Topic by BrokenTurtle

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Topic: Blüthner: strange harmonic on B2

I’m using the Blüthner piano in the latest Pianoteq Standard (9.1.0 WIN), and I’m hearing a strange issue on B2.

That note has a very noticeable and unpleasant harmonic around 2.24 kHz. It’s the only note on the keyboard where this happens. I tried tweaking various parameters, but I couldn’t get rid of it. The only thing that works is a narrow EQ cut at that frequency.

I hear it both on headphones and monitors, and it seems independent of the preset.

Can anyone else hear this?
Could it be a bug? It doesn’t really sound like something the real instrument would do.

Reply by jmanrique

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Re: Blüthner: strange harmonic on B2

BrokenTurtle wrote:

I’m using the Blüthner piano in the latest Pianoteq Standard (9.1.0 WIN), and I’m hearing a strange issue on B2.

That note has a very noticeable and unpleasant harmonic around 2.24 kHz. It’s the only note on the keyboard where this happens. I tried tweaking various parameters, but I couldn’t get rid of it. The only thing that works is a narrow EQ cut at that frequency.

I hear it both on headphones and monitors, and it seems independent of the preset.

Can anyone else hear this?
Could it be a bug? It doesn’t really sound like something the real instrument would do.

The Blüthner has issues in the low register; this was already discussed in another recent thread. Depending on the person, it’s sometimes one note, sometimes another, or even several (that’s my case). They’ll probably revise it in the next update.

Anyway, when you say B2… which one do you mean? I mean: is the first B, for you, 0 or 1? In any case, if you’re clear about the frequency, you can look for that harmonic and pull it down a few dB in the Spectrum Profile, in the Pro version of PTQ.
Although it’s actually possible that the EQ in PTQ does the same thing as the Spectrum Profile editing, with the advantage that it also works in the Standard version of PTQ.

Last edited by jmanrique (29-01-2026 10:48)

Reply by BrokenTurtle

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Re: Blüthner: strange harmonic on B2

Thanks for the reply,

jmanrique wrote:

Anyway, when you say B2… which one do you mean? I mean: is the first B, for you, 0 or 1? In any case, if you’re clear about the frequency, you can look for that harmonic and pull it down a few dB in the Spectrum Profile, in the Pro version of PTQ.
Although it’s actually possible that the EQ in PTQ does the same thing as the Spectrum Profile editing, with the advantage that it also works in the Standard version of PTQ.

I mean the second B starting from the left side in a piano with 88 keys.
However, using PTQ standard or a DAW, I don't think the EQ is a valid option, as it would affect all the keyboard, not just that single note...

Reply by jmanrique

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Re: Blüthner: strange harmonic on B2

BrokenTurtle wrote:

Thanks for the reply,

jmanrique wrote:

Anyway, when you say B2… which one do you mean? I mean: is the first B, for you, 0 or 1? In any case, if you’re clear about the frequency, you can look for that harmonic and pull it down a few dB in the Spectrum Profile, in the Pro version of PTQ.
Although it’s actually possible that the EQ in PTQ does the same thing as the Spectrum Profile editing, with the advantage that it also works in the Standard version of PTQ.

I mean the second B starting from the left side in a piano with 88 keys.
However, using PTQ standard or a DAW, I don't think the EQ is a valid option, as it would affect all the keyboard, not just that single note...

Oops, you’re right. I understand you don’t have the Pro version to edit that partial (it’s the 35th harmonic, 2.236 Hz, of the B you mention, at 61.60 Hz). That partial corresponds more or less to the highest C# on the piano, and by the way, that partial is even stronger on other notes, such as the F above the B you mention, or the D above that F. You can use a demo (I think it’s the Pro version, I’m not entirely sure) and edit just that partial, save the patch, and that’s it, you’ll be able to open it in any version. Have you tried changing String Length? With that you can drastically change the inharmonicity, and it’s especially noticeable in the low register, because it affects the partial frequencies more the farther they are from the fundamental.

Last edited by jmanrique (29-01-2026 20:50)