Topic by TheodorN

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Topic: Pianoteq Stage and microphones

Hello, and happy new year to all. I have a question, to which maybe some could provide answers.

I went straight to Pianoteq Standard, when I got my copy, since I wanted to have the added tweaking options, though I don't use them much. As most of you know, it's possible to tweak microphone positions, and models - up to five simultaneously - in Standard, and of course in Pro, with some added options.

What I would like to ask, is if the factory presets are the same across all the three versions, or if the presets in Pianoteq Stage are a subset of the presets in Standard and Pro, with fewer microphones. I understand you can't play with microphones at all in Stage.

Another thing, can one see the microphones being used in Pianoteq Stage, and how they are positioned, even though it's not possible to make any changes?

Reply by Key Fumbler

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Re: Pianoteq Stage and microphones

TheodorN wrote:

Hello, and happy new year to all. I have a question, to which maybe some could provide answers.

I went straight to Pianoteq Standard, when I got my copy, since I wanted to have the added tweaking options, though I don't use them much. As most of you know, it's possible to tweak microphone positions, and models - up to five simultaneously - in Standard, and of course in Pro, with some added options.

What I would like to ask, is if the factory presets are the same across all the three versions, or if the presets in Pianoteq Stage are a subset of the presets in Standard and Pro, with fewer microphones. I understand you can't play with microphones at all in Stage.

Another thing, can one see the microphones being used in Pianoteq Stage, and how they are positioned, even though it's not possible to make any changes?

The sound is completely identical in all three versions - when not dealing with user presets. In other words the factory presets are the same.

The presets are exactly the same, and it's all the same ones. No more, no less.

The microphone positions are obviously exactly the same. You just can't see them or adjust them - apart from choosing a different preset. That part of the modelling isn't visible in the Stage version of Pianoteq.

You can still substantially change the sound from each preset via the FX section, and the other EQ outside of the FX section.

If a Stage user wants to see the actual microphone positioning they can download the demo of Standard. Then it's down to your memory or whatever.

Reply by TheodorN

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Re: Pianoteq Stage and microphones

Thank you Key Fumbler. I did install Pianoteq Stage temporarily (have uninstalled it again) and indeed, I couldn't see the microphone positions. Pity, I think Stage users should be able to see what microphones are used, but that's up to the Modartt team.

For the Stage users who may be wondering about this, usually the presets containing the word Recording, NY Steinway D Classical Recording, Blüthner Studio Recording BA, and so on, have a lot of microphones. As well as the Player Wide presets, but Player and Player Clean, usually contain only two microphones.

Reply by Chopin87

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Re: Pianoteq Stage and microphones

TheodorN wrote:

Thank you Key Fumbler. I did install Pianoteq Stage temporarily (have uninstalled it again) and indeed, I couldn't see the microphone positions. Pity, I think Stage users should be able to see what microphones are used, but that's up to the Modartt team.

For the Stage users who may be wondering about this, usually the presets containing the word Recording, NY Steinway D Classical Recording, Blüthner Studio Recording BA, and so on, have a lot of microphones. As well as the Player Wide presets, but Player and Player Clean, usually contain only two microphones.

You can download the Standard trial version, see the microphones and modify them as well to your liking. In my opinion it doesn't make much sense having a panel that it's completely locked off and you can just look at it in the stage version. Kinda leaves a bad taste in the mouth not being able to do anything in a paid version.

"And live to be the show and gaze o' the time."  (William Shakespeare)

Reply by Key Fumbler

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Re: Pianoteq Stage and microphones

Chopin87 wrote:
TheodorN wrote:

Thank you Key Fumbler. I did install Pianoteq Stage temporarily (have uninstalled it again) and indeed, I couldn't see the microphone positions. Pity, I think Stage users should be able to see what microphones are used, but that's up to the Modartt team.

For the Stage users who may be wondering about this, usually the presets containing the word Recording, NY Steinway D Classical Recording, Blüthner Studio Recording BA, and so on, have a lot of microphones. As well as the Player Wide presets, but Player and Player Clean, usually contain only two microphones.

You can download the Standard trial version, see the microphones and modify them as well to your liking. In my opinion it doesn't make much sense having a panel that it's completely locked off and you can just look at it in the stage version. Kinda leaves a bad taste in the mouth not being able to do anything in a paid version.

