Topic: Misleading information re products available

I have spent considerable time evaluating PT5 on the understanding that I could choose 2 acoustic pianos within the price of the standard product and have been very impressed with the subtlety of how it plays.  On proceeding to the order process, I now find that I can only have the D4 - which I wanted - and the K2, which I don't want.  The Bluethner is not available within the standard price.  I have only been able to verify this by looking up the press release.  I did not see this restriction anywhere else on the site.

Bitterly disappointed.  Back to the drawing board in my search for an alternative to my True Keys American Grand and German Grand to accompany the TK Italian Grand which I am happy with, apart from its lack of playability which PT5 would give me.

Re: Misleading information re products available

I agree that since Pianoteq V5, the website is not very clear on the pianos you get when you buy it.
However, since you like D4 and Bluthner and don't want to spend too much, i think it would be a wise decision to buy the stage version for 100 euros and then add the bluthner for 50 euros more. I think it's a fair price if you like them.

Re: Misleading information re products available

Thanks for the reply and understanding.  The reason I was going for the standard version was that the stage version doesn't give me the facility to create a good enough sound.  I need quite different sounds for live playing via the Kawai ES7 speakers and to produce recordings via my domestic speaker system.  I had to get quite deep into the standard tweaks to get near enough to convince me I could fine tune after purchase.  300 euros for 2 pianos is a lot on a pension.

Re: Misleading information re products available

You get way more than 2 pianos, there are other free add-ons you can use. Not to mention the millions of variations you can create when you start tweaking...

Hard work and guts!

Re: Misleading information re products available

I don't find anything misleading in the advertisement. In the feature table it says "Includes two instrument packs", but when you go to "Instruments", you will find this:

When you purchase Pianoteq 5, you choose among three flavours:

  • Acoustic pianos (includes D4 and K2 grand pianos)

  • Electric instruments (includes R2 and W1 electric pianos and CL1 Clavinet)

  • Chromatic percussions (includes V-B and V-M vibes, Xylophone and Marimba)

More instruments can be purchased separately at any time.

And if you click on "buy", it immediately asks for the 'flavour' (and defines the three different variants). In fact this means that PTQ5 is cheaper than PTQ4 in some scenarios, e.g. when you are only interested in the electric pianos and not the acoustics. The Blüthner grand is something that sets Pianoteq apart, and therefore it always has been (and probably will be for the foreseeable future) a separate add-on.

What has gotten somewhat more expensive is the YC5 (from 30 to 50 Euros, probably because it got revamped), and the rock collection is now missing. I.e., in PTQ4 you could buy the electrics + Clavinet + YC5 together for 90 Euros and separately for 130 (now it's always three separate addons für 50 Euros each). Apart from that, pricing has not changed much. And you always have the KIViR instruments and the Bells and Carillons.

Last edited by kalessin (18-06-2014 18:05)
Pianoteq 6 Standard (Steinway D&B, Grotrian, Petrof, Steingraeber, Bechstein, Blüthner, K2, YC5, U4, Kremsegg 1&2, Karsten, Electric, Hohner)

Re: Misleading information re products available

Let's start a petition for Modartt to run a summer add-on promo next month.... 2 for one

/* edit */ oops, clicked "edit" instead of "quote". sorry :3

Last edited by delt (18-06-2014 20:20)
http://soundcloud.com/delt01
Pianoteq 5 STD+blüthner, Renoise 3 • Roland FP-4F + M-Audio Keystation 88es
Intel i5@3.4GHz, 16GB • Linux Mint xfce 64bit

Re: Misleading information re products available

If they offered e.g. "Kremsegg Complete" for let's say 80 Euros, I'd have had bought it yesterday. And the old "Rock" collection was also pretty cool. I can't speak for others, but having decent acoustic and electric pianos is quite nice... just' sayin.

delt wrote:

and it's not like digital downloads are costing a lot to "produce".

It's not that easy. An instrument pack is two things: (1) costs for research/work for producing it in the first place, and (2) a reason to buy Pianoteq, which is even more research/work to develop. All in all it is a mixed calculation, and although the individual download copy does not produce much in costs, I can absolutely understand Modartt not giving them away for free. That being said, bundles could still motivate people to buy that might otherwise have not, which would be a net gain for the manufacturer.

Last edited by kalessin (18-06-2014 18:22)
Pianoteq 6 Standard (Steinway D&B, Grotrian, Petrof, Steingraeber, Bechstein, Blüthner, K2, YC5, U4, Kremsegg 1&2, Karsten, Electric, Hohner)

Re: Misleading information re products available

kalessin, the web site indeed says "includes 2 instrument packs" and underneath are the D4, K2, Bluethner etc, labelled as "instrument packs".  Nothing to say that the only instrument pack available is the D4 and K2.  My reading, which I think is reasonable, is that I could choose any 2 instrument packs, e.g. D4 and U4, or K2 and Bluethner.  Only when I got to the buying section was the choice between "flavours" and that the acoustic piano flavour was D4 and K2, no alternatives.

