Strange! I've never heard anyone mentioning any delay of sound in using Pianoteq? If anything, there should be less delay compared to any other vsti?

 

I'm not 100% sure but I think I read on Pianoteq's help that is intentional in the sense that's how a real piano reacts.
I've read the same in several guitar VSTis/Libs

 

Well, I'm not sure about other people? But I'm pretty sure myself I could identify Pianoteq from some miles away compared to other libraries! It just has this 'synthetic character' that no other piano library has? For me personally it feels as simple as picking out 'The Giant' compared to other piano vst's!

 

My point is though. If I did a blind test. I wouldn't tell you what ANY of the 5 would be. It might be Keyscape, PianoTeq or a Kontakt Library, or could be anything for that matter. I would not want to bet my house on getting them right. Would you?

Then imagine if I'd incorporated the 5 into a track with EQ, Compression, etc and then and Mastering.. Which ultimately is what most of us want them for in the end, except maybe Orchestral composers would have a piano solo.

 

A blind test of sampled and modelled piano's would probably become like so called "experts" talking about wine.
They all fall flat on their face when for example a budget Lidl wine gets highest marks and wins over praised established labels.
There's so much psychology involved. But then, some say it's not reality, it's perception that matters most...

 

I highly doubt that!

I can tell you from experience, a real piano does not react with any delay! Sure, a real piano has hammers that take time to reach the strings. But this behavior is already simulated by all keyboards with 'weighted keys', emulating the feel of a real piano. So there wouldn't be any point in delaying it any further by the software developers?

When it comes comes to guitar vst/libraries? I can imagine some 'ambiant' libraries could have build-in delays on some presets? But not for real guitars? Think about it? Guitar and piano are percussive instruments. Both instruments thrive on exact timing! Why would any developer want to build in delays on attack on any of these instruments? It wouldn't make any sense at all!

 

I wouldn't bet my house on any other libraries but I would on picking out Pianoteq!

Imagine your own voice is always recognized by your family. Sure they would at any given moment. Now imagine your own voice being manipulated by EQ, compression and mastering. Are you willing to bet your house on it that your family still recognizes it as 'your' voice?

So this equation is totally false!

But I get your point!

But now let me ask you a valid question?

Do you think that EQ, compression or mastering should alter the sound of any instruments to the point that it becomes totally unrecognizable?

 

I'm not sure in Pianoteq's case but I am with some guitar VSTi's. I think it was hammer delay or something like that. Obviously if it's a delay that clearly feels off that must be the plugin latency
Anyways, please don't kill the messenger... I'm a victim here too...

 

I agree completely! I've seen this before with various tests. And I would agree, that these experts on wine would not name any brand correctly?
But when it comes to pianos there is really something different.

There are multiple different sampled piano libraries that have their own distinctive sound? And there is Pianoteq that has his own sound!

I have totally no connection to wine whatsoever. But sticking to that analogy? Probably the difference between sampled libraries and Pianoteq is the that (the better) sampled libraries can be fine whine and Pianoteq is probably acceptable grape juice!

 

Any musician with a trained ear knows immediately, when they call up a plugin and play a few notes, whether it meets their sonic requirements. If Pianoteq doesn't suit you right away, simply delete it!

Another device for blind tasting is a physical modeling tool engine (no samples):
Genuine Software - GSi Model D6 --> www.genuinesoundware.com/?a=showproduct&b=58

GSi Model D6 introduction

The sound engine of GSi Model D6 comes from the exact same code that powers the GSi Gemini and the Crumar Seven as well as the Crumar Mojo 61. Some more parameters have been added to the model in order to make the instrument sound even more versatile and adjustable to personal taste.

 

Last edited: Nov 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM

No, I meant used with other instruments in a full mix.

As a solo piano, maybe.... if it was played by a really good pianist, on a really good MIDI keyboard, with every spec tweaked to perfection so the pianist can really fully express themselves, then some really good post processing.... Maybe.

The only time I'm comfortable using the words "create a new trend by completely raping" in a sentence lol

Why, thank you, fellow music person

 

Don't worry Xupito, I will never ever kill you. And you're not a victim, you are a valued contributor!

I'm just wondering? How would any guitar vsti's benefit from delaying keystrokes? I just can't see any point in doing so?

 

Unfortunately life is not so simple! It doesn't suit me as a recording tool, but I like it as performance tool.

Another device for blind tasting is a physical modeling tool engine (no samples):
Genuine Software - GSi Model D6 --> www.genuinesoundware.com/?a=showproduct&b=58

GSi Model D6 introduction

The sound engine of GSi Model D6 comes from the exact same code that powers the GSi Gemini and the Crumar Seven as well as the Crumar Mojo 61. Some more parameters have been added to the model in order to make the instrument sound even more versatile and adjustable to personal taste.[/QUOTE]

The problem here is....Who has ever heard of a GSi Model D6? Let alone compared it to something else?

 

If a person travels a lot away from home-base and only takes a laptop, instrument& mic and their smaller interface, and what will only theoretically fit in a backpack - Pianoteq is a no-brainer. It uses so little drive space and produces ridiculously good results, the odds on them carrying external SSD's/HDD's for anything other than SoundFX (or loops and sound-design if that's their thing) are unlikely.
That's my 2c worth.

 

Yeah that's one of my favorite parts about it too. Could fit on an SD card from 2003.

 

I Agree completely! In your situation I would choose this as my number 1 piano anytime, without a doubt! It's compact, it sounds great? I use it all the time in my studio for quick sketches. Just not as my piano in an end mix.

But I think this discussion has become too much about "are we democrates (yes), or republicans (no's)"?

I think this tool can take a great place in everyone's life?

As a purist in piano sound I would not use it in an endmix. As a musician on the road, composing, arranging? It's just unbeatable!
And it seems to get better with every version released!

Did I already say thanks to vkDanlilov for this relaease?

So my criticism is not about the quality of Pianoteq itself?

It's just about the usability in a an end mix?

With all options available today? Who would use Pianoteq in their end mix?

I would not! I would still end up with one of my favorite sampled pianos!

 

Last edited: Nov 10, 2025 at 12:29 PM

Which one of the hundreds of presets?
They totally sound different, even within the same piano brand.

 

too much cork-sniffing in this thread reminds me hi-fi discussion

 

The Crumar Seven is a great Rhodes Simulation IMO. A single note/chord might sound more authentic coming from a good sample library ( I like the latest Scarbee one) . But the Seven feels much more like a Rhodes playing it . It simulates the effects of the slow action and so forth . With Pianoteq I am not sure , yet .It does sound a bit synthetic or sterile but it does feel good to play it somehow . At least some of the models , they vary quite a lot

 

That would be so bad if its true! If they really wanted to add latency to a VST, they should at least give us the option to activate such "Realistic Soundspeed through air at temperature of 19 ºC " button or something, not just add it and force everyone to play with delay.

I am not kidding, I can play this piano piece better in Omnisphere with the "Dream Piano" patch (or even with any synthesizer patch) just because it has less latency: