VST comparison

Frédéric L · 2022-02-16T19:50:41+00:00

I have done a comparison of virtual pianos (and my N1X) : http://www.sinerj.org/~loyer/piano/Fantaisie There are multiple renderings, and a MIDI file you ca...

Frédéric L

Yes, quite expensive, but the expense has been spread among multiple years.

When I have started, I tried Pianoteq 5 (not the best sounding), Truekeys (some irritating clicks), EWQL (felt in love with Bechstein, but irratated by its velocity layer gaps). I felt quite unlucky. Afterward, Ivory which didn’t disappoint me. Now, I have a lot of what it exists, then my Gear Acquisition Syndrom is lowered (my SSD is getting more and more full, I prefer to reserve the space for a future VSL : this helps !). Perhaps in the following month Piano in Blue. I could be interested in UVI Austrian to complete the UVI collection… but I have too many Bösendorfer Imperial and 2 from VSL which are very good. Also Modern U, but I have already multiple upright (from a Bösendorfer to Gaveau or Pleyel)Not sure it will be a good purchase.

Note : VSL and NI pianos are purchased with promotion, NI are typically sold -50% during the Black Friday.

PS : Shall I conclude you like some modelled piano I have linked (Pianoteq or Arturia Piano V2)

MacMacMac

Frédéric L Shall I conclude you like some modelled piano I have linked (Pianoteq or Arturia Piano V2)

I can't speak about Arturia. But I think the whole world knows my opinion of Pianoteq, right?

Del Vento

MacMacMac I can't speak about Arturia.

My guess is that you won't like it. But go to http://www.sinerj.org/\~loyer/piano/Fantaisie/ and check for yourself.

MacMacMac the whole world knows my opinion of Pianoteq

Not sure if the whole world, but definitely the whole digital world of digital piano players 🤣

Frédéric L I have done a comparison of virtual pianos

This is fantastic work, thank you very much for sharing.

Frédéric L I have chosen the slow part of the Chopin’s Fantaisie Impromptu because it is quite slow (we have some time to appreciate each note), and have a moderate ambitus. Perhaps a larger ambitus would have been better.

Yes, getting lower registers and higher ones would have been perfect, but this is an excellent choice nevertheless.

I have my favorite, but I won't say it here 🙂 and I won't buy it because it runs in Kontact which I don't tolerate. So I'd go for my second or third favorite….

FWIW, I've been surprised to learn how similar many of these sound to my ears (yes, with decent headphones). And how not-binaural the N1X-binaural sounds to me (many random binaural YT video sound much more convincing). I wanted to listen to them all, but it takes too long to download (often times the spinning wheels goes forever… wonder why) not to mention the time to many repeated A/B attempts.

David B Someone please pray for me. 🙏

God 🙏 do not lead David into temptation, but deliver him from the evil of unnecessary purchases! If anything, provide him with good buyers for the virtual instruments he needs to get rid of…

Pianissimo

For this comparison the Pearl was the most pleasant one.

Frédéric L

Pianissimo it is far from my preferred one. Other Yamaha C7 aren’t too. Too bright.

Frédéric L

A new one, Piano in Blue. Very nice timbre, but unfortunatelly too much background noise which remember me at each bar that I should release the pedal !

Ralphiano

Frederic L

I am sorry to see that I did not thank you when you first posted this. You have done us a great service!

I am thinking about trying another VST. I've spent some time listening to your comparison and have become very interested in the Galaxy Vienna Grand and the Galaxy Steinway (not the Galaxy Vintage D). When I went to the Galaxy website, the piano names are slightly different from what you posted. Instead of your Galaxy Vienna Grand, they offer Galaxy II Vienna Grand. And, instead of your Galaxy Steinway, they offer Galaxy II Steinway.

Did you just leave out the "II" designations when you posted your comparison list? Or, are your VSTs older versions of the currently offered Galaxy II Vienna Grand and Galaxy II Steinway?

What are your impressions of these two Galaxy offerings in terms of playability, deficiencies, adjustability, reliability, etc.?

Anyone else have experience to share?

Thank you.

