My Concern with PianoTeq

David Lai · 2024-10-03T13:46:50+00:00

Hi friends, This thread is mainly for, well, you guessed it. Under inspiration of Pete14's message on a thread about a sampled Steinway D: "Okay, let’s forget about who’s the best for a minute (Pianoteq), and pay attention to the bigger picture…" In his mind, there's none other than PianoTeq that has all he wants in a piano. It's a pitty the demo of PianoTeq has some non-working keys, otherwise, I would now throw in an audio file of recordings from a real Steinway, compared to Modern D, then PianoTeq. But since I can't, I'll do the next best thing. I discovered this video not long ago, and I thought I'd post it here. It's someone demoing PianoTeq's acoustic pianos in various musical styles. Here are my thoughts after listening to the video: From version 6 (pirated version I happen to try) to now with version 8 (as presented in this video), how far have we come? It seems like we've progressed little, if not at all. The nasal mids are still there, the synthetic high register is still there, the strange tones when played loudly is still there. The synthetic quality of this synthesizer remains unchanged. And no matter what type or kind of piano it attempts at, it fails because it has its own sound signature pasted on all of these pianos. So they are not models of Steinways, they are PianoTeq versions of Steinways at best, and I'm being polite in still giving it a name and place. That's why PianoTeq never won me over in the first place, even with its playability and phrasing. Of course, it's small on resources, too, but the main thing that makes me want to continue using the piano VST is its sound, and that, PianoTeq loses bigtime. Now with the Modern D, I could phrase like when I'm on VSL, or (heck) PianoTeq, but it won't give me a harsh metallic synth sound. What I hear is a warm, true-to-life sound that is just like the Steinways I've played at school, and the Steinways I hear on recordings. Which is the best? Clearly, a 100% sampled Modern D! As for PianoTeq, if we look at it realisticly, from a sound and aesthetic perspective, it pales in comparison. Now, some people might say, what about resonances? Well, an actual acoustic piano has resonances that blooms over time, and as new notes add to the resonance, the gradual fluctuation of the volume of the resonances is something magical. For the first time, Modern D captures this kind of life-like (living) resonance experience. However, while PianoTeq is best when it stays in the background offering modeled resonances, its resonances can be best be described as a wall. It never interacts with the sounding note, and thus, is dead, not life-like (living). Double hit for PianoTeq. That's all I have to say about it, and I'm very serious about it. No joke! For proof, just listen to the kind of sound PianoTeq produces, as that video as an example. OK, let me take a break from this topic for a bit. You guys, have fun.

pianow

QuasiUnaFantasia
the point is I'm not doing both at the same time😂
we're literally 60 people in here and it's not like I'm doing everything just by myself, so there's time to text and call other people.

David Lai

pianow Good point. 🙂

Pete14

David Lai And smart speakers could let you go hands free while cooking. There are lots of ways to make Internet and cooking work!

But that’s my point; it’s not whether you could do it, but rather whether you should.

Yes, you can go hands free to type your thoughts whilst your hands sauté some onions, but in the end something’s gotta give, and you either end up burning down the onions, or screwing up your “message to the world.”

Well, I have a message for you people, I come from a time whence people did one thing at a time, but boy, did they do it well, but now, I order a well-done steak, yet still they give me rare (code for raw), why? because they’re effing busy doing other things whilst they cook my steak!

Do you think Einstein would’ve cracked the theory of relativity if he’d been on the phone with his mistress whilst he worked on the advanced mathematics? NO! and that’s why he locked himself up for weeks at a time to concentrate on one and only one thing!

And then we wonder why we don’t have people like Einstein anymore…….newsflash: you can’t figure out “The theory of everything” if you’re trying to do every single thing at the same time!

BTW, why do you think “modern” Steinways suck compared to “vintage” Steinways? Well, that’s because the guy working on your modern M (acoustic) is also busy ranting on this here forum……at the same time!

pianow

Pete14

i unignored you pete, the forum hasn't been the same without its resident troll😂 and of course there's no need to use your other fake account anymore.

Pete14 I wanna know what restaurant this “guy” works at, so I can give it ONE star

i wouldn't worry about that troll, our restaurant is way out of your budget, you always complaining about 150$ vsts and how expensive they are, keep your money blah blah blah...
we have 400$ pastas on the menu here.

