voxengo.com/product/boogex/

Thank you for sharing that. I will check it out. I wish they had an iOS version

I have yonac ToneStack pro. It looks cool, but it seems to be a tone suck really. I haven’t had a chance to really experiment with it to be fair. I haven’t used all the combinations. But when I kick on the phaser pedal a lot of tone  goes away. I might need to get the moog one.

Reply by TimN

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Re: Using Pianoteq live small club setting with sub optimal speakers.

One possible factor in various (small club) settings is the location of the speaker relative to your ears.  Is there a monitor system that you hear clearly, or just the same house system that projects to the audience?  If your piano sound is coming from a speaker too close to you or reflecting from various directions back to you, it may sound odd to you even though it sounds fine farther out in the room. I've encountered this, and my solution has been to mix in some pure piano (Pianoteq) sound into in-ear monitors, so I hear a satisfying piano as I play.

Reply by Brogroove

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Re: Using Pianoteq live small club setting with sub optimal speakers.

Luc Henrion wrote:

+1

And for the Rhodes, try some (pseudo) re-amping, It completely changed the game for me: I used a free guitar plug-in (yes, for guitar !) called Voxengo Boogex. I admit, I spent a lot (no, really a lot!) on it, but the result was worth it.
And as it is free...https://www.voxengo.com/product/boogex/

Hey thanks for the tip! I actually used a fender amp and cabinet simulator in Tonestack this week and it helped VTines sound even better.

Reply by Brogroove

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Re: Using Pianoteq live small club setting with sub optimal speakers.

TimN wrote:

One possible factor in various (small club) settings is the location of the speaker relative to your ears.  Is there a monitor system that you hear clearly, or just the same house system that projects to the audience?  If your piano sound is coming from a speaker too close to you or reflecting from various directions back to you, it may sound odd to you even though it sounds fine farther out in the room. I've encountered this, and my solution has been to mix in some pure piano (Pianoteq) sound into in-ear monitors, so I hear a satisfying piano as I play.


I've also thought that might be the way to go by getting IEMs. I don't have any yet. The club has a JVC monitor that is on the floor on my right side. It's not ideal for sure. And there is a hard wall behind us which probably affects the sound as well. IEM's are on my wish list.