I'm testing Pianoteq trial version (v2.2.2) on my new computer (Core 2 Duo, E6750). I'm using the internal (motherboard) sound card or a basic external sound card (Terratec Aureon 5.1 USB MKII) with or without asio4all. My performance index (on Help, About) is 30, that is I think excellent.
The sound quality is rather bad, and very bad compared to demo files on pianoteq website. Do you think this problem could be solved with a better sound card?
Thanks
Here is exactly how we recorded a few demos (all three with Pianoteq 2.1):
- Improvisation No. 1 (M. Black), C2 warm preset, output headphones, lid open, default reverb.
- Chopin Waltz in C-sharp Minor Op 64 No 2 (Hugh Sung), C2 medium preset, output headphones, lid half open, default reverb.
- Chopin Waltz in A-flat major Op 69 No 1 (Hugh Sung), C2 medium preset, output headphones, lid half open, default reverb.
No external processing was used. If you use these settings (with either Pianoteq 2.1 or 2.2), then you should obtain exactly the same sound as on our site. Hope that helps.
I compared my rendering with the demos, with the same settings, but it is definitely not good. I hesitate to buy a better (with asio) sound card, because I don't know if it will really improve the sound quality. What do you think about ?
En français :
J'ai comparé le rendu de mon pianoteq avec les demos, avec les mêmes paramètres, mais le son que j'obtiens n'est vraiment pas aussi bon que celui des demos. J'hésite à acheter une meilleure carte son (avec l'asio), mais je ne sais pas si cela améliorerait réellement la qualité du son. Qu'en pensez-vous ?
I don't understand why you are getting a different sound. I even checked again, comparing the demo on our site with the output of Pianoteq 2: it is exactly the same. If you want to make a test, you can send me a MIDI file and I will record it for you so that you can compare.
En français :
Je ne comprends pas pourquoi vous obtenez un son différent. Je viens même de revérifier, comparant la démo qui est sur notre site avec la sortie directe de Pianoteq 2 : c’est exactement pareil. Si vous voulez faire un test, envoyez-moi un fichier MIDI et je vous l’enregistrerai pour que vous puissiez comparer.
Hmm - i have tried one time annother Program as VST-host, it´s called UNIVATOR.
With the Univator as VST-Host the sound is definitly on my PC not as good, than with Cubase.
Perhaps this could be one reason - it seems, the programms have differencies to handle the sound - perhaps by memorymanagement, or by internal "tricks" to handle the Latency - i don´t know - but also for my ears there are Differences between different VST-Host-Programs - especially if you compare a expensive one (for example CUBASE) with a cheaper one - or Freeware...
The Soundsystem itself can also be a reason of big changes in the sound - especially the 5.1 options!! If you playing about a amplifier and change from DolbyProLogic MUSIC to DolbyPrologicCINEMA, or you change to LOGIC7 - try it: ALL this can change dramatically your Sound - depending on your amplifier.
Onother Reason very often is the Velocity. My Digipiano for example is too soft - and so i have to increase the Loudness of my amplifier - but than i´m playing more in the lower regions of the velocity layers - with the result of missing Dynamik.
My Solution was to changet the Velocitiy-curve in the programm and adapt it more to my style of playing. I take attention, that a FF also in the programm geos about 80% of the Rangepossibilty.
On this point you also to think on this point: YOUR Settings making a different sound, than a pure midi-playing!! If you comparing Midi-files with the Demos on the Internet, perhaps you have to changes again the settings different to your own live-playing-settings.
A MForte should not to be too less Loudness. Here you have to tryout to fiind your best solution , adapting your playingstyle and your used Keyboard.
With the right changes, the sound can change from a weak unimpressed sound to a strong and very dynamik Sound.
Often - i think - this couple of different equipment and programm-settings is the reason, some peoples thinking there sound isn´t as good as the Demos.
Rob aus Muc - robmuc)
Can you give us more specific information? When you say the sound is bad, do you mean that there is popping and crackling or drop-outs? If you describe the problem in a little more detail, we may be able to suggest solutions.