Topic by Nigel Hammond

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Topic: I still prefer pianoteq 6 - does anyone feel the same?

I’ve had Pianoteq 7 since its launch but I tend to keep reverting back to Pianioteq 6. I like to play with emotion and there is something about the sound of Steinway model D (prelude) on Pianoteq 6 that brings me on the verge of tears when I play. While the quality of the New York and Hamburg Steinways on PT7 are improved and beautifully recreated, they leave me emotionally cold by comparison - especially the New York version.  I can’t explain why, they just do. Does anyone else find this?

Last edited by Nigel Hammond (29-03-2022 09:18)

Reply by dazric

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Re: I still prefer pianoteq 6 - does anyone feel the same?

I haven't gone back to v6 more than a few times just for curiosity, but I kind of get what you mean about the NY Steinway D. I was blown away by it at first, but it does seem rather cold somehow, and I'm now tending to favour the HB D and the B. The reason I'm sticking with v7 is because I really struggled to get a satisfying 'piano in a recital hall' sound in v6, but in v7 I'm getting much closer to my ideal, especially with the Steinways.
But hey, the great thing about Pianoteq is that you can go back to the old version if you want to! Just a thought: have you tried going into a DAW and blending in a little bit of v7 with the v6 Steinway?

Last edited by dazric (29-03-2022 10:28)

Reply by Key Fumbler

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Re: I still prefer pianoteq 6 - does anyone feel the same?

I like all the modern pianos in Pianoteq.
It's not for the sake of realism (and memory can be rose tinted) but there was something appealingly warm about the Blüthner Model One in piano in Pianoteq 5. A sweet quality that disappeared with greater detail and dynamics of 6-7 models. It's not harsh now, it's nothing like that. More that the character seemed to change the most.
Before 6-7 I suspect that the modelled aliquot strings gave that piano a realism missing from the other models up that point.
Entirely subjective stuff. Maybe I would go back and be a little irritated by the softer sound?

Reply by weightedKeys

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Re: I still prefer pianoteq 6 - does anyone feel the same?

is it possible to have multiple versions of the software installed? v5, v6, v7 etc?

Reply by Pianoteqenthusiast

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Re: I still prefer pianoteq 6 - does anyone feel the same?

weightedKeys wrote:

is it possible to have multiple versions of the software installed? v5, v6, v7 etc?

Hello weightedKeys

Yes, I have vers 5, 6, 7 in my Mac mini late 2014. But sometimes I miss the warmth and softness of vers 5

https://youtu.be/oD2piR2WMW4

But I'm very happy with NY Steinway D Classical Recording now and vers 7, all pianos, my subjective experience

https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=9258

Best wishes,

Stig

Pianoteqenthusiast, Organteqenthusiast, Harpteqenthusiast

Last edited by Pianoteqenthusiast (29-03-2022 13:33)

Reply by Fleer

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Re: I still prefer pianoteq 6 - does anyone feel the same?

Key Fumbler wrote:

I like all the modern pianos in Pianoteq.
It's not for the sake of realism (and memory can be rose tinted) but there was something appealingly warm about the Blüthner Model One in piano in Pianoteq 5. A sweet quality that disappeared with greater detail and dynamics of 6-7 models. It's not harsh now, it's nothing like that. More that the character seemed to change the most.
Before 6-7 I suspect that the modelled aliquot strings gave that piano a realism missing from the other models up that point.
Entirely subjective stuff. Maybe I would go back and be a little irritated by the softer sound?

I get your point. Definitely, the Blüthner is clearer now, but used to be more subdued, which made it stand out vis-à-vis the other grands. Wouldn’t mind regaining that softer sound while maintaining clarity.

Pianoteq Pro Studio with Bösendorfer, Shigeru Kawai and Organteq

Reply by dazric

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Re: I still prefer pianoteq 6 - does anyone feel the same?

Yes, I think that's the final piece of the puzzle for Modartt, to find that subtle hint of warmth to balance out the fine detail. I feel as if we're getting very close to the 'Goldilocks zone', but we're not quite there yet.

Considering this point a bit more, I think I've hit on something. A lot of the factory presets sound great when you're using the pedal, they really do. But play some individual notes without pedal, and they can sound - dare I say it? - a bit dull and lifeless. And I think that's the 'x factor' which is lacking at the moment. I'm confident that Modartt will get there eventually, but it may take some time!

Last edited by dazric (30-03-2022 14:20)

Reply by budo

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Re: I still prefer pianoteq 6 - does anyone feel the same?

6 was great but i'm plenty happy with the improvements in 7.  i did have to adjust some custom presets, but otherwise i really like it.

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Reply by sandalholme

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Re: I still prefer pianoteq 6 - does anyone feel the same?

Although I kept older versions Pianoteq over a period of time, I culled them as I needed to save disk space. I agree with Fleer that whilst V7 is better overall, I miss the sound of the Bluethner in V6.  (The V7 Bluethner has a great sound, but it's lost its unique dark, smoky tone) However, when I get partway through trying to install V6, just for the Bluethner, I cannot specify an alternate destination other than the hard drive, so I guess it would overwrite V7. is there a way of redirecting it to a new folder e.g. PTV6?  I know in the past I have run 2 different versions of Pianoteq so 2 versions can be resident on the same drive.

