Standard vs Pro

I would encourage absolute beginners to actually buy Stage!
You can manipulate the sound a lot in Stage, but Standard now has significant benefits in layering, morphing and microphone positioning, along with other mechanical properties of the pianos, and other instruments.
If you're a seasoned pianist or somebody who really likes tinkering buy Standard, if you are just starting out and want the best piano starter pack out there get Stage.

Pro I suggest will only benefit those who are really hardcore piano modelling enthusiasts and computer enthusiasts but also synth geeks, or piano tuners, or simply professional musicians who wish to tune the sound on each and every key to the nth degree.
As I say you can already change the sound a great deal in Stage, and substantially more in standard.
Alternatively if you like absolutely all the instruments and are well heeled just go for the package with all the instruments and Pro and be done with it. You'll know that way you'll have the best of all of it, even if you're not going to use it all. If you definitely wanted all the instruments it would be the best value.

All three versions sound exactly the same on the presets. The versions have nothing whatsoever to do with quality.

48kHz actually.

Pianoteq isn't an instrument that users hear aliasing issues from. Benefits above 44.1, let alone 48kHz  are dubious.

I think those sample rates may be for the output of your audio interface rather than the internal sample rate of Pianoteq.

my advice is to start with Standard.  there's tons of functionality and you'll be able to get the job done.  i certainly haven't exhausted its possibilities and i've had the software for a few years now.  you can always upgrade to Pro later if you want.  i also wouldn't base the decision on the number of instrument packs included.  over time i just ended up getting most of the acoustic pianos as add-ons ... i couldn't resist!

Thanks everyone for your input. My head says, "Just buy it all," but my gut says, "Not so fast."  Thanks for injecting a dose of reality. I think I'll go with the standard version for now. This is probably a loaded and newbie question that has been answered many times before but which piano do you find yourselves gravitating to the most? Do you have a favorite?

Weirdly enough I don't really have a true favourite anymore, I like to try the same stuff on different pianos and then choose which one gives the best result to my ears. That's why even suggesting one becomes difficult to me. How do I know what type of sound a person likes in a piano and then make suggestions? It's a dilemma but at the same time it doesn't really need to be. When I started there was only the D4 and the Bluthner and each piano added to the now huge Pianoteq ecosystem represented a little galaxy of its own. Granted I bought them all, but purchasing them at a different time has given me the possibility to appreciate each of the models more. So I think there are also very good reasons for starting with Standard and a selection of pianos instead of gobbling up everything in one scoop.

Haha, that reminds me of myself when I first discovered Pianoteq! I took the slow and steady approach, starting with Stage, very soon wanting to upgrade to Standard, being tempted by new piano models as they were released... Well, eventually I ended up with Pro and all the pianos . Bear in mind that Modartt do sometimes run offers on upgrades and instrument packs, but it's not easy to predict what will be on offer and when. As for 'what instrument shall I choose?', I'd say just carry on playing the demos and then go with your instincts. All the instruments are good in their way, it's really a matter of personal taste.

And the Blüthner for those subdued mids. Quite unique still.

Haha, me too.... except that I haven't gone with Pro yet.

Same here, I have Stage, and I am thinking I will upgrade to Standard in a few months. Specially for the multi-microphones thing with 5.1 output.