Topic: Can anyone help improve this fxp?

Hi,

I'm so nearly there with the Bechstein; Pianoteq is so much more playable than e.g. Garritan CFX (touch / pedal response for instance), particularly for the classics I like to play. However, whilst 80% of the keyboard is great, I just cannot live with the tinkly / thin high treble. It just doesn't work in the middle of a heavy Chopin piece!

Can anyone do anything with this to improve the high treble to make it sound more realistic without affecting the tonality of the rest of the keyboard?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pw3a2c20stih5...1.fxp?dl=0

Thanks.

Re: Can anyone help improve this fxp?

Hi Chris,

interpreting your message (and going after some things I like to hear in those high notes/Chopin), here's a quick edit for you. I didn't make any alterations which will fail to work with Stage, so no matter which version of Pianoteq you have, this should work.

With more time and detail (like which notes exactly etc.) there could be much more possible but I run low on time too.  If you have Standard or Pro, then any detailed 'note-edit' changes will work for you.



Audio:

From e-piano competition MIDI - an enjoyable performance by Edward Zhang (I think 2017) Chopin Berceuse Op. 57 D flat maj.



After Edit


Before Edit


.

FXP file:


C. Bechstein DG Sweet 1 EDIT



Changes made in the FXP preset file..


Lowered dynamic from 65 to 52 (you might like 65 though - but this dynamic change goes with the compressor setting - and to my ears, too high and dynamic does make esp. softer notes too far away, adding to a sense of esp. fragile high notes seeming too weak. But like the other changes, repeal what you don't like - they are just one attack session and they may not all be helpful to the issue you hear there).

Added compressor (lower the "Mix" slider or switch off if it's too heavy for your liking - it could probably help or hinder your repertoire on a piece by piece basis - I personally enjoy some artifice esp. with gentle pieces) - what this does is help bring some solidity to high notes by pumping a little of the cabinet noise with it - I feel this works with the following change to unison)

Widened 'Unison width' to 9 - adds some movement in the sonority to high notes. This compounds with the next..

Adjusted 'Unison balance' to +0.60 (adds a little more strength to that now more lively sonority of unison, for want of a better way to express it).. you can right-click 'Unison width' to find and alter this setting more to your liking. Try negative numbers for example like -0.60 which could be what you want to hear (a little less full but might 'sing' a touch more.)

Lifted 'Impedance' up to 1.02 (might be able to go higher still, since the duplex scale was lowered to 0.40 I feel this brings a touch more warmth and seem to allow higher notes to bring more wooded timbre to surface with them).

Set Blooming 'Energy' to 0.08

BTW I like that you use 'Blooming', with quite a high number though at 0.13 (which is fine with low duplex I feel) - but it's possible that lowering it a little could give a sliver extra cut to treble notes (my preference is generally to stick below 6)

By all means, try changes to these settings made, lowering or raising them each to see the changes.

These aren't the only things you could do. I didn't want to EQ without knowing more the issue you had with the top notes (to me with changes like these, they seem OK so EQ, and esp. note-edit might be overkill if these edits help).

Hope this gets somewhere to your goal,
cheers.

Pianoteq Studio Bundle (Pro plus all instruments)  - Kawai MP11 digital piano - Yamaha HS8 monitors

Re: Can anyone help improve this fxp?

Qexl - many thanks for your comprehensive reply. Really appreciate it.

I've clearly a lot to learn about all the interrelated settings - and I think you've definitely improved the original. Thanks again.

Re: Can anyone help improve this fxp?

You're very welcome Chris

Pianoteq Studio Bundle (Pro plus all instruments)  - Kawai MP11 digital piano - Yamaha HS8 monitors