KVR Audio

XComposer · Post by **XComposer** » Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:10 pm

Hello,

I am going to buy a virtual piano and I decided that it will be a Bechstein for sure.
The aim is to make hi-quality realistic renditions of passages of classical music from MIDI, working on Logic on a Mac.

My attention was attracted by the Bechstein included in EastWest Pianos and by the other Bechstein included in Pianoteq by Modartt. It's not easy to decide just listening to the demos. Have any of you compared these two in order to give me suggestions? Thanks!

VladK · Post by **VladK** » Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:17 pm

IMHO, the best is Bechstein Digital Grand by C.Bechestein: https://www.bechstein-digital.com/

Also worth mentioning:
NI Maverick;
VI Labs German Grand.

BBFG# · Post by **BBFG#** » Fri Jun 26, 2020 1:23 am

Pianoteq has proven to be the most playable for me. And the Bechsteins are up there as being my favorites (and most used).

XComposer · Post by **XComposer** » Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:22 am

VladK wrote: ↑Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:17 pm IMHO, the best is Bechstein Digital Grand by C.Bechestein: https://www.bechstein-digital.com/

Thank you, I didn't know that one. A little too expensive for me, probably…

BBFG# wrote: ↑Fri Jun 26, 2020 1:23 am Pianoteq has proven to be the most playable for me.

Yes, but I think I will not play it live. I will probably use it only with MIDI. How would you compare them in terms of sound?

the Bechsteins are up there as being my favorites

I agree, they are also my favorite ones when I'm dealing with real pianos.

volution · Post by **volution** » Sat Jul 11, 2020 10:02 am

(...)

Tj Shredder · Post by **Tj Shredder** » Sat Jul 11, 2020 1:31 pm

XComposer wrote: ↑Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:22 am
BBFG# wrote: ↑Fri Jun 26, 2020 1:23 am Pianoteq has proven to be the most playable for me.
Yes, but I think I will not play it live. I will probably use it only with MIDI. How would you compare them in terms of sound?

Its hard to beat Pianoteq, as they use physical modeling and deliver all kinds of models. Sampling is too static and resource hungry. You can go with the stage version, as you don’t plan to modify the Bechstein.
No matter if you play it live or just with Midi you’ll get a more expressive result...

VladK · Post by **VladK** » Sat Jul 11, 2020 6:17 pm

By the way, Modartt used samples provided by C.Bechstein to build their models. Same samples that were used in Bechstein Digital Grand.

XComposer · Post by **XComposer** » Sat Jul 11, 2020 7:57 pm

There are many things that make me feel attracted towards Pianoteq. The only perplexity I have – but it's an important one – is that I am not convinced by the audio demos I find. The bass notes of EastWest Pianos Bechstein seem more "roaring", more "rugged" and "scratchy" to me, which I happen to like much more, and Pianoteq seems to me somehow "colder" and "too polished", so to speak… I'm still pondering! Oh, and I would actually like to modify and tweak the instrument whenever possible. Many warm thanks to all of you.

Fidelity · Post by **Fidelity** » Sat Jul 11, 2020 8:22 pm

I know it isn't a Bechstein, but I'd recommend looking at Waves' "Grand Rhapsody" while it's still on sale for ~$30. Shifting the formant to make it brighter gets it closer to a Bechstein's characteristic sound and the sampled key/pedal noises really do add to the realism. Maybe some extra EQ, very light downsampling, and light compression will get you the rest of the way there?

rezoneight · Post by **rezoneight** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 12:53 am

Just to note VI Labs' True Keys piano trio includes a Bechstein and is $99 for the next 11 days: https://audioplugin.deals/deal-1/

XComposer · Post by **XComposer** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 3:08 am

Yes, I saw it! The Fazioli is very well made! The Bechstein… so and so…

MMaarrkk · Post by **MMaarrkk** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 7:48 am

AK Studio Grand comes to mind. Even a (admittedly, a cheap sounding option) free VST to play around with for fun - 99Sounds Upright Piano (definitely not for realism)

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 7:57 am

So far my favorite models in Pianoteq 6 Stage are the Ant. Petrof 275 and Steinway D but i just started to use the demo of the "C. Bechstein DG" model in the latest version of Pianoteq Stage.

At a first look i like the sound of the Bechstein model but i have to do some direct comparisons to see if i really like it more than my current favorite models.

I have the VI Labs Ravenscroft 275 which is my favorite sample based piano.
Also got the pianos in NI Komplete 10 and additionally Alicia's Keys as a single license.

fmr · Post by **fmr** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 8:41 am

XComposer wrote: ↑Sat Jul 11, 2020 7:57 pm There are many things that make me feel attracted towards Pianoteq. The only perplexity I have – but it's an important one – is that I am not convinced by the audio demos I find. The bass notes of EastWest Pianos Bechstein seem more "roaring", more "rugged" and "scratchy" to me, which I happen to like much more, and Pianoteq seems to me somehow "colder" and "too polished", so to speak… I'm still pondering! Oh, and I would actually like to modify and tweak the instrument whenever possible. Many warm thanks to all of you.

Moddart has demo versions available which play almost all the notes. Why don't you download the demo and check the sound in the music you plan to use it for? If you want to modify the sound, then you will need Standard version.

" Restrictions in trial versions:

8 notes are disabled (silent): F#1, G#1, A#1, C#5, D#5, F#5, G#5 and A#5.
Must be restarted after 20 minutes."

https://www.modartt.com/try#restrictions

IMO, the low register is one of the reasons the Pianoteq wins when compared to sampled pianos, since it can give all the expression those low notes are capable of in a real acoustic piano. Usually, these notes are the ones where sampled pianos fail.

izonin · Post by **izonin** » Sun Jul 12, 2020 1:34 pm

Bechstein Digital Elements is about half the price of the full Kontakt instrument. It gives you only one microphone perspective, and 10 velocity layers.

Check it out on their site: https://www.bechstein-digital.com

Best virtual Bechstein piano.