Definitely the best review on any PIANOTEQ. Cause you need an ear to do such a review and not just noodle and show buttons. And that ear you have, unlike most. Thanks for the work!
Double-click the volume slider and you can draw volume curves however you want (i.e. if you want the upper end to play softer than the lower end). You can even adjust on a note-by-note basis.
Awesome. I love Pianoteq. Have been with them since version 1.2 Isn't it amazing?!!! And it just keeps getting better and better!!! Thank you for your great demonstration. Warmest regards, Chris (sigasa)
Indeed Sally! One of my students in Mexico City played it for me over Zoom and it totally won me over. I will dig deeper and deeper into the engine and make it more realistic, especially throwing the tuning slightly off because that is the #1 plague of virtual instruments: The mathemathical and perfect pitch center of 440 Hz. The magic often isn't in the pitch center - but rather AROUND it. Please subscribe to this channel if you haven't already. Thanks for watching and reaching out!
Stephan; An extremely well done and thought out PT8 contribution. IMO, Perhaps the BEST PT8 mini review yet. The Reason being: You demonstrated with a fluid comprehensive musicianship how to really make the Bechstein speak in a mix, with the addition of 3rd party plug-Ins. In particular Stephan, your in depth mini dive into how your'e using the external EQ's to shape this piano ( to really speak beautifully) as additionally doing an exceptional job explaining how you are layering REVERBS and the personality and character that brings to the mix. The final sound you were demoing with the longer hall reflections had such emotive character. That particular reflection really speaks to me when I hear it. And finally your transparency to share such valuable insights into bringing these PT8 modeled instruments was great. It raises the bar, in the Know-Like-Trust factor. I have recently built out a stage system w/ PT8, a BabyFace PRO, what I am calling a Stereo Quad SPK system w/ 4 I-Loud-MTMs. 2 placed Under piano ( firing up) to sim that & 2 L/R MTMs in Landscape Near field position. Currently using a YAMAHA HS8 SUB near lft leg for some 40/50 hrz. What an amazing time we live in.... Onward KB
Wow, Ken that's amazing. First of all, I really appreciate your kind and generous words - and it means the world to me that the review and the exploration confirmed you in your choice having decided on PianoTeq. I can't believe it took me this long to jump on their stuff. And then, your system! My goodness, what a sound experience you must be 'bathing' in everytime you turn that system on! I bet you - if these PT guys keep going like this, one day it might feel like a letdown sitting at a real high quality concert grand LOL. Wishing you all the best on your creative journey - and please subscribe if you haven't already. Got MANY more musical and inspirational goodies in store for the coming videos ;)
I just subscribed simply from learning that Stephan Oberhoff is an amazing talent. Were I wealthy, I would ask him to produce, record, and orchestrate everything I do from this point on with the big band I play in and help manage. We all have our fantasies.
Well I knew the Bechstein was good, but I didn't know how good 'til I heard you slaying it! BTW the new Bosendorfer is fantastic...would love to hear that under your fingers.
The Bechstein seems to have more presence and immediacy than most of the other models if you are looking for a piano sound that responds tighter. The Snappy patch is really nice by itself and for layering with the other models.
Wowed!! Stephan, you are brilliant musician and designer. I have implemented so many of your; ideas settings and sound design. I just ordered FC3A for my old Clavinova 150. Is it still possible to purchase the Vibraphone you are using? Thank you Sir always inspiring to listen and watch you work.
I totally agree; I demo'd the Bechstein and immediately bought it ... and I already have the Steinway German and NY, Steinway B, Blüthner, and both Petrofs. This is my favorite.
Thanks a lot Stephan for this video on Pianoteq 8 - Bechstein, a favorite piano manufacturer of mine. My comment here will probably raise a few eye brows and discontent but I am going to say it anyway, as much as I would like to love Pianoteq, I find that all the various models lack beefiness in the lower octaves, I like a piano with powerful bottom end and unfortunately I have not been able to achieve this in Pianoteq. Kind regards, Max
Hey Max, thanks for your comment! It's kinda strange but maybe the word 'beefiness' is in need of a bit more definition. The lowest octave on this piano is perfectly balanced and punches through in all my recordings - but I don't like the low end as much on the Steinway model. I must say though, having played many many concert pianos, that their powerful and thunderous low end is actually very hard to find on any plug-in, period. Wishing you the best with your search for the ultimate piano sound!
