Topic by EdwardianPiano

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Topic: Newbie here, hello

Hello, I hope you don't mind me joining as I haven't a digital piano yet. To introduce myself- my early 1900s upright piano can sadly no longer be tuned, so I am going to be saving up for a digital piano ( for space and financial reasons)- when I can; at the moment I am between jobs.

I love the sound of fortepianos (and historical temperaments) and I am hugely impressed with the sound of the pianoteq Kremsegg collection. I am listening to the Streicher (Schubert) as I type this.I can honestly say that if I had not known this was pianoteq I would have thought someone was playing a live Striecher. It sounds fantastic!

I apologise for my lack of technical knowledge- this is all new to me!

I have a laptop and a netbook- both running on Linux- and I am glad to see pianoteq works with Linux. I am on a Linux users forum, so I expect they can help me with any technical things I am not sure of.

What I'd like to ask is- will pianoteq work on any digital piano?

I am a beginner on piano, and not well off so I would be getting a second hand digital piano, or perhaps a Chase one as they are around the £300 mark.

Good to meet you all.

Last edited by EdwardianPiano (31-10-2014 03:28)

Reply by Beto-Music

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Re: Newbie here, hello

If the keyboard have MIDI connection, yes pianoteq will work.
How good will work also depends of the quaity of your laptop, and the quality of the sensors you keyboard use to transmit MIDI signals.

Reply by EdwardianPiano

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Re: Newbie here, hello

Beto-Music wrote:

If the keyboard have MIDI connection, yes pianoteq will work.
How good will work also depends of the quaity of your laptop, and the quality of the sensors you keyboard use to transmit MIDI signals.

Thanks for the reply!

I would be using my Dell netbook as the laptop is on older windows one that I put Linux onto ( which I use downstairs for you tube and typing etc, the Dell I use for travel, watching you tube under the duvet etc, it also has no disc drive, so the laptop I watch DVDs on).

I've got pretty much everything on both computers- Audacity, VLC, sound recorder etc.

Dell runs on Mint and laptop on Peppermint.

Last edited by EdwardianPiano (31-10-2014 04:43)

Reply by varpa

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Re: Newbie here, hello

Of course you can download the Pianoteq demo and try it on your computers.   Even with no keyboard connected you can play midi files.   Also, I recommend using an audio-oriented Linux distro with Pianoteq such as AVLinux or kxstudio.  For a more info on this and other linux audio issues see:
http://www.libremusicproduction.com/

Last edited by varpa (31-10-2014 17:54)

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Reply by EdwardianPiano

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Re: Newbie here, hello

varpa wrote:

Of course you can download the Pianoteq demo and try it on your computers.   Even with no keyboard connected you can play midi files.   Also, I recommend using an audio-oriented Linux distro with Pianoteq such as AVLinux or kxstudio.  For a more info on this and other linux audio issues see:
http://www.libremusicproduction.com/

Thanks. I just realised it is the local LUG meeting this Wednesday, so I will go along and take my netbook and ask them some questions. Those guys are expert Linux users!

Reply by EdwardianPiano

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Re: Newbie here, hello

Well I didn't go to LUG after all as I forgot it was Guy Fawkes Night and I never go out on that night!

I got a Casio Privia PX100 now! My friend kindly got it me from ebay and I will pay her back when I have a paid job again. It is in excellent condition.

I had a look at the Linux distros, I would prefer to keep my netbook on Mint as I love Mint.

I need to get a midi- usb cable then I will try out the free pianoteq version and see how it works.

Reply by mfiadeiro

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Re: Newbie here, hello

Hello EdwardianPiano and welcome to the forum!

As others colleagues have posted, you can download a demo of Pianoteq and try on both the laptop and notebook and judge for yourself which one is better. For testing purposes, you can load  some good quality piano midi files and listen with the various instruments that are available.

Pianoteq will work with any keyboard that supports midi connections, the recent ones only need an available USB port! Please note that this is a critical piece of the puzzle: the action of the keyboard is very, VERY important... try to get at least, one with graded weighted keys. The better the keyboard the better you'll sound... and Pianoteq really takes advantage of it.

There are other solutions, of course, like sampled pianos  or other lightweight piano VSTs but I honestly think that Pianoteq is the best one; its the closest thing that you can get to a physical piano!
Plus the user interface and license model are unmatched, "period"!

Feel free to post if you need more help.

Best regards!

Last edited by mfiadeiro (11-11-2014 15:37)

Reply by EdwardianPiano

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Re: Newbie here, hello

Thanks mfiadeiro. Yes, my Casio Privia has a midi conection and I have ordered a midi- usb connector from Amazon, then I can try out the demo. The keys on my Privia are indeed graded weighted keys. I haven't really played it yet as I have to get rid on an old bureau in my bedroom to make room for it, and I have had a busy week last week and not been too well either. My friend and I will be taking the bureau apart and seting the Privia up on Sunday afternoon. It is leaning against the wall ( had to unscrew it off its stand to bring it home) by my old acoustic piano "Old Cecil" right now (poor Cecil is no longer tuneable).