QuasiUnaFantasia

These days I play almost exclusively the Galaxy II piano's, I have the three that come as a set, and I cycle them, so day 1 is the Blüthner, day 2 is the Bösendorfer, day 3 is the Steinway, and then it's back to the Blüthner again. This rotation keeps it fresh for me.
The Blüthner is clearly a small grand piano, and equally clearly it is not in pristine condition. It is not bad, however, and playing it I get a very strong sense of having an actual grand in the room with me. I like playing it, but its sound is not as beautiful as the others.
The Vienna Grand is considerably more beautiful in tone (except for a couple of keys, which sound a wee bit "dead"), and it captures the inimitable bass of the Imperial quite well. Generally I play it with concert hall reverb, and for this reason it does not sound like a grand in the room with me. It sounds more like a recording of a concert grand.
The Steinway D is loud and powerful compared to the others, and it sounds very convincingly like an actual grand. Probably the most convincing of the three. The tone is beautiful (in the Steinwayish kind of way with soft sounds lacking treble, but loud sounds not lacking it). Although I have for many years held some disdain for the Steinway sound, I probably like this the most of the three.

bostonmoores

QuasiUnaFantasia

FWIW I learned that the Bosendorfer they recorded for Galaxy II was a 1985-86 model. I had inquired as to the brightness of the instrument, and they had mentioned to me that the intonation was rather hard when they sampled it. A few years later that Bosendorfer was moved and the hammers were completely replaced giving it a more mellow tone.

I think this helps explain why I like the tone/color much more on the softer side when I play the Vienna Grand. I usually keep most of the other Galaxy instruments in the middle for color.

I have been playing the Giant much more recently. Certainly a fascinating upright.

Frédéric L

You are right, I should have written Galaxy II. (In the same way, Ivory II pianos)

Ralphiano

bostonmoores I think this helps explain why I like the tone/color much more on the softer side when I play the Vienna Grand. I usually keep most of the other Galaxy instruments in the middle for color.

I have become very interested in this piano. With the tone/ color turned down, do you still find it pleasing to play? And, how far down do you turn the tone/color?

Do you experience any other deficiencies with it?

bostonmoores

Ralphiano I would say I turn it down to maybe the 10 position if the middle is 12.

I also generally move all the sliders on the tone popout to the left, where they don't have any effect. Especially the low end. The Bosendorfer has enough bass as it is.

I'm using a VPC1 as my controller and my velocity curve is set to the Galaxy setting.

I enjoy all the Galaxy recorded instruments, have no issues with half pedaling.

zjanosy

Hi Frédéric L,

What piano did you use in the "reference" video? Is it an acoustic, or a VST? Did you play the piece on a MIDI keyboard, or was it transcribed from an acoustical recording by GiantMIDI-Piano?

Thx,

Zoltan

Frédéric L

I have got a YouTube video, converted (GiantMIDI-Piano) to MIDI. You have the YouTube link on my page.

I think it would be better to have an acoustic source, or a genuine MIDI (perhaps Disklavier record)… but too late.

Frédéric L

The page is updated with the new VSL Synchron Fazioli F308.

Then there are multiple Fazioli : The free experience Fazioli, the Ivory Italian 10th, the VILabs True Keys Italian which are all F308. And Mercury the Freddy Mercury’s F228. And perhaps the UVI F grand 278.

theodorn

@Frédéric L the Pianoteq renders on your page, are these the latest Pianoteq 8? I compared them to the latest models, the ones I have, Blüthner, NY and Hamburg Steinways, and Steingraeber, with the MIDI file. Can't say I noticed much difference, maybe the bass was a bit better.

Nice that you added the VSL Fazioli to the comparison site. I've always liked the Mercury F228, but I wonder how it is playability wise. Of course it's a smaller Fazioli than the VSL one. Funny thing, of the Pianoteq Fazioli clones that have been posted on the Modartt forum, I like the F278 version more than the F308 imitation. Seems they try to get that Fazioli sound, with reverb and placing of microphones, mostly.

Frédéric L

No... I should have named them Pianoteq 7...

I guess that Pianoteq 8 change the Steinway the most, but I havn't investigated a lot.

Frédéric L

The Experience NY S&S added.

(and the F308 replaced by its Ambience version, the other is made for ambisonic use).

Pianoteq (7) renamed.

dore_m

Thank you so much. Fazioli Audience perspective is much better for rendering.

theodorn

Thank you Frédéric. You're probably right, seven to eight was not that big of a difference, but six to seven was bigger, I think. Your countrymen are getting there, but in baby steps. 😀