Topic: Pianoteq 7 is awesome
Want to give a huge shout out....
Just upgraded from 6 to Pianoteq 7.
The sound is stunningly beautiful. Very much worth the upgrade. Your effort on these improvements is truly appreciated.
steve
- steve200
- Member
- Offline
- DarioCastelli
- Member
- Offline
Re: Pianoteq 7 is awesome
Hi Steve.
I purchased the upgrade of Pianoteq Stage from 6 to 7, but, if i understood correctly, you need Standard or Pro for features Morphing and Layering.
Given that, I don't see any difference between the old and the new versions. Atleast not on Grotarian pianos.
Can you point to me the difference, please?
Thanks!
- Qexl
- Member
- Offline
Re: Pianoteq 7 is awesome
That's good to hear steve200! Glad you're enjoying it.
@DarioCastelli,
The Grotrian is one I really enjoy playing and recording with. I hear a very rich improvement to it. I'll try answer your question - it's an interesting one - and it's easy to miss the improvement on day one - but give it time, it becomes clear and I know that as much as I appreciated ver. 6, I love version 7 substantially more.
Whilst Stage does not have the new morphing and layering features, there are still refinements to the physical model and an additional New York Steinway D piano and its presets.
At the Pianoteq Overview page, this tab labelled "What's new?" gives some details.
I'll quote it for convenience to people in a hurry..
Pianoteq 7 "What's new?" tab - Refined physical model wrote:
Modartt introduces a new refinement in its physical model: the double polarization. It consists in modelling string vibrations that can take any direction, e.g. parallel or perpendicular to the soundboard. The new physical model allows more complex tones to be produced, and as observed by a pianist, the sound becomes "three-dimensional". It also allows longer sustain, particularly in the bass range, with notes lasting up to a couple of minutes, just like on a real acoustic piano. All pianos in Pianoteq 7 are constructed and revoiced using this new physical model.
Pianoteq 7 also upgrades the existing Hamburg Steinway D piano and now includes also a NY Steinway D (2 in the instrument pack instead of 1 instrument) each with their specific characteristics to enjoy.
quote=Pianoteq 7 "What's new?" tab - New grand piano modelled after a New York Steinway Model D wrote:
In collaboration with Steinway & Sons, Modartt has recorded a beautiful new Model D Concert Grand at the famous New York Steinway Hall. The reference piano was the very first produced of Steinway’s groundbreaking new flagship instrument — the Model D Spirio|r, and has been used by some of the most famous pianists in the world today. The new New York Steinway Model D for Pianoteq accompanies the existing Hamburg Steinway D and provides the famous Steinway concert piano sound with superb musical expression.
To me, it would be a worthy upgrade from Stage 6 to Stage 7 for the same improvements to overall engine produced tonal qualities plus new NY Steinway D, as found in Standard and Pro, just without Morphing and Layering.
Stage is the entry level product, with default pianos and presets, so if morphing and layering instruments is something of interest, it makes sense to introduce that ability to Standard and Pro because they have the necessary controls with which to adequately adjust these morphs and layered sounds to taste.
It's worth listening to demo audio of the instruments in which you are interested, they definitely are improved over ver. 6 and while I would recommend upgrading, it's possible some will be happy at ver. 6 - although for recording purposes ver. 7 has definite advantages and realism is increased enough for me to feel very comfortable to suggest this. If you don't easily discern the differences, I'd suggest to take some time to do some A/B testing of the demo music on the website against your version 6 install, to see if you will enjoy the new engine improvements.
With many upgrades, there's been a pattern I've seen myself where it may take a day or more of playing the new engine before all the benefits become apparent.
When I now listen to recordings with ver. 6, I wish I did these with 7 - everyone will have their own arc with using Pianoteq but mine is positive on every point. The new version 7 is to me a large step up.
Hope that gives some help.
Pianoteq Studio Bundle (Pro plus all instruments) - Kawai MP11 digital piano - Yamaha HS8 monitors
- lowendtheory
- Member
- Offline
Re: Pianoteq 7 is awesome
Is it me or has the Bluthner received a significant upgrade to its sound? Hammer attacks sound more natural, less ice-picky, and the L-modes on the copper wound notes no longer sound harsh as they were in v6. Overall, the tone sounds less artificial, more like real wire interacting with a soundboard!
The L-modes of the first 9 keys are pitched higher, some by a whole step; were they changed to match a typical example of a Model One?
Out of all the pianos to receive the upgrade, the Bluthner seemed to be the one with the most change in its tone, with the Petrof following a close second.
The rest (C. Bechstein, YC5, etc..) have the more natural sounding hammer attacks and plain wire tone as the Bluthner has.
It'd be interesting to hear a comparison of the v4 Bluthner vs the v7 Bluthner, to see how much it has improved.
Last edited by lowendtheory (07-12-2020 06:41)
- Philippe Guillaume
- Admin
- Offline
Re: Pianoteq 7 is awesome
lowendtheory wrote:
The L-modes of the first 9 keys are pitched higher, some by a whole step; were they changed to match a typical example of a Model One?
Good observation. It is sometimes difficult to measure the L-modes in the lowest range (there may be some ambiguity), and while reworking on a model it happens sometimes that we correct some previous measurement errors. So the new version should be more faithful to the original Blüthner Model One that served as reference.
- jcitron
- Member
- Offline
Re: Pianoteq 7 is awesome
I agree! I have really enjoyed the refreshed pianos in this version which have made the playing more natural and very immersive. While it was annoying having to redo my presets I created, the end results are more rewarding due to the better pianos because I didn't need to adjust as much to achieve the same or better results.
Well done Philippe!
- Steven Brown
- Member
- Offline
Re: Pianoteq 7 is awesome
This new version sounds more real, without resorting to emulating the faults of an acoustic piano. Well done, Modartt.