@@RideTheFuture Dear Stephan, thanks for your kind reply and feedback! I am exploring alternatives at the moment, let's see what I can find ;-) All the very best, Max
Wow, that’s so interesting. What about the velocity curve? It’s more realistic the way you changed it or it’s about personal feeling and specific keyboard response?
Hi Stephan .... good preset man!!! Is there a way to obtain this preset from you ? I own the Studio version of PianoTeq 8.2 Cheerzzz -Rem (from Amsterdam, the Netherlands)
This is not a Pianoteq question, but I am interested in the MX88. How do you feel /What do you think about the MX88's action/touch/etc..? Anything weird/unusual/undesirable to point out (maybe noises, or anything really)? Thank you for your input/help!
Thanks for the stream and you play beautifully. Would you pretty please with ivory on top make us a preset of that setup and put it on Pianoteq FXP Corner? I recently purchased Pianoteq 8 Standard and chose the Steinway D , the U4 Upright and the new classical guitar. After watching this video I purchased the C. Bechstein and it is excellent. There's an FXP preset called "Strings and Pad' You may find useful as there's nothing else like it I know of in Pianoteq. I took it and layered it with the C. Bechstein set to DG D 284 (both stock) and set the volume to 100% for each. I think it sounds wonderful. The guy really put a lot of time into getting it right. He morphed a lot of pianos together and adjusted the settings for each one individually to create something pretty unique. Prior to getting the C. Bechstein the favorite instrument preset I had was pretty much stock U4 Upright "U4 Tall. I plan to tweak it some as well as the C. Bechstein and your videos really help so thank you for that.
Thank you! Very precise technically. I don't want to upgrade Pro to Stidio and I have to choose between Bechstein and Steinway B (I have D) so I'll go Bechstein.
I already have Pianoteq and learned something today from a mixing perspective, but most of all, I like to listen to your musical playing in all those different styles. Beautiful. Thanks.
Great Video. Thank you! You have fully justified my purchase of Pianoteq 8 Pro. Still learning how to drive it. This thing is totally amazing!! Using Logic Pro x, and the default pianos on Logic are dreadful, compared to Pianoteq!
I have been using Pianoteq for three years. It seems to me that this video is more about piano recording than playing (in my case using USB Digital Audio Interface of my digital piano). The quality of sound achieved here is to great extent achieved by great music recording abilities of the author.
I've been using the Steinway B and D on the Pianoteq 8 Pro, and the Bechstein DG is my new goto now, need some tweak/adjustment to the velocity curve to make it shine, but worth the effort!
Hi and thanks for commenting. The sound is going to be fundamentally different without the EQ behind it. I still might do an upload at some point in the future. Stay creative and please subscribe if you haven't already.
Absolutely love pianoteq. I like the tweakability of it most. Other VSTs are just kind of the same thing all the time and gets boring. I don't use a DAW or any effects other than those provided in Pianoteq Standard. Keeps things simple that way.
Nice tone and ambience in general, and great playing, but I'm not a fan of the unnatrual way in which the Teldex room sound swells loudly after the sound from Pianoteq stops completely (e.g. around 12:48). I'm not familiar with the plugin so can't say what setting is causing that - maybe too much pre-delay - but it's pretty objectionable to my ear.
Hi Stephan. It sounds nice and I'm surprised about it as I didn't like any of the older Pianotec sounds. Is the Bechstein Model playable with just the basic version of the software (Player)? And would that make sense? Thank you. Cheers.
