Pianoteq 9 Standard .. Electric pianos sound bad

There is no reason the update that was done for V9 causes the issue you mention. Could you please contact the support? If you do, please provide and example illustrating the issue, consisting in a MIDI file (File > Save MIDI file) + an audio file exported from Pianoteq 9 standalone version (File > Export to audio file) + fpx of the preset that was used for the recording (File > Save preset). Thanks in advance for your help.

Thank you sonata for the files. I understand now what you mean. Indeed the MKII is more gritty/rough at ff-fff in v9 than in v8. You can reduce this "grittiness" easily by reducing the Hammer Tine Noise in the Design Panel (have a first try with +5 dB instead of +10 dB).

Thank you Sonata for uploading those clips

I like the grittier sound, it does sound more realistic. It's not bad at all, this is an insane claim IMO.

If possible, it would nice if there were a way to dial down that authenticity.

Try the MK II Spark preset -- just give a few solid strikes, around velocity 100, to F an octave an a half above middle C. Try it on version 8 and on version 9.

I’ve never played a real Rhodes, so I don’t know which one is more realistic. But I like 8 better.

Confirmed. I failed to note your previous remark about that. It seems to do exactly what I wanted.

I disagree: Even though I prefer the v8 sound, I believe authenticity is more important. If the v9 sound is closer to the real instrument (which I never played), then that's a step forward... Especially if I can redesign the settings to be more to my liking.

The pianoteq models are advertised as simulations of specific instruments, and editorialising their sound would take them further away from that promise

Yes: This. I agree with sonata's assessment and recommendation

What shook me was that my carefully tweaked Rhodes user presets sounded awful in V9. And PT has been my go-to for everything Piano
since V7.

That said: Thank you PT for making such a great product

Follow up on my post above…

Installed P9 last night. Had some time with it and it appears my questions have been answered. While the MK2 Tines are now v9, the MK1 Tines are still v8, and that was my main concern. Happy with that. Also the W2 Reeds are v9, while W1 is unchanged.

I am probably the only one or at least one of the few who was unimpressed by LL5: I expected a bigger leap from version 4 but besides the much needed graphic changes, I don't find the improved engine to be such a massive improvement over the previous version to leave me flabbergasted. However the more competition the better, so it's easier for anybody to find something that suits their taste.

I've owned two Stage 73 Mark 1s and a Suitcase 88 Mk2, as well as played several other Rhodes as a gigging musician for 20+ years. I've also worked as a recording engineer for an equal amount of time.

I purchased the PT 8 Stage version earlier this year, because IMO it has the best "ideal" basic Rhodes sound. Mind you, it's quite difficult to achieve that perfectly balanced sound in the real world, so in that sense you could say that the PT 8 sound is "unrealistic". However, my goal in the recording studio is to use the best sounding instrument possible, not an instrument that sounds more "realistic" because it comes closest to the average Rhodes electronics when overdriven. In that sense, the PT 9 Mk2 is a step backwards because the added distortion is simply over the top based on my experience. And I don't plan to spend extra $ to upgrade to the standard version just to have the ability to dial that distortion back a bit.

With that being said, I'm happy to report that both PT 8 and PT 9 versions can run simultaneously under the same license.

I *would* consider upgrading if Modartt adds the ability to assign the 8 microphones to a 7.1.4 channel layout, but that's another topic altogether.

I find nothing wrong with Mk ll Spark . Sounds so good to me. Although I use normally other presets. To discuss sound is of course always about taste. And the fantastic thing Is, that we can change so much in the sound with Pianoteq. Since 2013 every updated has made the sound better. I'm satisfied. I can hear a little of a "hot glowing particle struck from a larger mass". As it has to be in this preset.
This was a fast short test playing.

https://forum.modartt.com/uploads.php?f...0Spark.mp3

All the best, everyone

Stig

rods, I wonder, as you have 8 stereo buses in Pianoteq 9, can't you manage to feed a 7.1.4 channel output? (hopefully not a silly question)

I tried messing around with it a little bit last night. What seemed to happen for me was: if you raise the level of the hammer <Tine noise> on the Mark I you get a better bell tone for the attack, whereas if you raise it on the Mark II it sounds more like a ring modulator. I wouldn't mind getting more bell tone on the attack of the Mark II's sound. The EQ in the effects section will get that for you pretty well, but I'm already using the 3 effects for tremolo, delay and compressor. The separate equalizer section is more subtle but by using a modified Whistle preset and jacking it all the way up between around 3,500-8,000hz it does a pretty good job. What I'd love to see on a future update would be either 4 effects slots or the ability to have a delay effect in the reverb section.