Topic: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

I recently bought Spectrasonics Keyscape. I wanted to try it because I have heard so many rave reviews from almost every review I came across and the videos sounded great.

I went through all of the presets and instruments and I must say that Pianoteq is a lot better. The responsiveness of Pianoteq and how you can express what you play is just miles ahead of anything else out there at the moment and I really do not think that Modartt get anywhere near enough credit for what they have achieved here. I don't know how they have done it and I personally do not want to because that is what keeps part of the genius of this VST.

This is by no means any disrespect to the team at Spectrasonics because they are an incredible company but I just wanted to get this out there to the team at Pianoteq and congratulate on an incredible instrument and one that is sincerely underrated.

I am selling my boxed copy of Keyscape if anybody is interested by the way. UK only unfortunately.

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

Congratulations on your humility and sincerity.
Its comparative analysis was very important for us Pianoteq users, since from it we can reinforce certain that we are enjoying the best that there is in the VST market.
Honestly, I no longer compare Pianoteq with other VST's
  and keyboards (the sampling base); I compare Pianoteq by listening to acoustic pianos of different makes and models. Even if it is an acoustic piano, if it is not new, or well tuned, tuned and with a proper microphone, I can guarantee that a good controller and a suitable computer, Pianoteq is much better.

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

I was thinking about getting Keyscape (I have Omnishere for years)... glad you compared  for me... don’t need it yet it seems.

Last edited by Kramster1 (08-12-2017 15:06)
Pianoteq 8, most pianos, Studiologic 73 Piano, Casio Px-560M, PX-S 3000, PX-S 1100, PX-S 7000, Mac i27 and MacBook Pro M3, SS Logic SSL 2

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

Keyscape doesn't support continuous sustain pedal, doesn't have modelled sympathetic resonance...

As a sampling job, it is stellar, and I would use it for the more imaginative patches. Electric pianos have a lot of "meat" to them, for example. But for grand piano sounds, I would never use it.

Hard work and guts!

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

Kramster1 you are more than welcome to my copy. It is good and with some really exotic keyboards.
I found the student piano interesting and had some good qualities to it.

Evil Dragon I must admit I wasn't overly impressed with the electric pianos, I actually found Pianoteq's a little more intimate, maybe not as much detail but not far off from Keyscape at all. Pianoteq was just a little more present.

The only thing I would suggest to Modartt is maybe make the U4 a little more meatier as it does sound quite thin. I know that upright pianos are not as powerful obviously but that was one thing I felt Keyscape did do a bit better. But I have made a new preset which does rectify that slightly, I added an amp and boosted the bass a little and added a long plate om the reverb, then moved the condition bar slap bang in the middle which I feel has given the U4 a bit of character and some added emotion.

Yes I agree with the pedal on Keyscape, big let down really. The one thing I have always found with all sampled pianos is they lack that digging in feeling which is one thing Pianoteq hits on the head with.
I own Ravenscroft which I actually feel is the better piano out of Keyscape and VI Labs as it is a bit more dynamic, I haven't tried Synthogy Ivory so I cannot comment but I always seem to find myself going back to Pianoteq.
I will honestly admit that I have had a bit of a love/hate relationship with Pianoteq over the years so I go and try something else thinking the grass is greener on the other side, but the truth is I have come back deeply humbled and more appreciative of the work Modartt have actually done because it is the closest thing to a real piano I have come across.
I went to London a little while back and went into the Bluthner showroom and I was amazed at how accurate the modelling was to their Bluthner Model One it was an incredible eye opener. By the way Bluthner amazing pianos truly are, alongside Fazioli and Bechstein it is one of my favourite pianos.

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

Deyvidpetro wrote:

I went through all of the presets and instruments and I must say that Pianoteq is a lot better.


If you say that at the Pianoworld forum, they will kill you


I agree.
I also have the Ravenscroft and the Vintage D. They sound good. The basic sound is good, but the richness in the resonances is not there.
I am disapointed with the pedal behaviour on the Ravenscroft. I can not shut down a sound by lifting up the pedal, even when the half pedal option is on. It is a problem for some classical pieces. Its playability though is good.
The Vintage D has a good sound but lacks of playability when you compare it to Pianoteq.

Finally I always come back to Pianoteq for its liveliness and responsiveness.

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

Haha, yeah I have seen some of the comments towards Pianoteq and there is a lot unsavoury remarks about it which I think is unfair.
my only gripe sometimes with Pianoteq is it can sound possibly too raw but I am also not even sure that is such a bad thing as it just adds furthermore to the detail of the instrument itself.

Yeah I must admit that I do like Ravenscroft but yes it does just lack that digging in feeling that you get from Pianoteq.

I do wish Modartt would model another upright piano, one that is maybe not quite so heard of or one that hasn't been sampled nor modeled, that would be interesting.

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

Keyscape is pretty expensive, but I've seen some amazing demos of their electric pianos. I will take your advice though, and abstain even if I hit the jackpot.

Lounge Lizard is my go-to for EPs. It is also modeled, and it is crazy good.

For all of the other instruments I like to play, Pianoteq has me covered. I just bought the harp which is very relaxing to diddle around on.