Thanks for stopping by and checking out my demonstration of PT8. I am not sure if you need the Pro version vs. the Standard version. I use the Pro version only and this is what the demo above is geared towards. My instinct is that the sound is not going to change if you play this piano with this setting that I showed above. The more important thing is that you duplicate the EQ setting in your DAW as the built in EQ's are not nearly as capable as the Fabfilter EQ I am showing above. Wishing you the best on your creative journey! Please subscribe if you haven't already! Peace and Creativity ;)
Hello Stephan- excellent tones!! I’m new to pianoteq and instantly fell for the bechstein model. I’m also new to the fabbilter eq and learned a lot from your explanation of this eq process. Thanks for that! Any chance you’d be willing to make your fabfilter preset available to you viewing public? Cheers good sir!
Hey Zachary and thanks for tuning in. If you own the Fabfilter Q 3 you should be able to just grab the settings from the video above. For download safety reasons I can't provide downloadable software presets as those could get corrupted and endanger your workflow. Anyways, please subscribe to the channel if you haven't already - some big projects will get discussed shortly ;-) Peace!
classic jazz demos will never show all the potential of Pianoteq. This could be near similar for all pianos. Pianoteq has to be showed with XXe century music with lots of effects.
Yes its available now and it’s exactly the same plug-in , it sounds fabulous , with Yamaha CP/YC it’s plug and play with iPad Pro and the build in audio/midi interface on the Yamaha 😊
I don't personally understand what people like about the Steinway models - I tried very much to like them but there is just some strange stuff going on in the midrange I don't care about at all. The Bechstein blows pretty much all of them away - hence the title of this review. Glad you're enjoying your Steinway model - that is all that matters ;-)
What is amusing is that Bechstein instrument modelled by Modarrt is a digital instrument not an acoustic one. ( paragraph 20.1 of Pianoteq 8 documentation ). And apparently it is the preferred preset for many users !! So basically , we end up having a physical modelling of a modelled instrument !!
You know, even if it were a sampled copy of a modelled analog mellotrone (if such thing existed), I would embrace it if it sounded like this ;-)) Thanks for your interesting observation!
@@RideTheFuture 100 % in agreement actually . At the end of the day the whole debate around modelling / sampling is kind of absurd as the only thing that matter is the final sound 👍
3:20. Would the FC-3A, or other good pedals for that matter, work for me or would that depend on my piano? My current pedal has half pedal, and on and off and that's it. Please anybody, I can't find that information. Thanks
Agreed - still currently the most natural piano in my whole library - and I have practically everything out there ;-) Please subscribe if you haven't already - got loads more interesting and challenging music and gear spotlights coming out shortly!
@@RideTheFuture have you test the vsl ? I like something for solo recordings and am between the vsl and the pianoteq....does i have to buy the full version if i do not need the higher sample rate ?
I know what you mean. I have the C.Bechstein and it is excellent piano with completely different character. And that's the nice part of pianoteq. You just buy a piano with 49 € and you have a completely unique piano. Comparing with the Steinway... I don't know ... they are completely different.
Bechstein "under the lid" setting is particularly sweet.
Definitely the best review on any PIANOTEQ. Cause you need an ear to do such a review and not just noodle and show buttons. And that ear you have, unlike most. Thanks for the work!
Sounds great, and also beautiful playing! Thanks for the demo.
Double-click the volume slider and you can draw volume curves however you want (i.e. if you want the upper end to play softer than the lower end). You can even adjust on a note-by-note basis.
Awesome. I love Pianoteq. Have been with them since version 1.2
Isn't it amazing?!!!
And it just keeps getting better and better!!!
Thank you for your great demonstration.
Warmest regards,
Chris (sigasa)
Indeed Sally! One of my students in Mexico City played it for me over Zoom and it totally won me over.
I will dig deeper and deeper into the engine and make it more realistic, especially throwing the tuning slightly off because that is the #1 plague of virtual instruments:
The mathemathical and perfect pitch center of 440 Hz. The magic often isn't in the pitch center - but rather AROUND it.
Please subscribe to this channel if you haven't already. Thanks for watching and reaching out!
