My pianos *DEBUNKED*

MacMacMac We’re not in any closet. Sofia is!

“She” came out, fooled us all, and went back in. 😉

She is not a She 😆

Hi,

Just a few clarifications.

I removed the Sourceforge files and took down the website voluntarily. Nobody asked or forced me to do so. Hoax notwithstanding, the 2.1 release was getting downloaded by the thousands.

I’m indeed 16, and did this alone. There are no ulterior motives or big conspiracy behind my actions, except the initial curiosity about what piano enthusiasts would say, and the subsequent fun as the mavens started to preach (which apparently they keep doing, no lesson learned there). Ego being what it is, I understand the denial.

Also, people seemed so happy, and I was reluctant to bust the bubble.

I didn’t create fake accounts or post under pretenses to stir approval. I didn’t need to. In fact, Sofia received dozens of emails every single day. She was proposed (partnerships), offered jobs, asked for expert consulting, showered with praise, the whole nine yards. I thought… is this what being Billie Eilish feels like?

I might be young, but I’m not naive nor immature. My intentions were never to belittle anyone or anything. I won’t disclose any information that might embarrass anyone who confided in Sofia privately.

I’m also not a venal person. Profit was never my goal. I’m a detail-oriented person, and the Buy Me Coffee bit was meant to add a touch of realism. The few donations were never even claimed and can be returned.

I’m not a psychology student, but certainly a keen observer of human behavior. And I was a bit disappointed by the VST community as a whole. Here were guys who wouldn’t think twice about blowing hundreds of dollars on expensive VI, but only a handful bothered to spare a few bucks to support a selfless and gifted amateur. My heart went out to the real samplists.

To end this last post on a happier note, the girl I modeled (no pun intended) Sofia after is indeed brilliant, and could probably pull off something like this for real. Have hope in the new generations.

Sofia_MZ And I was a bit disappointed by the VST community as a whole. Here were guys who wouldn’t think twice about blowing hundreds of dollars on expensive VI, but only a handful bothered to spare a few bucks to support a selfless and gifted amateur. My heart went out to the real samplists.

LOL... Real sample developers doing this for a living charge good money for their products, and I'm happy to pay them to support their livelihood.

New life lesson: if you voluntarily give away a product for free, don't be surprised if people take you up on it.

🤣

Sofia_MZ

Thank you for sharing these aspects of the adventure.

Cheers and happy projects,

HZ

Cringe.

Sofia_MZ subsequent fun as the mavens started to preach (which apparently they keep doing, no lesson learned there). Ego being what it is, I understand the denial

Are there any Pianoteq critics on this forum who praised your pianos? I’ve seen some influx of new registrations on PianoClack that apparently liked your pianos (might as well have been part of your experiment) but I haven’t seen any “mavens” doing it, and by that I mean people who are old members and who are well known, and outspoken PT critics.

Apparently you’re not 16 year old. Because kids nowadays are not interested in pianos but even if they are, they simply lack the deep context-driven buildup of the Pianoteq love/hate attitude, which is a digital-piano-forum phenomenon and can only come through years of slowly soaking into it. Besides, cross-targeting PW and this forum just out of nowhere and referring to people as though we’re one and same forum shows deep contextual knowledge and careful planning. Apparently you’re one of those PT fanatics who are disgruntled with the fact there are people who don’t share your zealotry and decided to carefully craft some elaborate hoax/joke. Enough with the BS, please 😉 16 year old, my ass. Psychology, my ass. If this was a genuine psychology experiment, it wouldn’t try to score easy points pro-PT by presenting the story about the amateur 22 year old Italian girl. You just wanted to make sure people wouldn’t be rude towards an innocent “girl” even if they heard the PT BS. So, you just desperately needed to prove a point. I wonder now why you didn’t also use some compassion-weapon such as presenting “her” as disabled or something.

Sorry about your failed hoax. You may try to present it as a success as much as you like but I don’t see it this way. I see a desperation.

Sofia_MZ I won’t disclose any information that might embarrass anyone who confided in Sofia privately.

OMG, Sofia, what did these pervs ask you to do?

Tell me, did they ask to sample your behind whilst in a G-string?

I wonder, were they curious about “how many layers” lay under that short skirt of yours?

