Topic by Olivier W

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  • Olivier W
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Topic: Stereo Input Issue for Sympathetic Resonance in Pianoteq 9.0.2 (macOS,

Hello,

I’m using Pianoteq 9.0.2 on macOS, with Gig Performer or Reaper (VST3 format).
When I select Stereo Router to send an input signal into the Sympathetic Resonance section, only the left input channel is working — the right input does not respond.
The same behavior occurs in the AU version, where the input signal is treated as mono.

However, both Gig Performer Pro and Reaper correctly allow me to enable stereo input for the Pianoteq VST3 plugin — but only the left channel is actually received, nothing comes through on Input 2 (right).

It’s easy to reproduce in Gig Performer: simply connect any virtual instrument (output 1/2 or mono) to Input 2 of the Pianoteq VST3 plugin — you’ll see that no sound passes through Pianoteq.

Another point: in the Pianoteq interface (both VST3 and AU), under the Microphones menu, the Line Out and Line Out 2 options are always greyed out, with no explanation in the Pianoteq 9 manual.
It would be very useful to be able to route an external audio signal directly into Pianoteq without going through the microphones, to feed the sympathetic resonance section.

Thank you in advance for your help or any clarification on this behavior.
support ticket number is #023026

Best regards,
Olivier

Reply by julien

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Re: Stereo Input Issue for Sympathetic Resonance in Pianoteq 9.0.2 (macOS,

Hi Olivier,

The audio input in mono only, so if you send a stereo signal it will use only the first channel. I'll see if we can prevent hosts from showing a stereo input available, but maybe it is too late to change that now that Pianoteq 9 is released.

Regarding Line Out "mics" these are only available on some instruments, such as electric pianos / clavinet etc.

julien's Website

Reply by Olivier W

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Re: Stereo Input Issue for Sympathetic Resonance in Pianoteq 9.0.2 (macOS,

julien wrote:

Hi Olivier,

The audio input in mono only, so if you send a stereo signal it will use only the first channel. I'll see if we can prevent hosts from showing a stereo input available, but maybe it is too late to change that now that Pianoteq 9 is released.

Regarding Line Out "mics" these are only available on some instruments, such as electric pianos / clavinet etc.

Thanks Julien — understood!

Actually, in the specific case of sidechain use (VST3 or AU), it would be very useful to have true stereo inputs and even dedicated stereo outputs just for the sympathetic resonance engine, without going through the regular mic or line outputs.

In Gig Performer, for instance, I currently need to load two Pianoteq instances (L/R) and use a phase inversion trick to keep only the sympathetic resonance and attenuate the main piano tone — even when “wet” is set to maximum.

Having a proper stereo input (or a dedicated “Resonance Send/Return” bus) would allow us to process that effect in parallel, just like a reverb or convolution return, which is ideal for hybrid setups (MODELED + SAMPLED pianos).

That would open up a lot of creative routing possibilities for advanced users and live hosts.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/0i2wton7...t&dl=0


https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yh51g042...8&dl=0


Regards,

Olivier F.

Last edited by Olivier W (24-10-2025 17:44)

Reply by brundlefly

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Re: Stereo Input Issue for Sympathetic Resonance in Pianoteq 9.0.2 (macOS,

Olivier W wrote:

In Gig Performer, for instance, I currently need to load two Pianoteq instances (L/R) and use a phase inversion trick to keep only the sympathetic resonance and attenuate the main piano tone — even when “wet” is set to maximum.

Having a proper stereo input (or a dedicated “Resonance Send/Return” bus) would allow us to process that effect in parallel, just like a reverb or convolution return, which is ideal for hybrid setups (MODELED + SAMPLED pianos).

Good catch that only the left channel or the source is used for resonance generation. That wasn't immediately obvious in Sonar but I was able to verify it by panning the send to FX track hard right.

But I am not encountering the issue you describe that Pianoteq is passing dry signal along with the resonance output.

Pianoteq does not present side-chain inputs in a conventional way that would allow me to put it on a bus and send to those inputs so I have it instantiated as insert FX in an Aux track to which I send the source signal. If I record the output of that track, the waveform bears no resemblance to the input and has much lower level with a slow attack and the muted tones that you would expect. And it's not necessary or possible to null anything out by blenidn in a phase-inverted copy of the source signal. Also, if I send it extended MIDI notes to continue holding the dampers up, the resonance continues ringing long after the sound from the source signal has stopped, also as you would expect.

Bottom line: If you aren't getting a 100% wet resonance output from Pianoteq, I think your setup is faulty.