Stephan; An extremely well done and thought out PT8 contribution. IMO, Perhaps the BEST PT8 mini review yet. The Reason being: You demonstrated with a fluid comprehensive musicianship how to really make the Bechstein speak in a mix, with the addition of 3rd party plug-Ins. In particular Stephan, your in depth mini dive into how your'e using the external EQ's to shape this piano ( to really speak beautifully) as additionally doing an exceptional job explaining how you are layering REVERBS and the personality and character that brings to the mix.
The final sound you were demoing with the longer hall reflections had such emotive character. That particular reflection really speaks to me when I hear it. And finally your transparency to share such valuable insights into bringing these PT8 modeled instruments was great. It raises the bar, in the Know-Like-Trust factor.
I have recently built out a stage system w/ PT8, a BabyFace PRO, what I am calling a Stereo Quad SPK system w/ 4 I-Loud-MTMs. 2 placed Under piano ( firing up) to sim that & 2 L/R MTMs in Landscape Near field position. Currently using a YAMAHA HS8 SUB near lft leg for some 40/50 hrz. What an amazing time we live in.... Onward KB
Wow, Ken that's amazing. First of all, I really appreciate your kind and generous words - and it means the world to me that the review and the exploration confirmed you in your choice having decided on PianoTeq. I can't believe it took me this long to jump on their stuff.
And then, your system!
My goodness, what a sound experience you must be 'bathing' in everytime you turn that system on!
I bet you - if these PT guys keep going like this, one day it might feel like a letdown sitting at a real high quality concert grand LOL.
Wishing you all the best on your creative journey - and please subscribe if you haven't already.
Got MANY more musical and inspirational goodies in store for the coming videos ;)
I could listen to you all night! Beautiful playing and interesting settings on the EQ.
Hey Steph! Nice review! I didn’t realize you’d left LA bro. Good luck in your new locale! 😊🎹
Stephan, great playing and harmonic choices!
Great video with some really good tips on how to combine the effects. The Bechstein sounds amazing indeed !
Just wow. May buy today for new project. Hendersonville tn
Thanks Stephan for your great review and incredible musical taste even when noodling!
I just subscribed simply from learning that Stephan Oberhoff is an amazing talent. Were I wealthy, I would ask him to produce, record, and orchestrate everything I do from this point on with the big band I play in and help manage. We all have our fantasies.
Beautiful, expressive instrument, outstanding dynamic range. And, very nice playing!
Please help me with new buying, what 2 pianos packages do you recomend? My style of playing similar with you, thank you!
That's some great playing Stephan
Thanks so kindly dear Peter! Please subscribe if you haven't already.
Blessings and have a great creative day ;)
Well I knew the Bechstein was good, but I didn't know how good 'til I heard you slaying it! BTW the new Bosendorfer is fantastic...would love to hear that under your fingers.
The Bechstein seems to have more presence and immediacy than most of the other models if you are looking for a piano sound that responds tighter. The Snappy patch is really nice by itself and for layering with the other models.
Also has the best felt preset. The other pianos felt sounds (in Pianoteq) are crap.
😊👍Amazing Sound on that Bechstein
Wowed!! Stephan, you are brilliant musician and designer. I have implemented so many of your; ideas settings and sound design. I just ordered FC3A for my old Clavinova 150. Is it still possible to purchase the Vibraphone you are using? Thank you Sir always inspiring to listen and watch you work.
That’s some intelligent eq
I totally agree; I demo'd the Bechstein and immediately bought it ... and I already have the Steinway German and NY, Steinway B, Blüthner, and both Petrofs. This is my favorite.
Blüthner is my personal favorite I think. Love how percussive it is.
After Bechstein what next to buy? I play for church, modern band and also myself. I plan to buy pianoteq and really interesting with Bechstein…
Thanks a lot Stephan for this video on Pianoteq 8 - Bechstein, a favorite piano manufacturer of mine. My comment here will probably raise a few eye brows and discontent but I am going to say it anyway, as much as I would like to love Pianoteq, I find that all the various models lack beefiness in the lower octaves, I like a piano with powerful bottom end and unfortunately I have not been able to achieve this in Pianoteq. Kind regards, Max
Hey Max, thanks for your comment! It's kinda strange but maybe the word 'beefiness' is in need of a bit more definition. The lowest octave on this piano is perfectly balanced and punches through in all my recordings - but I don't like the low end as much on the Steinway model.