Or did they simply want a private sampling session (stilettos not required)?

This just keeps getting better…….🤣

P.S.

People, I’m just having fun here, so take no offense, and the truth is that I did wonder about Sofia sampling a Steinway in nothing but a G-string, and tall stilettos👠; we’re all a little messed up!😉

Pete14 OMG, Sofia, what did these pervs ask you to do?

The whole gender angle in this hoax is lost on me. I never thought twice about this person being presented as a girl and not a guy. I simply wanted to try the Fazioli because people were saying it was so good. Frankly, it stunk compared to VSL's F308. The facade of a female didn't make it stink any more or less. Out of politeness to what I thought was a genuine labor of sampling love I didn't use the word stink in my description. I would have upheld the same level of courtesy male or female.

God Bless,
David

BY the thousands, I doubt it:

I also don't think this is true because my pianos on PIanobook have taken 2 years to reach 5-6k downloads, and PIanobook is/was much much more high profile than these forums.

But I agree about how tips don't work well. Some of the most generous tips I have gotten are from people on this forum actually.

dore_m I also don't think this is true because my pianos on PIanobook have taken 2 years to reach 5-6k downloads….

Yes, but you’re a guy, so I suggest you change your name to something like Sophie (from France).

I assure you that your numbers will go over the roof if only you flirt a little, in French of course!

before you get all PC on me, go ahead, give it a try, “Sophie,” and sooner than later it’ll be clear that Sophie’s choice (for samples) will crush those of boring, old Pedro (he’s from Mexico)🇲🇽

“Incredible and outstanding effort! I just listened to the mp3s, and they sound fantastic. I haven't had the chance to thoroughly explore all of your sample sets, but I must say, the quality of your work is truly remarkable!” Quote from a horny PW nerd!

Don’t you see, they’re infatuated with Sofia!

This particular nerd hasn’t even “explore(d) all of your samples,” yet he’s gushing all over Sofia!

Go ahead, Sophie, give it a try, and soon your numbers will go over the roof!

Pete14 he’s from Mexico

On a stick!

Here we see Sofia “flirting” with the nerds:

“Although I’m a through-and-through Linux girl, I’m aware there are other platforms out there “

I believe one of the nerds might’ve even offered to help carry her sampling equipment ‘round Italy free of charge….and he doesn’t even live in Italy!

So yes, this nerd was willing to leave his wife and two kids to rendezvous with Sofia over an espresso in Italy…..oh yeah, and also help with sampling sessions!😆

“The more I play these, the more I like them - really exceptional. I'm particularly impressed by the fact that these were each recorded on site in different locations and yet you've managed to achieve a remarkable consistency in clarity and ambiance, while still capturing the individual character of each instrument.”🤣🤣🤣

Okay, I need to stop, but before I leave, I have to say it again, this “teenager” is a prodigy, and if it turns out that “he’s” 50 and living in his mother’s basement it is still no less impressive! Kudos to you!

P.S.

It is one thing to fool a few for a few ‘posts,’ but this went on for quite some time over many posts and threads on several platforms, and only yesterday did someone ‘imply’ that there was something fishy, yet still some gave Sofia the chance to explain herself, and had she done so, I believe many would’ve still been on her side, “how dare you question Sofia,” but she chose to come clean.

Pete14 over an espresso in Italy

Not to start again that stuff (certainly boring already) about the Italian culture but they drink their espresso in three sips, maybe less than 20 seconds in total 😀

CG, I promise to stop after this, but it is simply too good to pass.

Here we see the same nerd that admitted not listening to all her samples, yet still, he gushed over Sofia; here he is confronting another nerd because he thinks he has a chance with Sofia, and, therefore, the competition has to be ‘taken care of’:

“You excel in crafting lengthy, often incomprehensible passages. Sometimes they make sense, but not always.”

Pete14 Your victim-blaming is beginning to appear obsessive.

Oh, come on, Quasi, don’t go all PC on me!

“Victims,” really?

But still, I promised CG that I’d stop, so I will.

Please, do proceed with the conversation…….😇

Pete14 “Victims,” really?

Victims of fraud.

This might be the time to split all of this into another thread entirely about the "scandal"