
- Pianoteq pianissimo install#
- Pianoteq pianissimo full#
- Pianoteq pianissimo pro#
- Pianoteq pianissimo free#
Apple’s Grand Piano sample sounded OK but it lacked clarity, dynamic range, detail and above all the subtly muffled sound of a felt hammer hitting a piano string. So, to rule out the noise from outside, I decided to repeat the test with a pair of Sennheiser HD800 headphones. Even if I hit a key really hard, all I got was a louder note, but on the monitors and with some considerable background noise, it was not easy to tell what exactly was better about the Pianoteq track. For example, Apple’s Grand Piano lacked in detailed velocity feedback. On the monitors, the two pianos almost sounded identical, but the Pianoteq D4 definitely sounded more like a real piano. Now, I lack a sound proof room, so a lot of the subtle character of audio goes lost unless I crank up the volume. I listened on my pair of studio monitors. I loaded another track with Apple’s “Grand Piano” set to its defaults.
Pianoteq pianissimo pro#
To test, I started by using Logic Pro X as the host and first playing some notes with Pianoteq 5’s D4 Steinway Grand Piano set to Classical AB loaded on one track. I was curious to see how natural the pianos and harpsichords actually sound, even when you change parameters. That will result in unnatural sound, but might be exactly what you’re after. All of the parameters model the behaviour of real pianos and result in a realistic sound, although you can change an instrument’s configuration in extreme ways. In short, the app lets you adapt the instrument sound and playing experience to your own taste. Any keyboard can be used as is, but you can also calibrate your keyboard, which is especially useful for creating a customised velocity curve. Any keyboard will do - I tried the IK Multimedia iRig Keys Pro and Nektar Panorama P6. You can play an instrument using the virtual keyboard, but you’ll definitely want to use a MIDI keyboard. Voicing enables you to set the hardness of the hammers, the hammer noise, strike point, etc, etc. Pianoteq lets you set the diapason to your own liking. However, in the 18th and 19th Century many tuning forks had a frequency of 423.5 Hz. The most common tuning fork sounds the note of A (440 Hz). The two-pronged metal fork resonates at a specific constant pitch when set vibrating by striking it against a surface, emitting a pure musical tone. Diapason in this context refers to a tuning fork. The Tuning settings have a diapason option. how many microphones are used, where to position them in 3D space, microphone level, etc. The Output settings allow you to change the recording characteristics, i.e. Tuning, for example, offers the digital equivalent of a real-world piano tuner who comes in and adjusts the piano strings for best and most accurate sound. The first three options allow you to change the instrument’s own characteristics. The interface has drop-down menus for selecting your instrument, its settings - Tuning, Voicing, Design and Output - and the presets that come with each instrument.
Pianoteq pianissimo install#
When you install Pianoteq 5, it is also made available for VST, Audio Unit and RTAS/AAX hosts. It has an unusual interface that doesn’t resemble the common OS X design, but it’s easy to use with its large settings areas. The Pianoteq 5 interface is user-friendly.

Pianoteq pianissimo free#
In addition, Pianoteq makes a whole range of old instruments available as a free downloadable pack - I downloaded those as well. My test version came with two instrument packs and I chose the bundle with two classical pianos. The app supports classical, rock as well as electric pianos, harp, harpsichord, clavinet (Hohner included) and more. The Pro version also outputs at a higher 192kHz.
Pianoteq pianissimo full#
The Standard version outputs at 48kHz max, but has all the features of the Pro except for the lack of full note-based editing. Pianoteq comes in three versions: Stage, Standard and Pro. Pianoteq is based on true physical modelling and I got the chance of trying out the Standard version. That’s what Pianoteq from French company Modartt seeks out to do - and from what I’ve experienced: with success. It’s a problem that can be solved by not sampling an instrument but using true physical modelling.

No matter how good an audio sample may sound, there are always notes that sound synthetic and with instruments like a grand piano subtleties and musicality are inevitably lost.
