KVR Audio

teilo · Post by **teilo** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 4:26 pm

NothanUmber wrote: Thu Oct 16, 2025 10:15 pm I have Pianoteq 8 Pro and (by now) all the instruments packs (bought separately over time).
The upgrade to Pianoteq 9 Studio would cost 129€ while the normal 8->9 upgrade costs 29€.
Is there any advantage of buying one over the other that would justify another 100€?

The rational is that if you purchased Studio, you get a 20% discount on future packs and Organteq. Other than that, there's no advantage.

NothanUmber · Post by **NothanUmber** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 5:15 pm

teilo wrote: Fri Oct 17, 2025 4:26 pm you get a 20% discount on future packs and Organteq.

Couldn't find that tidbit, do you have a link?

VladK · Post by **VladK** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 6:24 pm

NothanUmber wrote: Fri Oct 17, 2025 5:15 pm
teilo wrote: Fri Oct 17, 2025 4:26 pm you get a 20% discount on future packs and Organteq.
Couldn't find that tidbit, do you have a link?

It is on the main webstore page, just click on "Buy".
I am not sure this 20% off is a permanent offer though. I own the Studio bundle, but just do not remember. From my memory, they offered that I would get all newly released bundles for free for one year after the Studio purchase.

MrJubbly · Post by **MrJubbly** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 7:56 pm

It would appear the previously mentioned 20% off discount on additional purchases, is currently correct.

I cannot recall this discount having been prominently displayed within Modartt accounts previously (and the below screen captures seem to confirm this). This 20% discount for Studio Bundle owners appears to be a recent inclusion from Modartt, perhaps introduced with the release of Pianoteq 9?

Note: Customers must be logged into their accounts for this discount message to display.

A quick comparison of how the "Registered Products" account page appears for Pianoteq 9 Studio Bundle, versus some of the previous versions, which displayed no such prominent discount in years past. If this is indeed a new permanent incentive introduced by Modartt, to encourage customers to upgrade, then I welcome it.

Pianoteq Bundle 9 - Special Discount for Pianoteq Bundle owners - 20% off on Additional Products.jpg

Pianoteq Bundle 8 - No Discount on Additional Products.jpg

Pianoteq Bundle 7 - No Discount on Additional Products.jpg

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 8:51 pm

On a related note, maybe someone can clarify an update question for me. I bought the 8 Standard version less than a year ago, just got a free upgrade to 9 Standard. I'm seeing in my account that I can upgrade to 9 Pro for $130 and that includes 4 expansions (whereas my 8 Standard included 3 expansions). If I were to upgrade to 9 Pro, I assume that I would only receive 1 expansion, correct (i.e., not 4)?

iamadan · Post by **iamadan** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 9:32 pm

That is correct. You'd get one more expansion.

cryophonik wrote: Fri Oct 17, 2025 8:51 pm On a related note, maybe someone can clarify an update question for me. I bought the 8 Standard version less than a year ago, just got a free upgrade to 9 Standard. I'm seeing in my account that I can upgrade to 9 Pro for $130 and that includes 4 expansions (whereas my 8 Standard included 3 expansions). If I were to upgrade to 9 Pro, I assume that I would only receive 1 expansion, correct (i.e., not 4)?

fisherKing · Post by **fisherKing** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 9:54 pm

how is the sound of 9, compared to the sound of 8? lots of discussion about update paths, but curious what pianoteq users think of the revised sound...

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Fri Oct 17, 2025 10:37 pm

iamadan wrote: Fri Oct 17, 2025 9:32 pm That is correct. You'd get one more expansion.

cryophonik wrote: Fri Oct 17, 2025 8:51 pm On a related note, maybe someone can clarify an update question for me. I bought the 8 Standard version less than a year ago, just got a free upgrade to 9 Standard. I'm seeing in my account that I can upgrade to 9 Pro for $130 and that includes 4 expansions (whereas my 8 Standard included 3 expansions). If I were to upgrade to 9 Pro, I assume that I would only receive 1 expansion, correct (i.e., not 4)?

Thanks for confirming!