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: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

I have played 2 of the actual Ravenscroft pianos at Winter NAMMs and love them a lot (I think they have made a dozen now) ... I didn't spend a lot of time with the software version  which they have there to try but will have at it more in January. These pianos are made about 15 miles from me...who'da thought. It is fun watching people play them for the first time and seeing instant "Wow" reaction. They said I can come play them anytime...anyway... love my Pianoteq and experimenting with 2 setups at my humble abode...Ill report back when dialed in and get a Claret interface and Focal monitors to go with my 2017 iMac 27. And speaker set up in my baby grand shell with an older MacBook Pro and Scarlett interface.

  I play a lot of the other pianos at NAMM too of course ...so many fine instruments!

Pianoteq 8, most pianos, Studiologic 73 Piano, Casio Px-560M, PX-S 3000, PX-S 1100, PX-S 7000, Mac i27 and MacBook Pro M3, SS Logic SSL 2

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

I have heard a lot of great things about Ravenscroft, they say it is the pianists piano as they actually got a lot of feedback from pianists to customize the sound. Apparently the strings are Titanium.... Or something like that.
I would love to get my hands on one to play.

I haven't herd of Lounge Lizard EPs so may check them out.

I reinstalled Keyscape the other evening too see whether I was just being biased but again the lack of digging in wasn't there and I just couldn't get the velocity curve right for the VPC-1. The sounds are great but I also have to feel what I am playing also to be truly inspired.

I am a little disappointed that Pianoteq have only modeled one upright though, would be nice to have at least one more to choose from as they are more intimate than grand pianos.

Yeah the Harp does sound nice I may have to purchase at a later date.

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

I have a pair of Focal Alpha 80s, they are great speakers.

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

The reviews of Keyscape is not a surprise for me, the features and the demos have'nt impress me. And I bought the Ravenscroft because I like the three Vilabs pianos, Steinway, Fazioli, Bosendorfer but I don't know why this piano it look as a must have. It's a good piano but the sound does'nt inspire me.
And we have some challengers as the VSL Vienna, very good playing sensations and the  C7 of Production Grand, good sound with goods features but needed powerfull computer.
For recording each project need "the" piano and all vsti piano have "the" project for him. But for practice Pianoteq is often the best and always the good.

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

I have stayed away from Vienna and such as their sample sizes are too big and I feel if a company like UVI can manage to get their GBs down and compress them to manageable size then so can the rest, although I have heard some really great reviews for Vienna software instruments as a whole so it could be worth checking out.

The thing is with Pianoteq it can fool you when you switch off and forget that it is a VST and just get really into to depth with the expressiveness of the software. A few times recently I have gotten so lost in what I was playing that my VPC-1 I could have sworn was the one playing out the sounds itself lol.

As I say I appreciate what Spectrasonics have done but I just prefer Pianoteq I really do.

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

The Vienna only 47Go on hard disk now. lol But the 100 velocity layers are functionnal and the playbility is as Pianoteq (but Vilabs have good playability too )

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

Yeah I just checked it, but £400 for one piano is pretty expensive to be honest with you lol.

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

Deyvidpetro wrote:

I have heard a lot of great things about Ravenscroft, they say it is the pianists piano as they actually got a lot of feedback from pianists to customize the sound. Apparently the strings are Titanium.... Or something like that.
I would love to get my hands on one to play..

I spend a lot of time listening to people play the Ravenscroft ( I like the bigger one ).. I is a great escape for all the noise around the rest of the NAMM show. Last year I came across a pianist playing various pianos in the "piano room". I was impressed and asked if she tried the Ravenscroft yet... she didn't so I brought her over and took the big one... told the owner of the company and his son and a few others at their both that they have to listen to her. Video cameras came out and she started playing...wow... she played various pieces and no one wanted her to stop, I know I didn't ... her name is Lesi Mei. She studios and competes on piano... she never said much about herself so we looked her up... gifted I say and we are friends on FaceBook now...nice.

Also the couple years before, Brockett Parsons ( Lady Gaga's piano/keyboardist ) was playing it a lot as well, he played some cool jazz stuff. He also had the 360 degree keyboard on display and that was fun to play.

Any way... a fine piano... many great reactions from people playing and listening to the over $300,000.00 USD piano... just sayin'.

Pianoteq 8, most pianos, Studiologic 73 Piano, Casio Px-560M, PX-S 3000, PX-S 1100, PX-S 7000, Mac i27 and MacBook Pro M3, SS Logic SSL 2

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

Deyvidpetro wrote:

Yeah I just checked it, but £400 for one piano is pretty expensive to be honest with you lol.

Yes it's right but it's less than a real Bosendorfer. 

(I bought it bargain )

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

I will check out Lesi Mei Lylo.

Shame I cannot get hold of a Ravenscroft in the UK anywhere....

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

Although Pianoteq is more flexible, I have felt that the Keyscape sounds are more "full-bodied."
Listen to this two comparative mp3s: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/...sp=sharing
Could anyone tell me how Pianoteq can achieve the same sound quality as the Keyscape piano?

Re: Pianoteq over rules even Spectrasonics Keyscape

rogeriodec wrote:

Although Pianoteq is more flexible, I have felt that the Keyscape sounds are more "full-bodied."
Listen to this two comparative mp3s: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/...sp=sharing
Could anyone tell me how Pianoteq can achieve the same sound quality as the Keyscape piano?

https://youtu.be/5M84nvZss-4

I tried tweaking 10 minutes with Steingraeber Warm and think this example is more full-bodied. Compared to this (in my opinion) now Keyscape sounds somewhat closed or locked (can’t find words, sorry). But, tweaking Ptq Steingraeber warm = better than Keyscape? Well, we hear so different…

Thats what I think about it.