David Lai

Pete14 Thanks for stretching my point, Pete, and making what I had expressed as a simple point, an extended rant about multi-tasking / modern conveniences. Let me take a break…

pianow

Pete14 Well, I have a message for you people, I come from a time whence people did one thing at a time,

the man (🤡) of the future is playing the classic gentleman role eh? that's nice 😀

Pete14

Frankly, you’re starting to piss me off, Pianow!

And no, I’m not “Frankly,” but I do appreciate his insights!

P.S.

What kind of a scam are you running at that so-called “restaurant”; charging $400 for pasta!

You do know, Mr. Troll, that pasta was considered pedestrian and for the poor, and it wasn’t till some scam artist decided to up-charge for this basic “dish” that prices got out of control, but still, you beat the record charging $400 for a half-cooked pasta, and I wonder, does it come with a happy ending?

pianow

Pete14

like i said : way out of your budget

so it isn't unexpected for me to see you complaining about the price you fat troll.

Pete14

I’m starting to think you work at a brothel that happens to serve food, and not the other way around!

Pete14

“Hello, Pianow, how’s it hanging?”

“A little to the left.”

“So, what’s the house special.”

“We have young & tender, old & wrinkled, and short & fat with a side of pasta, of course.”

“Okay, I’ll have the old & wrinkled so long as she’s not on a walker, and the pasta, of course!

David B

I'm with @Pete14. People are too connected to their devices. They are walking around always staring at their phones oblivious to the world around them. I purposely never look at my phone when I'm in public unless I must answer a call. I pay attention to the world around me and the people in it. @pianow, put down the phone and cook Pete a good steak. 😀

God Bless,
David

Pete14

David B

Thank you!

And here I thought it a lost cause for a moment (trying to change/help these people), but the likes of Frankly & David (and CG, of course) understand where I’m coming from.

How do you like them apples, Pianow!

QuasiUnaFantasia

Pete14 Do you think Einstein would’ve cracked the theory of relativity if he’d been on the phone with his mistress whilst he worked on the advanced mathematics?

Actually, Einstein slept his way to that theory; the break-through came to him in a dream.

Pete14 And then we wonder why we don’t have people like Einstein anymore…….newsflash: you can’t figure out “The theory of everything” if you’re trying to do every single thing at the same time!

The reason we don't have Einstein's anymore is that academia does not like mavericks; instead conformity to standards is lauded, and education is valued above original research.

pianow

Pete14

it's not your country you little troll, my homeland is quite religious.

Pete14

QuasiUnaFantasia Actually, Einstein slept his way to that theory; the break-through came to him in a dream.

I’ll give you this, he was a lady’s man……you know what I’m saying? 😉

QuasiUnaFantasia The reason we don't have Einstein's anymore is that academia does not like maverick; instead conformity to standards is lauded, and education is valued above original research.

This!

Pete14

pianow it's not your country you little troll, my homeland is quite religious.

So, you don’t have brothels (that happen to serve food) ‘round there?

And by the way, I want my steak well-done…..chop-chop (actually, no, not “chop-chop,” take your time; I’ll be right here waiting for it and a side of fries)……

pianow

David B

I'm not texting while working, and there's no way i cook this hungry fat troll a steak😂
but i agree, I'm not the type who use their phone all the time, in fact i never do this when I'm free, but here is a different story, the only thing we can do when there's no work is coffee breaks and calls (texts and such)
but the most important thing is that in the autumn we don't get many costumers (not just us but most restaurants in the country) so we have more free Time.

MacMacMac

Pete14 And yes, I agree with Mac, stop feeding this “Pianow” troll!

He shoots … and he misses!

dickiefunk

I have Pianoteq and am probably going against quite a few opinions but I think it has got better with each update. However, these can sometimes be very small increments at times.

I actually use Pianoteq for most of my piano recordings these days because I feel I play better with this library. I prefer it to some sample libraries but I do still hear some synthetic qualities to the sound. This is gradually improving with each update though. If Modartt are able to get rid of the synthetic bits I would happily give up on sample libraries.

However, Pianoteq isn't there yet and the meantime I would like to get a new high quality library for my piano recordings that not only sounds better but also plays at least as well. This new VI Labs Modern does look very promising and I may end up buying this one.

David Lai

dickiefunk I think the playability is certainly up there with the Modern D, and the sound, obviously, no question. It's an acoustic piano sound, much much better than PianoTeq. You can't go wrong with it.

« Previous Page Next Page »