Topic: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

Another wonderful piano model for Pianoteq!
Thank you, Modartt team.

The YFX is a great addition to the diverse collection of pianos available for Pianoteq each with its own distinctive character, including Modartt's own K2.

Last edited by Stephen_Doonan (03-11-2026 19:05)
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Linux, Mac OS, Pianoteq Pro, Organteq, Vidal MIDI controller

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

Very good first impression… Much more enjoyable than old YC5. A great instrument…
Too bad an agreement wasn't reached with Yamaha, the « placebo » effect would make it even better.

Last edited by YvesTh (03-11-2026 18:06)

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

Congratulations to the Modartt team on another great instrument in the Pianoteq family.
A piano modeled on the Yamaha CFX has been long awaited and here it is.

I'm happy to see that the lack of an agreement with Yamaha hasn't prevented Modartt from releasing this great piano.
An agreement would have been desirable, and seeing the official logo would have been cool, but I'm sure this doesn't detract from the instrument's quality in the slightest.
Thank you very much for this new instrument, and let's get on with the 'Grand Italian IF308'

Last edited by GerardQ (03-11-2026 20:37)

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

Really liking the new YFX; great work!

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

Man you got to like the bass tone, don't you?

Personally, I do with the apparent 'upfrontness' I'm also perceiving in stereo imaging; a noticeable improvement!

Before I forget, yay is what I wanna say, of course to the return of the mic polar patterns, which are back.  (No longer I got to have a copy of version eight (v.8) opened, simultaneously, just for me to choose correctly between the various microphones.)

Some of which again I very easily will distinguish about yay apart from others appearing on my uploaded fxp's.  (Smile.)

Last edited by Amen Ptah Ra (Yesterday 17:06)
Pianoteq 9 Studio Bundle, Pearl malletSTATION EM1, Roland (DRUM SOUND MODULE TD-30, HandSonic 10, AX-1),
Akai EWI USB, Donner DDP-90 Digital Piano, ILoud Mico Monitors, PreSonus FADERPORT

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

Cant find it in the app/plugin to demo?

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

MotionMindz wrote:

Cant find it in the app/plugin to demo?

Update the app

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

Glad to see my ears still serve me well despite the age. I guess nobody will object to the purchase since I guessed right... RIght?

"And live to be the show and gaze o' the time."  (William Shakespeare)

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

dikrek wrote:
MotionMindz wrote:

Cant find it in the app/plugin to demo?

Update the app

Yep, that was it. Ok, reminder for next time a new product expansion pops up.

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

Fantastic! Just in time for the Black Friday sale (hopefully) later this month.

Last edited by jari_42 (Yesterday 19:24)

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

https://pianoclack.s3.us-east-1.amazona...2-no-1.mp3

Not vanilla - concert recording preset with small tweaks but also disabled limiter and lowered reverb, used external reverb and saturators

Last edited by dikrek (Yesterday 19:52)

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

Stephen_Doonan wrote:

Another wonderful piano model for Pianoteq!
Thank you, Modartt team.

The YFX is a great addition to the diverse collection of pianos available for Pianoteq each with its own distinctive character, including Modartt's own K2.

Looking forward to put my hands on this one.

Pianoteq Pro Studio with Bösendorfer, Shigeru Kawai and Organteq

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

I’m not impressed.
More of the same sounds already existing on the other piano’s.
Plus another floaty bla bla review.
Dare to push that parameters where your mouse is continual hovering over and compare it with the other piano’s, that would be a review!
Modartt should go for quality instead of quantity.

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

VicVer wrote:

I’m not impressed.
More of the same sounds already existing on the other piano’s.
Plus another floaty bla bla review.
Dare to push that parameters where your mouse is continual hovering over and compare it with the other piano’s, that would be a review!
Modartt should go for quality instead of quantity.

In my opinion the sound is pretty accurate to a real CFX. One thing I will nitpick on is how its stereo imaging is very "closed" and mono focused compared to the Kawai SK-EX which has one of the best stereo image (in my opinion!) for use on a digital piano (Even with the basic player preset, and yes I did try the same microphone setup on both). Among minor issues with tone its honestly really nice and enjoyable but some of us have different tastes.

Yamaha DX-670, Pianoteq Standard

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

Hi,

Adding new pianos is great work!

However, I think this piano has a rather jazzy character, whereas Yamaha pianos tend to sound brighter.