Re: Misleading information re products available

I still don't see where this is misleading. Or do they write "includes 2 arbritary instrument packs, to be chosen freely"? Or is the 'flavour' concept not clearly indicated before buying? In both regards the answer is no (on the features page the 'flavour' concept is actually mentioned). As long as it is absolutely clear what one buys before one buys, there is no misleading anybody.

You have interpreted something into the Pianoteq promo texts that was not exactly there, and were disappointed when you saw it was not meant like you would have wished. I understand that. I also wish Modartt would sell certain instrument packs together for a discounted price. However, the truth of the matter is: Pianoteq is a Modartt product, Modartt decide what they offer and for what price. Customers decide whether they buy. And truth to be told, Pianoteq Standard plus 1 add-on (which is what we are talking about) is still a great value.

PS: following your logic, it should also be possible to buy Kremsegg 1+2 for the base price. Which might be cool from a customer's perspective, but makes absolutely no business sense. I can understand why Modartt chose to make certain instrument packs available in the basic flavours, while others are only available as separate add-ons.

Last edited by kalessin (18-06-2014 21:14)
Pianoteq 6 Standard (Steinway D&B, Grotrian, Petrof, Steingraeber, Bechstein, Blüthner, K2, YC5, U4, Kremsegg 1&2, Karsten, Electric, Hohner)

Re: Misleading information re products available

Yeah, i understand, but...

delt wrote:

Let's start a petition for Modartt to run a summer add-on promo next month.... 2 for one


^ that pretty please Modartt

Last edited by delt (18-06-2014 20:21)
http://soundcloud.com/delt01
Pianoteq 5 STD+blüthner, Renoise 3 • Roland FP-4F + M-Audio Keystation 88es
Intel i5@3.4GHz, 16GB • Linux Mint xfce 64bit

Re: Misleading information re products available

kalessin wrote:

I still don't see where this is misleading.

I also think quite the opposite.

Re: Misleading information re products available

This is what I suggest:

There are a few companies that sell Pianoteq for a little discount. There are some sellers on eBay, like JR.com that advertise the retail price but accept best offers.

You might be able to get 10-15% off, and you'll end up spending $20 more than you thought you would, nothing to cry about.

I was slightly confused myself until I read the details. Good luck!

Pianoteq 6 Std, Bluthner, Model B, Grotian, YC5, Hohner, Kremsegg #1, Electric Pianos. Roland FP-90, Windows 10 quad core, Xenyx Q802USB, Yamaha HS8 monitors, Audio Technica
ATH-M50x headphones.

Re: Misleading information re products available

It would be nice to have the default acoustic package have D4 + Bluthner but I'm sure Modartt has to pay licensing fees to Bluthner to use the name/likeness -- probably even got some expertise from Bluthner also in creating the model.

Re: Misleading information re products available

It's not the commercial policy we are criticizing, only the presentation on the website which should be clearer.
When i ordered the v5 update, i though that the K2 was not included in the update.

Re: Misleading information re products available

Dear all,
we are sorry for the confusion and we will update the presentation on the website to make the information clearer. Thank you for pointing that out.

Re: Misleading information re products available

If Pianoteq came only with the D4 piano, I would still buy it. The K2 instrument is a nice added value.

sandalholme wrote:

the K2, which I don't want

I admit that initially, I didn't like the K2 either. It thought it to be too bright and clear. I even doubted that it had a piano sound at all (Forgive my ignorance, I have no idea how a 6' grand sounds). But as the days went by, I started to like it. In the Fxp Corner, there is a preset called "K2_Warm-Dry_Grand" the sound of which I find very appealing. If I use my usual velocity curve with that preset and decrease the Y-values of the p, mf and f points by 4, the sound is just right. The K2 is my favourite instrument now.

So, my suggestion is that you give the K2 piano another fair try. :-)

Last edited by jiriwiesner (19-06-2014 10:42)

Re: Misleading information re products available

The K2's bass strings are 2.11m (about 6.9ft) long, putting it squarely into the 'parlour grand' class, I'd say. I find its sound quite interesting: it is a nice contrast to the D4 at 2.70m and the Blüthner at 2.80m (about 9.2ft). It makes no sense to have instruments that are too similar. The Blüthner grand produces a very harmonic and mellow sound, the D4 is a bit brighter (albeit both can be modified to suit personal taste), and the K2 is more inharmonic and has a noticeably weaker bass (in these regards it shares similarities with an upright piano). I like all of them very much, and it depends on the piece I am playing (and a bit on my mood) which I choose.

Pianoteq 6 Standard (Steinway D&B, Grotrian, Petrof, Steingraeber, Bechstein, Blüthner, K2, YC5, U4, Kremsegg 1&2, Karsten, Electric, Hohner)

Re: Misleading information re products available

So... You got a nice surprise in the end.

But you are right. I supose more people would buy if they have certain agbout get the two piano models.

vjau wrote:

It's not the commercial policy we are criticizing, only the presentation on the website which should be clearer.
When i ordered the v5 update, i though that the K2 was not included in the update.

Last edited by Beto-Music (19-06-2014 15:17)