The Stage edition is totally functional, it has all the functions required to enjoy all the pianos (and not only pianos but also harpsichords, electric pianos, bells, etc.) of the collection. In fact the Stage edition (it is the one I use since 2014) contains almost everything, the missing things being the very advanced tweaks used for studios.enCiphered wrote: ↑Wed Sep 11, 2019 10:13 pmYou´re welcome. Well, if you want the complete bundle with the pro version and ALL the instruments, yes it´s a bit pricey. But still worth every single cent for what you get.onreflection wrote: ↑Wed Sep 11, 2019 10:05 pmWow, thanks for this. Really informative video and I love how he isn't talking loudly over awful music the whole time.. refreshing!enCiphered wrote: ↑Wed Sep 11, 2019 9:07 pmOh yes, they have! Really, its the most beautiful and versatile software plugin for piano out there. And if you buy the pro version, you can adjust the dynamics, expression, sound behaviour, tuning, voicing, mic positioning, mic numbers... anything. You can even design your own unique sound if you want, acoustic and electric.el-bo (formerly ebow) wrote: ↑Wed Sep 11, 2019 8:57 pmPianoteq? Interesting. The general feeling seems to be that while Pianoteq is probably the most playable, it is not quite there sound-wise. Maybe things have changedenCiphered wrote: ↑Wed Sep 11, 2019 8:48 pm Most realistic sounding piano(s)? Best sound? Pianoteq, definitely. And much cheaper than Keyscape and Vienna Imperial.
Here is a good video about comparing the sound of pianoteq with sampled keys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPOMVq82DC4
I was clearly a non-sample plugin snob until I watched this. Amazing how far technology has come. And you can even create realistic prepared piano sounds!
The only problem is the price of it . I wanna be able to try out all the pianos and the celestas etc but the studio pack is way out of my price range. How the hell am I gonna choose just 4!
I think it would be good to wait until black friday, they usually offer a 30% discount.
And there is also a demo for the stage version where you can test the software with all optional instruments, if I remember correctly.
Features in short:
- Pianoteq is a physically modelled virtual instrument
- Optional instruments for purchase: upright, grand pianos, rock piano, electric pianos, harp, vibraphones, clavinet, celesta+glockenspiel, xylophone+marimba, steelpans
- Free instruments: KIViR historical instruments collection, bells and carillons.
- Unique adjustable physical parameters, such as unison width, octave stretching, hammer hardness, soundboard, string length, sympathetic resonance, duplex scale resonance. *
- Progressive variation of the timbre (uses all the 127 MIDI velocities)
- Control of the dynamics in timbre and volume
- Polyphonic Aftertouch (particularly interesting for the clavichord)
- Realistic sympathetic resonances, including duplex scale
- Microtuning, supports Scala format *
- Adjustable mechanical noises (sampled or modelled)
- Built-in graphic equalizer
- Built-in graphic curve for key velocity, note-off and pedal
- Keyboard calibration assistant
- Ten types of pedals (that can be assigned to the four UI pedals): Sustain, Soft, Harmonic, Sostenuto, Super Sostenuto, Rattle, Buff Stop, Celeste, Pinch Harmonic, Glissando
- Progressive sustain pedal, allowing partial-pedal effects
- Convolution reverberations
- Effects: Tremolo, Wah, Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Fuzz, Delay, Amp, Compressor, Mini-eq.
- Mallet bounce (note repetition)
- Instrument condition (mint to worn)
- Variable lid position *
- Five adjustable microphones *
- Multi channel - up to 5 channels *
- No quantization noise (32-bit internal computation)
- Renders high resolution MIDI formats CC#88 and Disklavier XP.
- Installs and loads in seconds
- Extremely small file size (less than 50 MB)
- Excellent for use on modern laptops
- Extended key range (105 keys = 8+2/3 octaves) for the grand pianos Steinway D and K2
- Mac OS X 10.7 or later, Windows 7 or later, Linux (x86 and ARM)
And Pianoteq Stage comes with 2 instruments offered, Pianoteq Standard with 3, and Pianoteq Pro with 4. These instrument packs are fully working whereas remaining instrument packs are available in demo mode for your evaluation. You can purchase additional instrument packs at any time.
On the three edition you can also load fxp presets. In PIANOTEQ Stage, preset loading is limited to parameters that are present in the interface (it make already a very wide number of parameters). Presets built with PIANOTEQ PRO (containing the extra features like the position of the microphones for examples) can be loaded in PIANOTEQ Standard without limitation.
PIANOTEQ PRO lets you edit 30 parameters for each note on your keyboard. In PIANOTEQ Standard, you can explore this feature with the volume and the detune parameter. On Pianoteq Stage the parameters are for all the keyboard range.
And at least PIANOTEQ PRO offers an internal sample rate of up to 192 kHz. The rate is up to 48 kHz in PIANOTEQ Stage and Standard. Widely enough for almost all the works.
In fact the Stage edition is already awesome.
And it is possible to upgrade later to the Standard or Pro edition. No need to buy one of them immediately if you don't really need them.
And you have here a description of the Pianoteq technology:
https://www.pianoteq.com/pianoteq6?s=technology
You can have yet more information reading the Pianoteq manual.
And if you want to listen to many demos:
by instrument
by music styles
See what are the free instruments that you can load immediately in addition to the Stage edition as well as to the Standard or the Pro editions:
Pianoteq - Free stuff
Yes! All for free!
I purchased the Stage edition in 2014 with the K2 and the D5 pianos (all for less than €100), and I immediately installed all the free instruments to use them as well (they are themselves periodically re-built to follow the evolution of the Pianoteq engine years after years)... Then since that year I quietly add one or two purchased instrument packs every year (electric pianos, the Hohner collection, some harpsichords, the wonderful harp, the mallets, etc.) for around €30 each one when there is a deal. Hence the cost remains quasi-transparent.