I must say though, having played many many concert pianos, that their powerful and thunderous low end is actually very hard to find on any plug-in, period.
Wishing you the best with your search for the ultimate piano sound!
@@RideTheFuture Dear Stephan, thanks for your kind reply and feedback! I am exploring alternatives at the moment, let's see what I can find ;-) All the very best, Max
Wow, that’s so interesting. What about the velocity curve? It’s more realistic the way you changed it or it’s about personal feeling and specific keyboard response?
Hi Stephan .... good preset man!!! Is there a way to obtain this preset from you ? I own the Studio version of PianoTeq 8.2
Cheerzzz
-Rem
(from Amsterdam, the Netherlands)
This is not a Pianoteq question, but I am interested in the MX88.
How do you feel /What do you think
about the MX88's action/touch/etc..?
Anything weird/unusual/undesirable to point out
(maybe noises, or anything really)?
Thank you for your input/help!
Damn pretty playing man!
Thanks for the stream and you play beautifully. Would you pretty please with ivory on top make us a preset of that setup and put it on Pianoteq FXP Corner?
I recently purchased Pianoteq 8 Standard and chose the Steinway D , the U4 Upright and the new classical guitar. After watching this video I purchased the C. Bechstein and it is excellent.
There's an FXP preset called "Strings and Pad' You may find useful as there's nothing else like it I know of in Pianoteq. I took it and layered it with the C. Bechstein set to DG D 284 (both stock) and set the volume to 100% for each. I think it sounds wonderful. The guy really put a lot of time into getting it right. He morphed a lot of pianos together and adjusted the settings for each one individually to create something pretty unique.
Prior to getting the C. Bechstein the favorite instrument preset I had was pretty much stock U4 Upright "U4 Tall. I plan to tweak it some as well as the C. Bechstein and your videos really help so thank you for that.
Thank you! Very precise technically. I don't want to upgrade Pro to Stidio and I have to choose between Bechstein and Steinway B (I have D) so I'll go Bechstein.
I already have Pianoteq and learned something today from a mixing perspective, but most of all, I like to listen to your musical playing in all those different styles.
Beautiful. Thanks.
Great Video. Thank you! You have fully justified my purchase of Pianoteq 8 Pro. Still learning how to drive it. This thing is totally amazing!! Using Logic Pro x, and the default pianos on Logic are dreadful, compared to Pianoteq!
Hi Stephan. Which are for you the best 4 grand pianos in Pianoteq 8? Thanks
I have been using Pianoteq for three years. It seems to me that this video is more about piano recording than playing (in my case using USB Digital Audio Interface of my digital piano). The quality of sound achieved here is to great extent achieved by great music recording abilities of the author.
I've been using the Steinway B and D on the Pianoteq 8 Pro, and the Bechstein DG is my new goto now, need some tweak/adjustment to the velocity curve to make it shine, but worth the effort!
Sounds great. Could you save and upload your preset to the FXP area of their website/forum?
Hi and thanks for commenting. The sound is going to be fundamentally different without the EQ behind it.
I still might do an upload at some point in the future. Stay creative and please subscribe if you haven't already.
@@RideTheFuture Since Pianoteq has an equalizer, I wonder if they could make it more like Pro.Q3, with base and treble sliders.
Absolutely love pianoteq. I like the tweakability of it most. Other VSTs are just kind of the same thing all the time and gets boring. I don't use a DAW or any effects other than those provided in Pianoteq Standard. Keeps things simple that way.
@Eph 2 The latter - unfortunately. Presets are usually variations of a core sound, not a whole new sample base or modeling algorythm.
Nice tone and ambience in general, and great playing, but I'm not a fan of the unnatrual way in which the Teldex room sound swells loudly after the sound from Pianoteq stops completely (e.g. around 12:48). I'm not familiar with the plugin so can't say what setting is causing that - maybe too much pre-delay - but it's pretty objectionable to my ear.
