Topic by gtingley

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Topic: Actual Steinway B vs. Pianoteq Steinway B

Over the last couple years I had the occasion of recording three times on an actual Steinway B (1911) in Oakland, CA. Fantastic room with the best microphones on the planet.

When I recently discovered Pianoteq software, I was anxious to record some of the same pieces to make a side by side comparison.

Well, yesterday was the big day. In going back and forth between actual and virtual pianos, I often found myself confused as to what I was hearing. I heard no difference at all between the real and virtual. Even the reverb settings seemed to match (pure luck, I would imagine).

Just wondering, has anyone here had any similar experience?

gpt

Reply by scherbakov.al

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Re: Actual Steinway B vs. Pianoteq Steinway B

If you have sample files, then it's interesting to listen to the comparison. Especially since you can simulate a similar position of microphones and reverb.

Last edited by scherbakov.al (05-08-2018 21:33)

Reply by dazric

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Re: Actual Steinway B vs. Pianoteq Steinway B

scherbakov.al wrote:

If you have sample files, then it's interesting to listen to the comparison. Especially since you can simulate a similar position of microphones and reverb.

Yes please, if you are able to upload some A/B samples that would be great!

Reply by Luc Henrion

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Re: Actual Steinway B vs. Pianoteq Steinway B

and, by the way... what are those "best" mics ? ;-)

Luc Henrion's Website

Reply by gtingley

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Re: Actual Steinway B vs. Pianoteq Steinway B

I will posting an A/B comparison in the next few minutes. There will be five excerpts, each with an A/B. I need to check with the engineer to know what microphones were used on the actual Steinway B.

https://www.forum-pianoteq.com/viewtopic.php?id=5871

Reply by Amen Ptah Ra

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Re: Actual Steinway B vs. Pianoteq Steinway B

Have just listened to your post and have to admit; I prefer your B’s to A’s.  Will you post an FXP also?

Last edited by Amen Ptah Ra (08-08-2018 06:10)
Pianoteq 8 Studio Bundle, Pearl malletSTATION EM1, Roland (DRUM SOUND MODULE TD-30, HandSonic 10, AX-1), Akai EWI USB, Yamaha DIGITAL PIANO P-95, M-Audio STUDIOPHILE BX5, Focusrite Saffire PRO 24 DSP.

Reply by peterws

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Re: Actual Steinway B vs. Pianoteq Steinway B

Impressive!  The second sounds like Pianoteq.  But there's hardly any difference.

I'm playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order

Reply by Qexl

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Re: Actual Steinway B vs. Pianoteq Steinway B

Thanks for your time and effort taken to produce this. I really love hearing this kind of thing. There's much to like about each. I suspect which is which but certainly, Pianoteq has crossed a particular boundary.

Pianoteq Studio Bundle (Pro plus all instruments)  - Kawai MP11 digital piano - Yamaha HS8 monitors

Reply by Beto-Music

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Re: Actual Steinway B vs. Pianoteq Steinway B

The Steinway B recording sounds good, despite be from 1911.
Many old Steinway of 100 years ago or so don't sound great, as many god restoration not exactly as good as should. This one was probably very well preserved.

Last edited by Beto-Music (09-08-2018 00:56)

Reply by gtingley

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Re: Actual Steinway B vs. Pianoteq Steinway B

I have listed the various mics used in my recordings on the actual Steinway B (1911) in the other forum where there has been a discussion comparing an actual Steinway B with the virtual Pianoteq Steinway B.
Let me just list them again here.

1. A pair of small diaphragm cardioid Neumann KM88i inside the piano
2. A pair of multi-patterned Sennheiser MK800 on the outside
3. A pair of Sanken co-100 omnis further back

1. A pair of Schoeps CMC6/MK4v condensors in the curve of the piano
2. A pair of vintage AKG C414EB up near the hammers (rock style)
3. A pair of Sennheiser MKH800 cardioids in ORTF stereo further away

Steve Jarvis, my microphone guru, began his career in the 1970s at the famed Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco. These mics have been used in sessions including Santana, Train, Norah Jones, and Barbara Streisand just to name a few.

Last edited by gtingley (22-08-2018 19:52)