I upgraded from Stage to Standard and I have no beef with not being able to see the microphone positioning. If anything I felt like I was slightly cheating looking at the microphone positioning in the Standard version to understand the presets sound better - but as a marketing tool it did it's job, now I have Standard!

If I only had Stage Pianoteq would remain my go to Piano library. All three versions are highly capable.

Last edited by Key Fumbler (04-01-2023 19:43)

Reply by TheodorN

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Re: Pianoteq Stage and microphones

Chopin87, I have a Pianoteq Standard license, not just trial, I was just wondering how things looked for Stage only users, trial or license. Though you've got a very valid point, maybe there's no reason to show an interface you can't make any changes to at all.

Key Fumbler, your words show that at least you were wondering about what microphones and their positions were being used. I was contemplating if I should create a spreadsheet listing microphones, and how they were used. Considering the huge number of presets, the amount of work it would require, is astronomical, LOL! Maybe it would be easier to instead create a video for this purpose.

I'm glad I got Standard, I like having all these options. I just seldom manage to improve on the presets, so I prefer just to find a preset that is good enough. I'm more worried about the quality of my playing, than the quality of the piano sounds! So even if I like having this tweaking control, I would probably recommend to new users to get Stage rather than Standard.

Last edited by TheodorN (04-01-2023 22:15)

Reply by Key Fumbler

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Re: Pianoteq Stage and microphones

TheodorN wrote:

.. I prefer just to find a preset that is good enough. I'm more worried about the quality of my playing, than the quality of the piano sounds! So even if I like having this tweaking control, I would probably recommend to new users to get Stage rather than Standard.

Never mind the quality, feel the width!
A seriously good pianist with just one model and one well chosen preset would be more capable than most of us with the whole selection, but we cannot buy talent - well -  beyond years of expensive lessons and affordable free time for them anyway!

I can easily recommend Stage, I think it's a good way to get into Pianoteq. - dips your toes first. I almost think they should make an even more simple one. Say a 60 euro preset player Pianoteq Entrée with no adjustable FX and less presets (just the highest quality general purpose presets)  - just the option to turn off FX. Four versions though could create more confusion perhaps?

Frankly Stage is probably all a lot of people would want, and then some more!

Last edited by Key Fumbler (05-01-2023 00:43)

Reply by Professor Leandro Duarte

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Re: Pianoteq Stage and microphones

Key Fumbler wrote:
TheodorN wrote:

.. I prefer just to find a preset that is good enough. I'm more worried about the quality of my playing, than the quality of the piano sounds! So even if I like having this tweaking control, I would probably recommend to new users to get Stage rather than Standard.

Never mind the quality, feel the width!
A seriously good pianist with just one model and one well chosen preset would be more capable than most of us with the whole selection, but we cannot buy talent - well -  beyond years of expensive lessons and affordable free time for them anyway!

I can easily recommend Stage, I think it's a good way to get into Pianoteq. - dips your toes first. I almost think they should make an even more simple one. Say a 60 euro preset player Pianoteq Entrée with no adjustable FX and less presets (just the highest quality general purpose presets)  - just the option to turn off FX. Four versions though could create more confusion perhaps?

Frankly Stage is probably all a lot of people would want, and then some more!


I recognize that having tweak options for configuration and customization is important. But I confess I have particular problems with too many options. I have a kind of obsessive compulsive disorder by standards. So, mismatched knobs, extensive list of presets in front of me disturb me a lot.

Maybe that's why I opted for the "Stage" version. Even so, it has enough tweaking options to unsettle me and make me spend more time setting things up than actually playing the piano.

Respeito, Esforço e Sabedoria

Reply by Key Fumbler

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Re: Pianoteq Stage and microphones

Simplicity is the key for many people. A simple preset player version I think would be welcome.

Hardware designers and software developers for some leisure pursuits/hobbies should realise that the people with money and free time are often older people.

A lot of those people don't want their leisure time to feel like work. They don't want to learn more equipment, they don't want to learn more software. They just want to get in there and use their purchase immediately, and intuitively.
They do not want to be made to feel old.

Complex software, home cinema receivers, home computers, advanced features on set top boxes with menus upon menus of technical terms (however seemingly simplistic) are nonetheless intimidating for a lot of people.

I am not talking about my own personal requirements. I'm only too happy to nerd out with all the technical features in Standard, though I'm not currently drawn to Pro to be honest.