Pianoteq 3 is out, and free to existing users!

[SixStringGeek]

I want this so badly --- I really like the sound and innovative approach --- but I can't afford it.

I am saving up for a Carr Raleigh.

- c

So that looks like a nifty bit of tweed and all, where does it come from and what makes it special?

[mhschmieder]

Has anyone else been unable to access Pianoteq'ds website lately?

Very frustrating, as this is my first opportunity to access the web from home in a week, and my last for another few days.

[mhschmieder]

I think they were updating the website during the few hours that I tried earlier.

I was just now able to access the site and download/install Version 3, along with the Version 3 modified presets for the add-on historical instruments.

I don't ever try out sounds at this hour of the night, but I do like the new interface a lot, after initially complaining based on the marketing screen shots. It's a nice complement of colours, easy on the eyes, with highly legible fonts.

More to the point, the new preset management system is much easier to use and gives a lot better organisation and information than before. The general settings for MIDI etc. are also more intuitive and complete.

I didn't bother loading the previous versions of the Classic and Modern Grands (M1, and C1 and C2). I'm going to run through all of my projects this weekend, and reapply my tweaks to equivalent C3 and M3 patches instead.

[tremolounge]

I didn't bother loading the previous versions of the Classic and Modern Grands (M1, and C1 and C2). I'm going to run through all of my projects this weekend, and reapply my tweaks to equivalent C3 and M3 patches instead.

But in case you do want to load v2 versions, did you see the extra files for those? Instructions are in EvilDragon's post (#6):

http://www.forum-pianoteq.com/viewtopic.php?id=510

[David Polich]

There are a couple of new "semi-hidden" features in Pianoteq 3.0 that are just awesome.

Double-click on the "Volume" slider and it opens up a window where you can adjust the
loudness of each note individually. This is a big deal for programmers like me who found that in the
old version, one could not adjust the volumes of certain areas of the keyboard.

Click on "Action" to open up the action window. The parameter called "Last Damper" allows
you to set where the undamped notes begin. Another big plus for programming - different pianos
start their undamped section of the keys at different places. For Yamahas, it's either F6 or G6 (or F5/G5,
if you're using Yamaha's system which sets Middle C as "C3").

I'm finding more and more to love about this newest version. I'm done with sampled pianos forever.

[David Polich]

Update - a somewhat sad story. I used Pianoteq 3.0 in a DP project for the first time
today. Distortion, break-up, notes cutting out all over the place.

On the Pianoteq forum, Modarrt has posted that there are serious performance issues
with Pianoteq 3.0 and Dual G5 machines. They're working on a fix which they
"hope to have up soon".

But for the moment, it seems that Pianoteq 3.0 is no workee with dual G5's.
Bummer. Luckily I can install it on my PC and run it from there.

[mhschmieder]

Hmm, good thing I didn't uninstall v2.x yet.

I've been working 100 hour weeks at work, so haven't gotten any tracking done these past couple of weeks. I had hoped to re-track some Pianoteq stuff this past weekend, but it's sounding like I should wait for the next point release.

[beautypill]

I want this so badly --- I really like the sound and innovative approach --- but I can't afford it.

I am saving up for a Carr Raleigh.

- c

So that looks like a nifty bit of tweed and all, where does it come from and what makes it special?

Way OT for the thread, but it sounds fantastic is the main thing. I'm buying a Raleigh and one of those limited-edition dark AC15s for the studio. These two purchases pretty much constitute my entire discretionary income for the Spring season, sadly...

- c

[mhschmieder]

I used it on one session last night (first night I've had any time at all for recording, in several weeks). I was completely blown away at how much more realistic this version sounds, but surprised the presets are now specific to mic setups vs. other tweaks. No problem; I'll make my own anyway.

I'm kind of surprised by those who say this version sounds the same as the last, as they're so different I may need to import some of the Pianoteq 2 fxp's after all. As it is, I switched from Pianoteq to Yamaha CP80 samples last night, as that's what the song in question really cried out for anyway.

So, to summarise, Pianoteq 3 is more like a Steinway, whilst Pianoteq 2 is sort of in between a Yammie Grand and a CP80 semi-acoustic "electric grand" .

[David Polich]

I used it on one session last night (first night I've had any time at all for recording, in several weeks). I was completely blown away at how much more realistic this version sounds, but surprised the presets are now specific to mic setups vs. other tweaks. No problem; I'll make my own anyway.

I'm kind of surprised by those who say this version sounds the same as the last, as they're so different I may need to import some of the Pianoteq 2 fxp's after all. As it is, I switched from Pianoteq to Yamaha CP80 samples last night, as that's what the song in question really cried out for anyway.

So, to summarise, Pianoteq 3 is more like a Steinway, whilst Pianoteq 2 is sort of in between a Yammie Grand and a CP80 semi-acoustic "electric grand" .

Definitely agree on the improved realism of P3. It's a huge step up from P2.

Hey Mark, how is P3's performance on your G4 iMac? I had to switch to using it on my PC and triggering it from DP via
MIDI, as it is unstable on my dual G5 (known issue, according to Modarrt).

[mhschmieder]

Pianoteq 3 is definitely taxing my computer to its limit, and I have to render chunks and merge as it hiccups if left to run all the way through a single track.

So, obviously, I can't use this one in real-time even at lower sample rates as I could with Pianoteq 2. But that's just a short-term problem.

I will finally have a new computer sometime this summer, and updates to Pianoteq 3.0 will probably also improve its CPU performance.

I did notice, though, that it makes a HUGE difference which mic setups you use; just as reverb choice already had a big CPU impact on Pianoteq 2.

[mhschmieder]

Tried recording several tracks last night, and it was crasheroni.

Granted, these were stereo projects, and I had only used it on mono projects earlier in the week.

Also, I daisy-chained my FF800 to my main data drive last night, to see if I'll be OK with a new Mac (one FW port vs. two).

The other difference is that I was using C3 vs. M3 last night, so maybe it's more demanding (turning off reverb and mics didn't help).

I'll eliminate these variables from the equation one by one this weekend; there wasn't time for that last night.

[Shooshie]

Pretty amazing that it runs on a G4 iMac. Modeling is so CPU intensive. I'm not trying to rub it in; just really kind of pleasantly surprised that you're able to get that much out of your machine!

Shooshie

[mhschmieder]

Well, I'm remembering now that certain songs (with pre-recorded MIDI from most likely Yamaha MOTIF XS data entry), didn't do so well with Pianoteq 2 either. I think since Pianoteq 3 is a new version with lots of major changes, they wanted to get it out as soon as it was stable.

As with the Sample Modeling stuff, future updates will probably improve performance. After all, I couldn't run their stuff until late December, and had almost resigned myself to not being able to run any modeling VI's until a new computer.

A new computer will obviously help, but even those with more powerful machines benefit when vendors make their apps and libraries more CPU and memory efficient. If nothing else, it allows for more instances.

[Shooshie]

A new computer will obviously help, but even those with more powerful machines benefit when vendors make their apps and libraries more CPU and memory efficient. If nothing else, it allows for more instances.

Considering the quality of your posts and the determination you have to get to the bottom of issues, I can't wait until you DO get a new machine. You're gonna be a wild man then.

Shoosh