Hi what daw software where you using?
Hi Stephan. It sounds nice and I'm surprised about it as I didn't like any of the older Pianotec sounds.
Is the Bechstein Model playable with just the basic version of the software (Player)? And would that make sense?
Thank you. Cheers.
Thanks for stopping by and checking out my demonstration of PT8. I am not sure if you need the Pro version vs. the Standard version. I use the Pro version only and this is what the demo above is geared towards. My instinct is that the sound is not going to change if you play this piano with this setting that I showed above. The more important thing is that you duplicate the EQ setting in your DAW as the built in EQ's are not nearly as capable as the Fabfilter EQ I am showing above.
Wishing you the best on your creative journey! Please subscribe if you haven't already! Peace and Creativity ;)
Hello Stephan- excellent tones!! I’m new to pianoteq and instantly fell for the bechstein model. I’m also new to the fabbilter eq and learned a lot from your explanation of this eq process. Thanks for that! Any chance you’d be willing to make your fabfilter preset available to you viewing public? Cheers good sir!
Hey Zachary and thanks for tuning in. If you own the Fabfilter Q 3 you should be able to just grab the settings from the video above. For download safety reasons I can't provide downloadable software presets as those could get corrupted and endanger your workflow. Anyways, please subscribe to the channel if you haven't already - some big projects will get discussed shortly ;-)
Peace!
classic jazz demos will never show all the potential of Pianoteq. This could be near similar for all pianos. Pianoteq has to be showed with XXe century music with lots of effects.
This version becomes realistic to my ears. The first ever, I guess.
Is it available for iOS app?
I don't know Carlton. Please check out their website at www.modartt.com
Best of luck to all you do!
Soon, apparently!
Yes its available now and it’s exactly the same plug-in , it sounds fabulous , with Yamaha CP/YC it’s plug and play with iPad Pro and the build in audio/midi interface on the Yamaha 😊
It might beat Steinway, but it would have been nice to actually hear it in comparison. I chose Steinway when I noodled with Pianoteq 8.
I don't personally understand what people like about the Steinway models - I tried very much to like them but there is just some strange stuff going on in the midrange I don't care about at all. The Bechstein blows pretty much all of them away - hence the title of this review. Glad you're enjoying your Steinway model - that is all that matters ;-)
What is amusing is that Bechstein instrument modelled by Modarrt is a digital instrument not an acoustic one. ( paragraph 20.1 of Pianoteq 8 documentation ). And apparently it is the preferred preset for many users !! So basically , we end up having a physical modelling of a modelled instrument !!
You know, even if it were a sampled copy of a modelled analog mellotrone (if such thing existed), I would embrace it if it sounded like this ;-))
Thanks for your interesting observation!
@@RideTheFuture 100 % in agreement actually . At the end of the day the whole debate around modelling / sampling is kind of absurd as the only thing that matter is the final sound 👍
3:20. Would the FC-3A, or other good pedals for that matter, work for me or would that depend on my piano? My current pedal has half pedal, and on and off and that's it. Please anybody, I can't find that information. Thanks
It's missing a woodiness (in or under the tone) but has great melodic character.
Agreed - still currently the most natural piano in my whole library - and I have practically everything out there ;-)
Please subscribe if you haven't already - got loads more interesting and challenging music and gear spotlights coming out shortly!
@@RideTheFuture have you test the vsl ? I like something for solo recordings and am between the vsl and the pianoteq....does i have to buy the full version if i do not need the higher sample rate ?
I know what you mean. I have the C.Bechstein and it is excellent piano with completely different character. And that's the nice part of pianoteq. You just buy a piano with 49 € and you have a completely unique piano. Comparing with the Steinway... I don't know ... they are completely different.
Even in version 6.7 I find the Bechstein better than the Steinway
I like that kid in the candy store:)
always love your videos
Thanks so much Remy! Please subscribe if you haven't already. Cheers!