I also noticed some beats while listening. For example:
A4 to B4
B♭4 to B4
E♭5 to C#5

Please check the video (A4 to B4):
https://s101.picofile.com/d/fG9MNLszegF...rkHu/1.mp4

Last edited by Minoo (Today 05:02)

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

dikrek wrote:

https://pianoclack.s3.us-east-1.amazona...2-no-1.mp3

Not vanilla - concert recording preset with small tweaks but also disabled limiter and lowered reverb, used external reverb and saturators

Whenever you want to get away possibly from your imparting a sterile-like, digital, or even clinical impression left with listeners, saturation seems the best possible means available to you, er way to go!

That by itself, might make most modern virtual instruments somehow sound real.  (I mean of course physically real just like their physio-acoustic counterparts similarly recorded.)

Minoo wrote:

However, I think this piano has a rather jazzy character, whereas Yamaha pianos tend to sound brighter.

You've quite a characterization  —jazzy.

Do you seriously imply that the piano is unlike anything from YAMAHA and that it's only good enough for jazz  —but nothing classical or otherwise serious musicianship?

Last edited by Amen Ptah Ra (Today 07:32)
Pianoteq 9 Studio Bundle, Pearl malletSTATION EM1, Roland (DRUM SOUND MODULE TD-30, HandSonic 10, AX-1),
Akai EWI USB, Donner DDP-90 Digital Piano, ILoud Mico Monitors, PreSonus FADERPORT

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

Amen Ptah Ra wrote:

You've quite a characterization  —jazzy.

Do you seriously imply that the piano is unlike anything from YAMAHA and that it's really only good enough for jazz  —hardly classical or seldom serious musicianship?

Of course i do.
YFX has a soft, jazzy sound.
Yamaha pianos are commonly used for classical and New Age music.

Last edited by Minoo (Today 07:38)

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

The best pianos that are also suitable for jazz include the Bösendorfer 290, Baldwin SD-10, and finally, Steinway D.

I hope Modartt someday add new instruments: Baldwin SD-10 and Bösendorfer 290

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

I had been editing my reply as you posted yours:

Amen Ptah Ra wrote:

You've quite a characterization  —jazzy.

Do you seriously imply that the piano is unlike anything from YAMAHA and that it's only good enough for jazz  —but nothing classical or otherwise serious musicianship?

Minoo wrote:

Of course i do.
YFX has a soft, jazzy sound.
Yamaha pianos are commonly used for classical and New Age music.

To some extent I agree, wholeheartedly, since the newly released YFX comes with presets obviously inspired by both classical and jazz genres.  But, it also includes some seemingly intended toward the New Age.  Man, and there ain't nothing about jazz that can make that common  —if you know what I mean.  You get me?

YFX has a soft, jazzy sound.
Yamaha pianos are commonly used for classical and New Age music.

The best pianos that are also suitable for jazz include the Bösendorfer 290, Baldwin SD-10, and finally, Steinway D.

Well, I like to add that among many others jazz performers Cyrus Chestnut and an ex of mine have repeatedly played on pianos manufactured by YAMAHA.  Which you also may use for jazz certainly in addition to the YFX that you suggest.

Just take a look at one of my YouTube posts —about this ex who can frequently play at an official YAMAHA— and see for yourself:

https://youtu.be/jAebsic1eYs?si=-bZB0h78KjK3dSXw

If my memory serves, the woman has been herself officially endorsed by YAMAHA at some point. 

Anyway, let me be the first to welcome you to this opened forum...

Do have an enjoyable stay!

Last edited by Amen Ptah Ra (Today 09:11)
Pianoteq 9 Studio Bundle, Pearl malletSTATION EM1, Roland (DRUM SOUND MODULE TD-30, HandSonic 10, AX-1),
Akai EWI USB, Donner DDP-90 Digital Piano, ILoud Mico Monitors, PreSonus FADERPORT

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

Minoo wrote:

Hi,

Adding new pianos is great work!

However, I think this piano has a rather jazzy character, whereas Yamaha pianos tend to sound brighter.

I also noticed some beats while listening. For example:
A4 to B4
B♭4 to B4
E♭5 to C#5

Please check the video (A4 to B4):
https://s101.picofile.com/d/fG9MNLszegF...rkHu/1.mp4

This is Garritan CFX:

https://pianoclack.s3.us-east-1.amazona...an-cfx.mp3

It’s way brighter, you prefer this then?

Re: YFX Japanese Grand Piano

dikrek wrote:

This is Garritan CFX:

https://pianoclack.s3.us-east-1.amazona...an-cfx.mp3

It’s way brighter, you prefer this then?

Nice!
I hope YFX keeps improving its default base sound and gets rid of the unwanted beats.

Pianoteq is pretty much the only piano software I genuinely enjoy using.
I love pianos with new age + classical sound.

Last edited by Minoo (Today 12:53)