Topic: Is Pianoteq good for layering/morphing acoustic with electric piano?

Newbie question: I’m considering upgrading from Stage to Standard to be able to morph and layer. I am particularly interested in combining an acoustic piano with Vintage MK1 or MKII. From my first browsing of this forum, I find little about this. Most postings in FXP Corner seem to be about combining two or more acoustic pianos to get a new acoustic piano. The “Layering Steinway D, MKII and Vibraphone V-B» in the Modartt page about Layering is the only example I found that was close to my intended use of layering.
So, is Pianoteq good for layering acoustic and electric pianos? My alternative is to buy KeyScape, which seems to have some beautiful readymade combinations of acoustic an electric. But its expensive. And besides, I am very pleased with the pianos in Pianoteq, both acoustic and electric stand alone in Stage.

Re: Is Pianoteq good for layering/morphing acoustic with electric piano?

have you looked in the FXP- corner: if something is already there? ... I can't think of a reason why it wouldn't work..

greetings

Re: Is Pianoteq good for layering/morphing acoustic with electric piano?

sadhö wrote:

have you looked in the FXP- corner: if something is already there? ... I can't think of a reason why it wouldn't work..

greetings

Yes, I found nothing in the FXP-corner.

I'm sure it works but is it any good? Since people don't do it, I am in doubt. Or is it just that pianoteq-people are more concerned with acoustic piano sound instead of layering them with electric pianos.

My worry is not the money, but the risk to spend hours in a layering tool that is not worth the time spent. Some people say its hard to get good results with piano model tweaking in Pianoteq. That you should leave that to the experts at Modartt.

Re: Is Pianoteq good for layering/morphing acoustic with electric piano?

I use ptq for practicing piano... so I cannot be much of a help!

BUT: download the standard trial version and try it there!! there you can blend all the instruments with the restrections of the trial-version of course...

Re: Is Pianoteq good for layering/morphing acoustic with electric piano?

Hi oddis60,

sincerely think it's worth upgrading but I think you can try the demo first too, to see if it's right for you.

I like making morphs with pianos and non-piano instruments - but every time it usually depends on the music being made.

Think of multi-track recordings.. if 2 instruments in the mix are like something would like to try, then you could try morphing them, but I sometimes prefer to have the 2 instruments separate on different tracks.. but again, just depends on the piece.

Sometimes morphs or layered instruments can be the scene setting starting point which creates the mood which inspires a new piece. Can be more instant than the process of mixing instrument tracks.

Just the experimentation can lead to interesting new ideas for a song, or sound.

[Edit to add below]..

You said it well sadhö - I just saw your post after posting my reply - cheers

Last edited by Qexl (06-06-2022 21:23)
Pianoteq Studio Bundle (Pro plus all instruments)  - Kawai MP11 digital piano - Yamaha HS8 monitors

Re: Is Pianoteq good for layering/morphing acoustic with electric piano?

Thanks! It didn't come to my mind that I could download a trial of Standard after I had allready bought Stage. Now it remains to see how good layering is. I will test it. Thanks again.

Re: Is Pianoteq good for layering/morphing acoustic with electric piano?

I think the morphing and layering features are great! The various non-piano instruments such as xylophones, marimbas, harps, etc. can add an excellent unique color to an acoustic piano module, if used judiciously. You end up with an instrument that is as dynamic and expressive as an acoustic piano, but sounds like something new and different. I find this inspiring and helps me come up with new ideas. Electric and acoustic pianos used together can also make very nice effects. And of course, morphing between a couple of the acoustic pianos gives you essentially a new acoustic piano model. Possibilities are endless!

Re: Is Pianoteq good for layering/morphing acoustic with electric piano?

Morphing is the bigger deal as it's very effective at making entirely new instruments from physical modelling. This isn't really possible with sample instruments.

Layering is nice and convenient but it's always been pretty trivial to do this with any version in a DAW like Reaper and you apply any 3rd party FX collectively or per instrument, or both. That way you can have separate MIDI tracks per instrument, if you wanted.
I do like the layering though, even inside a DAW. Less virtual clutter!

Re: Is Pianoteq good for layering/morphing acoustic with electric piano?

Thanks to everyone who responded!
I upgraded to Standard, and I am amazed by what layering a favourite acoustic piano with one of the Vintage Tines gives me. A dream to play. I am not a DAW guy. I do not compose, I do not record; I just turn on the piano to play. Like with an acoustic piano. Then this is a great solution. Morphing has not created anything interesting for me yet, but I will try some more.

Re: Is Pianoteq good for layering/morphing acoustic with electric piano?

Great to know oddis60.

I really appreciate how many ways you can use morphing and layering. From combining random instruments, which can be fun, to doing pretty specific things, like using the same instrument on each layer but with different volumes/panning to create spatial or near-reverb for a unique flavor.

Enjoy your new fun tools

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