Topic: Full U4 sound for a pop song

How do I get such a full and warm sound with the U4 as with this upright piano in the link? Is that even possible?

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/zfq...t.mp3?dl=0

Re: Full U4 sound for a pop song

Is that you? .. on my headphones it sounds very good! the voice also! ... I cannot help much I guess. But I think other pianos have a much richer sound in ptq. When I play with the U4 I always turn up the bass but It sounds just like a different piano then the one in the audiofile. I guess someone here will know much more how to morph and layer and what not=)
what piano is the one in the audio?

nice greetings

Re: Full U4 sound for a pop song

I just tried a bit with the chords and different pianos: e.g. the petrof275 immediatly came close... and that was just a few minutes of trying....

both petrofs actually and just the standard presets.. maybe more brilliance with the EQ.. or a different room

I'm pretty sure there are people here who could replicate it pretty close

Re: Full U4 sound for a pop song

No, unfortunately not. This is a demo from a recording forum. The piano is the Modern Upright from Addictive Keys.

Thank you for the tip. I'll try the Petrof, but unfortunately it lacks the charm of an upright piano.

Re: Full U4 sound for a pop song

I testet it and the petrof is good, but I would like to have the character of an Upright with a similar sound and warmth as in the link. Does anyone have a tip on how I could customize the U4? Is it possible to achieve this with a compressor or an appropriate reverb or is it more a matter of adjusting the microphone positions?

Last edited by oiseau (28-09-2021 21:08)

Re: Full U4 sound for a pop song

oiseau wrote:

I testet it and the petrof is good, but I would like to have the character of an Upright with a similar sound and warmth as in the link. Does anyone have a tip on how I could customize the U4? Is it possible to achieve this with a compressor or an appropriate reverb or is it more a matter of adjusting the microphone positions?

Hi Oiseau! By chance, have you already tried the “morphing” feature on the top right hand side corner next to “Note Edit”? For example, you can combine the best features of the upright U4 with the deeper tones of the Petrof and/or any other piano that you find appropriate. It is a powerful tool once you start playing around with the right ratio for each piano you choose. Suggest starting with 50/50 and make adjustments until you find the right balance. Adjust reverb as necessary for your purposes and you might like the results.

Please let me know how that goes for you.

Re: Full U4 sound for a pop song

maybe morphing a modern piano with an old one? I just tried a bit ... when the percentage of the U4 was more then 50% it changes to the "hardware" of the upright and ptq told me that the mics are now behind the wall (from the grand piano setting) - I like that!

there are so many possibilities: a grand that you like and maybe the donal (they have to be both at the same frequency 440 or it is mixed also I guess..

i know: grand + old is not upright... hmm

good luck

Re: Full U4 sound for a pop song

Why do you not ask for the AK preset and try to recreate those mic positions with Pianoteq? You would save a lot of time and come very close since the upright piano model is the same.

Last edited by Chopin87 (01-10-2021 19:59)
"And live to be the show and gaze o' the time."  (William Shakespeare)

Re: Full U4 sound for a pop song

Try to modify the mic positions. The u4 is kind of narrow in the patches but pulling the mic away from the center position you will get a broader sound and warmth with that.

Re: Full U4 sound for a pop song

Just uploaded a U4 Pleyel KIVIR hybrid in two forms.
It's not to match your specific piano or anything like that but you might like it for this, especially in the extra wide form.

EDIT 5th OCT: I have made a slight change for a couple of individual key level adjustments in Superwide version.

Last edited by Key Fumbler (05-10-2021 11:37)

Re: Full U4 sound for a pop song

Removed the superewide version.
I don't want to spam the FXP section. Just use the width bar in microphone section for a wide mike piano sound ,slightly closer to what the OP wanted.