Reply by Funky40

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Re: I still prefer pianoteq 6 - does anyone feel the same?

Fleer wrote:
Key Fumbler wrote:

I like all the modern pianos in Pianoteq.
It's not for the sake of realism (and memory can be rose tinted) but there was something appealingly warm about the Blüthner Model One in piano in Pianoteq 5. A sweet quality that disappeared with greater detail and dynamics of 6-7 models. It's not harsh now, it's nothing like that. More that the character seemed to change the most.
Before 6-7 I suspect that the modelled aliquot strings gave that piano a realism missing from the other models up that point.
Entirely subjective stuff. Maybe I would go back and be a little irritated by the softer sound?

I get your point. Definitely, the Blüthner is clearer now, but used to be more subdued, which made it stand out vis-à-vis the other grands. Wouldn’t mind regaining that softer sound while maintaining clarity.

i *totally* agree !
ALL i liked the Blüthner for, in PT V5, was lost in later iterations.

( not a trained player, though / and never played real Grand Pianos. so i have no clue how a real Blüthner should sound.
But in PT, for me, was it some sort of warmth, even some sort of darkness - with altered velocity curves. much "softened" - that made the Blüthner what it was for me.)

The Blüthner V5 is missed. With a touch of clarity would be nice and welcome

Reply by theinvisibleman

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Re: I still prefer pianoteq 6 - does anyone feel the same?

Nigel Hammond wrote:

I’ve had Pianoteq 7 since its launch but I tend to keep reverting back to Pianioteq 6. I like to play with emotion and there is something about the sound of Steinway model D (prelude) on Pianoteq 6 that brings me on the verge of tears when I play. While the quality of the New York and Hamburg Steinways on PT7 are improved and beautifully recreated, they leave me emotionally cold by comparison - especially the New York version.  I can’t explain why, they just do. Does anyone else find this?

the last few updates have added harsh ringing to the sound so yeah unfortunately it has made the Steinway unusable for me now.

Last edited by theinvisibleman (18-04-2022 14:14)

Reply by Nigel Hammond

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Re: I still prefer pianoteq 6 - does anyone feel the same?

Two years after posting this thread and having become used to version 8 (Steinway D Hamburg - prelude), I have had another play of soft music on version 6 and still find it more emotional, so I have just done a side-by-side comparison looking at the settings and I think I have discovered why.  I have realised the pedal sound on version 6 when mixed with beautiful sustained harmonies somehow brings on a lump in my throat feeling!  I can't explain why but it does! The exact feeling of trying to hold back tears and it automatically throws me into feeling tearful.  The pedal sound on versions 7 and 8 is much more subtle and airy, less metallic and does not have this effect on me. Weird I know and probably just me but I hope version 6 continues to work or that Modartt brings back this type of pedal sound as an option in later versions.

Reply by Key Fumbler

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Re: I still prefer pianoteq 6 - does anyone feel the same?

Nigel Hammond wrote:

Two years after posting this thread and having become used to version 8 (Steinway D Hamburg - prelude), I have had another play of soft music on version 6 and still find it more emotional, so I have just done a side-by-side comparison looking at the settings and I think I have discovered why.  I have realised the pedal sound on version 6 when mixed with beautiful sustained harmonies somehow brings on a lump in my throat feeling!  I can't explain why but it does! The exact feeling of trying to hold back tears and it automatically throws me into feeling tearful.  The pedal sound on versions 7 and 8 is much more subtle and airy, less metallic and does not have this effect on me. Weird I know and probably just me but I hope version 6 continues to work or that Modartt brings back this type of pedal sound as an option in later versions.

As I recall the old pedals were very tiny samples as opposed to modelling.  Maybe this is what you preferred?

It could just be a question of sound pressure level balance though.
Try increasing the pedal noise (and other settings while you are there) in the "Action" section.

Reply by moshuajusic

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Re: I still prefer pianoteq 6 - does anyone feel the same?

Nigel Hammond wrote:

Two years after posting this thread and having become used to version 8 (Steinway D Hamburg - prelude), I have had another play of soft music on version 6 and still find it more emotional, so I have just done a side-by-side comparison looking at the settings and I think I have discovered why.  I have realised the pedal sound on version 6 when mixed with beautiful sustained harmonies somehow brings on a lump in my throat feeling!  I can't explain why but it does! The exact feeling of trying to hold back tears and it automatically throws me into feeling tearful.  The pedal sound on versions 7 and 8 is much more subtle and airy, less metallic and does not have this effect on me. Weird I know and probably just me but I hope version 6 continues to work or that Modartt brings back this type of pedal sound as an option in later versions.

I fired up v6 out of curiosity. Jacked up the "pedal noise" volume. Sounds the same to me as in v8. But I do think v6 was a leap for them and still holds up.