I think real pianos sound the best. Everything else sounds like 0's and 1's.

 

I used Pianoteq 6 in a song that I just wrote but won't go there again. It felt rather flat to play as well as the seeming one dimensionality didn't really float my boat

For those who have used both, does Pianoteq 9 raise the level in terms of feel and sound quality

 

Well to my knowledge there is no humanly perceivable mech delay (maybe less than a handful of ms) when the key reaches the bottom (key dip distance) and the hammer strikes the string (blow distance - about 45mm).
The key dip is typically 10mm but I played pianos with more than that, with increasing playing discomfort.

Regarding digital domain, I personally don't get any perceivable delay/lag at all, in sample libraries or Pianteq or any other vst using ASIOat 512kb buffer, and in an 12y old machine.
In past I used Voicemeeter and I could clearly hear a delay after the key push - I wrote about this many years ago, but now with Asio Link Pro router it's ok.

BTW, we're speaking of renowned vsts/libraries, I seriously doubt comments of the kind "this is total crap", without audio comparison/examples/detailed explanations/presets/etc.

 

Ample Sound's guitar manual screenshot

It is indeed very short. I deleted Pianoteq v9 manual so this is from the Kawai MP11 keyboard synth

 

There is no sample piano that sounds like the real one.
Pianoteq is fast and has a more or less convincing sound.
For me as a pianist, Synthogy is the best but it's just my opinion.

 

This is literally one of my mantras, in life in general but especially on internet

 

The reason to use other piano libs would be that you find them more suitable for whatever you are using them for. Maybe tone?

 

Looping back to this thread after a couple of weeks away. I had voiced a preference for some sample-based piano libraries (Garritan, PianoVerse, Claire, Noire, among others). Pianoteq is incredibly impressive, but it just isn't as "alive" to me. No need to revisit all that, but just wanted to establish that I'm not cheerleading for Pianoteq.

Having said that, I spent a couple of hours the other evening just playing various presets in Pianoteq 9, and I really enjoyed doing so. I wanted to mention that I was VERY impressed with the Grotrian. I almost skipped right over it, but I'm glad I didn't. I will definitely keep coming back to it and will likely use it in some project down the line. It's really, really excellent. I also think they did a great job with the Kawai.

How many tracks over the years were recorded with real pianos and mid-grade mics in less-than-pristine rooms, followed by an engineer or producer compressing the sound beyond reality and drowning it in reverb? What works on one track doesn't necessarily work on the next one. But in 2025, we are spoiled to have so many excellent options at our fingertips. I would say we are splitting hairs in most cases with these arguments. If you release a track with Pianoteq, or Garritan, or even Alicia's Keys, listeners aren't going to think, "that's not a real piano." Most of them are probably listening to it over Bluetooth anyway, and maybe even via YouTube or TikTok. Go with what you like. Focus on the art, and don't get lost in the technical details.

 

For me it's not about what someone listening to my music thinks about the piano sound, but rather how I relate to the feel and playability, the way it might help me to decide what to play and when.

If you've used both earlier versions of Pianteq, how do compare the tones of the new 9 against them? As I mentioned earlier, 6 felt rather flat and uninspiring to me.

 

Sorry, but I really haven't used Pianoteq enough to compare versions.

 

It's OK, I'll just have to wait then .

 

https://www.modartt.com/artist_quotes

Brian Eno, Jordan Rudess (Dreamtheater), Paul 'Wix' Wickens (McCartney), Mark Kelly (Marillion), Jamie Muhoberac (John Mayer, My Chemical Romance), David Paich (Toto), etc. Just a handful (of hundreds) of successful artists who've associated their names with Pianoteq software.

It's hilarious reading the posts here from the 'Know-It-Alls' and 'Wannabe's' regarding how awful this product performs. I just have to laugh.

 

You nailed.
Sound is very important, but most af all is how the virtual piano reacts with your weighted keybed.
There are very popular libraries that sound good, but when I played them didn't feel "real", no matter velocity curves editing.

In my case Pteq presets dynamics slider has to be increased up to about 70dB, it allows pianissimo (ppp).

My old saved presets sound the same to my ear in ver.8.

 

Thanks.

 

I would look at the velocity curve settings in your case. 70db is extreme and is not a good sign if you have to set it that high. A good weighted keybed should have an ideal dynamics slider between 37 and 50 (max).

 

Jordan Rudess doesn’t count, he’s not a pianist

 

I would also say Pianoteq is the best thing that happened in the history of mankind if Modartt stuffed my pockets. :D

 

Having discovered Jordan Rudess's talent at a young age, he entered the prestigious Juilliard School at the age of nine, where he initially studied classical piano. At 19, he became interested in synthesizers and began incorporating them into his compositions, choosing a career as a keyboardist over a classical pianist, against the advice of his mentor.

 

I also use Hypersonic 2. It has just as many Pianos as Pianoteq. And many more presets. It loads with lightening fastness.

 

I agree there's a lot of hyperbole in some of these comments. I have my preferences (ex., I feel inspired when I play Claire and Noire), but if I were forced to only use Pianoteq going forward, I'd be just fine.

That said, I put very little stock into subsidized artist endorsements. Might not be the flex you think it is.