Topic: What are your favorite "Go To Presets" for playing/performing?

Which presets do you use the most for playing/performing?

Last edited by Groove On (19-06-2018 03:28)

Re: What are your favorite "Go To Presets" for playing/performing?

Regarding choices of preset, please allow me to relate to you something that I did recently with only one preset:
When Pianoteq 6.1 came out in the first quarter of this year, I compiled my own CD of demos of various short classical pieces, using the Steinway B Recording 2 preset, but varying the damper noise and key release noise, dynamic range and overall volume -- all while holding constant all of the preset's variables, including hammer's various hardnesses.  Next I varied, slightly, the angular "aim" of the U87 (figure 8 pickup patterned) microphones, and narrowed the stereo spread slider (which, through widely spaced B&W Matrix 801 Series II speakers, made the 6' long piano sound more like a fictitious 16' long piano).  Moreover, I created an aux track for Altiverb 7 in which I could blend the volume of the Sydney Opera House Impulse Response from approximately -15dB to -10dB.

Well, sir!  With simply the same preset, but only slightly modifying it according to the above, the instrument sounded almost like a different piano! 

The point of relating my experience to you is this: 
Every future respondent will be convinced that he is absolutely correct in his unique choice of stock Pianoteq preset for any given piano.  Every other future respondent will justify HIS preset choice!! The anticipated end result is that I believe your question is going to generate as many different responses as there are presets for all the various models of Pianoteq.  No one preset is anticipated to stand out for any given piano model.

(EDIT:  I Hope I am wrong!!!  End Edit)

Cheers,

Joe

Last edited by jcfelice88keys (19-06-2018 01:46)

Re: What are your favorite "Go To Presets" for playing/performing?

jcfelice88keys wrote:

Every other future respondent will justify HIS preset choice!!


I intentionally used the words "your favorite" for that exact reason. I want to know what are your favorite presets when you play / perform.

Last edited by Groove On (19-06-2018 03:59)

Re: What are your favorite "Go To Presets" for playing/performing?

Hello,
The choice is actually difficult (many models are great, depend on personal sensitivity, his mood, what you want to play or compose ..) The answer can not be reliable on the last model proposed because after a first surprise effect you have to take a step back)
In practice, for me the most used model is Bluthner and its variants .fxp (Bösendorfer). However I recognize that the new model Steingraeber is much more nuanced and very pleasant to play, even if I find the first 2 octaves bass a little less natural to my taste, with a little too partial No1. However I have never played real Steingraeber, my game is too hard, lack of flexibility, my ears are already 58 years old and I have not yet enough back on this model.
(Although not asked here, after Bluethner - Model one BA, in position 2 : I would be split between Steingraeber - recording 1 and Steinway B - recording 1)

(I use Pianoteq exclusively with headphones, currently Kennerton Odin planar type+ Aune S6 DAC and a Casio GP500 keyboard).
Regards,

Bruno

Re: What are your favorite "Go To Presets" for playing/performing?

Hello!

Personally, I almost always use the Grotrian Player preset, with the sympathetic resonance bumped up to 2. I got the Grotrian when I got Pianoteq just as a "present" to myself, despite thinking I won't use it much. At that point I played the Bluethner most of the time (in demo mode), but afterwards I was happy to have gotten the Grotrian. The sound presentation in the player perspective feels very real and detailed through my setup, and I feel like there's a piano extending right in front of me.
This feeling is more present through the monitors (Focal Alpha 65) and a little less obvious through the headphones (Samson SR850 - very affordable but good sounding).
The Bluethner I played mostly through headphones, which may be why I liked it better - the headphones are somewhat brighter - but on the monitors it sounds a little too dark and the sound presentation is less detailed an not as immersive.

Re: What are your favorite "Go To Presets" for playing/performing?

- Steinway D Classical
- Grotrian Concert Royal
- Bluethner Model One AB
- Steingraeber E-272
- etc.

No eq, no limiter, no delay and no reverb. Just the pure sound of Pianoteq’s physical models