Pianoteq?

[TimNielsen]

Anyone here played with Pianoteq, and can comment on how they feel it compares to a high end sampled piano (Ivory Grand, Akoustic, QL Piano) etc?

[queenstonmusic]

I have Akoustic Piano and have always been disappointed by its latency, which has made it unusable in many situations. I have the Demo of Pianoteq and it plays far more realistically because it doesn't present the same latency issues. Sounds great also.

[filosofem]

For all that Pianoteq encompasses, top of the list.






filosofem

[Stiff]

I think Pianoteq has gotten somewhat of a bad rep, but I like it. It's my go-to piano plug-in should I use one. I really like the concept. I haven't tried Velvet though which is supposedly very good.

[Stig Eliassen]

I tried Pianoteq at a friend's studio, and we both hated it. Ivory all the way for me.

PS: Velvet has electric piano sounds...the Fender Rhodes Suitcase, Mark I, Mark II and the Wurlitzer A200. Sounds smokin' too.

[TimNielsen]

What did you hate about it, the sound, usability?

My problem with sample based Pianos are twofold, first is simply performance, I had a lot of issues when I tried them before (but mind you that was on a dual 2.0ghz G5, and I now have an 8-core 2.8ghz Mac Pro, so that should help).

But I do honeslty 'feel' the limited resolution on a sampled piano, say having only 8 to 10 steps of volume samples. They play bad to me.

I honestly probably care slightly more about playability than sound sample quality. As long as it sounds 'decent', I think Pianoteq might be the way to go. Will give it a try.

[filosofem]

Originally Posted by PT Lover

I tried Pianoteq at a friend's studio, and we both hated it.

Wow Stig, didn't emulate properly for you? I know you're a long time pianist, I'm really curious.






filosofem

[Oli P]

I tried it too...and wasn't too impressed.
But actually managed to create a really neat upright preset...slightly detuned and sits well in the track.

But honestly...anyone dissing Ivory in comparison with this one...really doesn't know what they are talking about.

Right now I'm mixing a very acoustic jazz project...where the piano was recorded with a pair B&K omnis and a pair of U 67's. It's a pristine recording of a great piano...but the pianist went and redid half of the tracks with the Ivory VI ...and it really compares well to the real piano in the track.
Takes a little tweaking...but once it's right...it really sounds great.

Pianoteq is not rich and complex in the midrange and lows. The top sounds pretty good...but it feels very stiff and dead compared to especially the German II in Ivory.

[Stig Eliassen]

What did you hate about it, the sound, usability?

I'm sure it's useful, it's just not "full-bodied" enough for me.

Wow Stig, didn't emulate properly for you? I know you're a long time pianist, I'm really curious.

Filo, it sounded a little plastic, especially the first attack of the note - the plunk, if you will. I just didn't get a good feeling with Pianoteq, and we had a hard time getting it to sit in the mix.

Hey, I have to be careful here - it's been a while since we tested it. My friend also bought Ivory + Italian grand, but each to his own. We are both very happy with Ivory.

My problem with sample based Pianos are twofold, first is simply performance, I had a lot of issues when I tried them before (but mind you that was on a dual 2.0ghz G5, and I now have an 8-core 2.8ghz Mac Pro, so that should help).

Yeah, me too. But I bought a dedicated FW800 drive for the Ivory items, and all good after that.

[RussUK]

Originally Posted by TimNielsen

What did you hate about it, the sound, usability?

I guess what he hated about the sound was the sound.