Modartt has announced the release of Pianoteq Pro, a new advanced version of Pianoteq. Its major novelty is the note per note adjustment for physical parameters. The model itself has been improved in many areas, making the sound more beautiful and realistic than ever, according to Modartt. Simultaneously, Pianoteq Standard is upgraded to version 3.5 and benefits from the same model improvements as a free bonus.

Pianoteq Pro powerful Note Edit
Announced in June 2007 on the Pianoteq forum and awaited by many customers, Pianoteq Pro is the advanced version of Pianoteq - Modartt's physically modelled piano.

Modartt says that for the first time in the history of pianos, complete control of physical parameters of the piano is made available to the user. In the real world, reshaping a soundboard would require several weeks of work in the factory. With Pianoteq Pro, you have a new soundboard only one mouse click away.

Pianoteq Pro features the note per note adjustment for physical parameters. No less than 22 parameters offer this full control, such as tuning, unison width, hammer hardness, strike point, string length, spectrum profile, soundboard impedance, damper position... In fact there are thousands since each overtone of each note can be controlled separately with the spectrum profile parameter.

In 1977, Gabriel Weinreich concluded his grounding article "Coupled piano strings" with "In any case, one could expect to build a better piano if the aftersound could be more deliberately controlled through an appropriate understanding of the soundboard". Thirty-two years later, Weinreich's dream is becoming reality with Pianoteq Pro.

Sharing creations: the instrument creators can "duplicate" and share their creations, an impossible task to achieve with acoustic pianos. All instruments created with Pianoteq Pro can be loaded in Pianoteq Standard and used by the whole Pianoteq community.

Model improvements: The following technical improvements come with Pianoteq Pro, and will also benefit Pianoteq Standard 3.5 upgrade:

• Richer soundboard model providing longer beautiful singing notes.
• Extremely realistic sympathetic resonances model, with a Duplex scale that can now be controlled separately by the user. The duplex scale resonance is issued from the undamped string parts located between tuning pins and frame and between bridge and frame. This invention was patented in 1872 by Steinway, who was in relationship with the physicist Hermann von Helmholtz, and enriches the harmonic content of the notes.
• Improved damper model, particularly noticeable in the bass when using partial pedals, and also with keyboards sending variable key release velocity.
• Hammer strike point and damper position now available to the user.
• Modification of the quadratic model, particularly noticeable in fortissimo.
• User modifiable velocity curves for the sustain pedal and note release velocity.
• Adjustable playback speed of the MIDI player in the standalone version.

Sound improvements: All these technical improvements result in a vastly improved sound. For example, Modartt says that no other virtual piano can give you the beautiful sustain resonances of Pianoteq nor the delicate sound of its una corda pedal. Each instrument embedded in Pianoteq went back to the virtual factory where all the details of the model have been carefully readjusted, resulting in pianos offering "stunning realism" and "extremely refined musicality".

KIViR project: Modartt's unique collection of free add-ons includes nine virtual copies of prestigious historical instruments: four pianoforte, two harpsichords, two grand pianos and one electro-acoustic piano. All Pianoteq customers can download these add-ons for free.

Summary of changes for version 3.5.0:

• Engine upgrade, with improved resonances, for all instruments.
• C3 and M3 pianos have been revoiced, and their soundboard replaced.
• Small improvements on the electric pianos, a new preset R1 Bark has been introduced.
• The KIViR historical instruments have been updated (small improvements).
• Note Edit for DETUNE and VOLUME in Pianoteq Standard.
• Note Edit for other parameters in PRO version.
• Note Edit, Sound Recording, and Preset Manager window can be detached from the main interface.
• Added a note-off velocity curve, and a sustain pedal position curve.
• New parameters available for most instruments: (hammer) Strike Point, and Damper Position.
• Adjustable playback speed for the standalone midi player, adjustable volume for the metronome.
• The compare button has been replaced by an A/B button, for switching between two presets.
• Pitch bend range extended to +- 2400 cents.

Pricing & Availability

Pianoteq Pro is sold for €399. Pianoteq customers can upgrade from Pianoteq Standard to Pianoteq Pro for €150. The upgrade from Pianoteq 3.0 to 3.5 is free for all Pianoteq customers.

Audio demos, video tutorials and a free trial version are available at www.pianoteq.com (same trial version for Pianoteq Pro and Standard).