Topic: Pianoteq in the mix
Dear All,
I've just uploaded two mp3s featuring Pianoteq in respective track mixes. "Idle Hill-192" and "The Soldier-224", which are two tracks from my second album.
I used to use the Art Vista Virtual Grand Piano until recently when I changed over to Pianoteq.
"Idle Hill-192" (track title, "On the Idle Hill of Summer" inspired by A.E. Housman's poem, part of the Shropshire Lad cycle of poems) required a modern sounding piano owing to the 'minimalist' arpeggios. It features the M3 and the fxp was a modified version of 'Jakes Steinway' which should still be on the fxp corner.
"The Soldier-224" (track title "The Soldier") is inspired by the Rupert Brooke war poem "The Soldier" (Sonnet V), and required an early 20th century piano. The Pleyel was perfect for this.
Although the realism of the Art Vista Grand Piano (a sampled Steinway) was formidable, its playability and versatility were not. Working with Pianoteq in track mixes is generally very rewarding because of the amount of parameters available and the beauty of the mic placement settings. However, at times, I have found it hard for the higher frequencies to cut through, but normally, careful EQing sorts this out. Using the hammer felt slider also helps, but too much of this sacrifices realism.
There's more Pianoteq on the album ("Out of the Woods", to be released soon), but these two tracks seemed to be the most appropriate to share.
Hope the mp3s are useful,
All the best,
Ian Neal