NothanUmber · Post by **NothanUmber** » Sat Oct 18, 2025 7:48 am

fisherKing wrote: Fri Oct 17, 2025 9:54 pm how is the sound of 9, compared to the sound of 8?

Did some A!B conparison yesterday. The differenxe is subtle but noticable. When playing and sustaining a note or chord then the sound changes more over time now, instead of mainly fading into silence, t sounds more alive and realistic.
But 8 was already really good, iit is about nuances now.

DCrown · Post by **DCrown** » Sat Oct 18, 2025 10:57 am

NothanUmber wrote: Sat Oct 18, 2025 7:48 am
fisherKing wrote: Fri Oct 17, 2025 9:54 pm how is the sound of 9, compared to the sound of 8?
Did some A!B conparison yesterday. The differenxe is subtle but noticable. When playing and sustaining a note or chord then the sound changes more over time now, instead of mainly fading into silence, t sounds more alive and realistic.
But 8 was already really good, iit is about nuances now.

8 was already good?
But when 5 was released, they said it was amazing, 6 was mind-blowing, and 8 is only good?! Have to install 6 again to find out...
9 just like 8 (8 is worse than 7 btw) is rather a major update to me, I expect a lot more from an upgrade, so I will pass hoping they will release something really good next time. Adding one new instrument and calling it upgrade is a joke imo.
Pianoteq obviously running out of ideas for some years and add just one instruments and some little improvements, improvemensts they could do immediately, but they prefer waiting to add them to an upgrade and getting money again.
I am pretty surey they already know today, what instrument they will add to v10 and what improvements they will make.

So enjoy upgrading and transfering them some money again lol

fisherKing · Post by **fisherKing** » Sat Oct 18, 2025 1:27 pm

DCrown wrote: Sat Oct 18, 2025 10:57 am
NothanUmber wrote: Sat Oct 18, 2025 7:48 am
fisherKing wrote: Fri Oct 17, 2025 9:54 pm how is the sound of 9, compared to the sound of 8?
Did some A!B conparison yesterday. The differenxe is subtle but noticable. When playing and sustaining a note or chord then the sound changes more over time now, instead of mainly fading into silence, t sounds more alive and realistic.
But 8 was already really good, iit is about nuances now.
8 was already good?
But when 5 was released, they said it was amazing, 6 was mind-blowing, and 8 is only good?! Have to install 6 again to find out...
9 just like 8 (8 is worse than 7 btw) is rather a major update to me, I expect a lot more from an upgrade, so I will pass hoping they will release something really good next time. Adding one new instrument and calling it upgrade is a joke imo.
Pianoteq obviously running out of ideas for some years and add just one instruments and some little improvements, improvemensts they could do immediately, but they prefer waiting to add them to an upgrade and getting money again.
I am pretty surey they already know today, what instrument they will add to v10 and what improvements they will make.

So enjoy upgrading and transfering them some money again lol

i started with 6, moved forward with each new version, and it was absolutely worth it. it has gotten better... and it was pretty good when i started.

not sure what your point is: better IS better

DCrown · Post by **DCrown** » Sat Oct 18, 2025 2:29 pm

well, 7 is better than 8 , though imo, so upgrade doesn't automaticaly means better

fisherKing · Post by **fisherKing** » Sat Oct 18, 2025 3:27 pm

DCrown wrote: Sat Oct 18, 2025 2:29 pm well, 7 is better than 8 , though imo, so upgrade doesn't automaticaly means better

right, which is why i asked how 9 compares. and (from what i've seen so far online), there is some improvement... which makes sense.

developers make improvements with new versions of a plugin, and for $29, this is a no-brainer.

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Sat Oct 18, 2025 3:34 pm

Why do so many people prefer v7 over v8? I bought in at v8 so I’ve never used v7.

martinjuenke · Post by **martinjuenke** » Sat Oct 18, 2025 3:47 pm

cryophonik wrote: Sat Oct 18, 2025 3:34 pm Why do so many people prefer v7 over v8? I bought in at v8 so I’ve never used v7.

Because they want to irritate us.
These guys actually do not own or use Pianoteq.
If they disagree about this, they should post audio files for our comparision.
If they don't prove their statement, it's obviously irrelevant.