One important notice for new Pianoteq users: default condition state is set on "mint", but I recommend making it 1-2 steps away from mint, because in mint condition the piano sounds "too perfect", while not mint state make the sound richer, more fun and more realistic (real pianos usually are just a tiny bit off tune, it's not like a piano tuner checks you piano to 0 deviation every day). PS. Mint variation will probably sound better in a mix where piano is a supporting instrument, but if it is in the spotlight, make it a bit less mint.

@JoeLinux2000

2 жыл бұрын

No argument here.

@Mnnvint

2 жыл бұрын

Also, *set your velocity curves*! It makes a huge difference for how "real" the piano feels.

@paullebon323

2 жыл бұрын

Not too perfect for me. It sounds like the freshly tuned and regulated performance piano of a concert pianist with his own piano tech.

@SiQuemaCuhh

2 жыл бұрын

@@paullebon323 or "PianoTeq" I see what you did there ;)

@kbrizy7490

2 жыл бұрын

Definitely agree!

That was exactly what I wanted! This in- depth comparison side by side emphasises all the subtle differences and advantages. Great, thanks a lot!

the dynamic behaviour of Pianoteq is outstanding. nothing compares to that.

Great review! Another one I was waiting for. Thank you Stu. Will Merriam sell piano sound emulation packages?

what brings Pianoteq a step forward against any sampled piano is the fact the any note played will change based from other pressed notes, in other words, when you play a note, and there are other notes pressed, the sound is different than if you play the note alone. To test it out just push some notes down, keep them pressed and let the sound to finish, then play a staccato note while keeping the other notes down. You will hear the wires resonate to that notes!! winner hands down, i heard v8 is even better, still have to upgrade, but v7 is already beyond. And there are many pianos, my fav is C.Bechstein

@MerriamPianos

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for this wonderful insight! That is definitely a very cool feature and detail to make note of. Thanks so much and all the best! :)

Sympathetic Resonance ("Harmonics") is a critical feature of the Acoustic Piano which creates Aural Wonderment. Thanks for posting this great video as it is clear that you are a seasoned pro.

The Pianoteq sounds deeper with more harmonics. Both sound good and the average listener wouldn't be able to tell the difference, especially if it was in a mix. Peeking deep into the sound is like looking at the pixels in an image instead of assessing the art itself. Nice review and great playing. Thanks.

Well done. Brilliant playing.

That's some very nice piano playing. Sounds great in both setttings, for different reasons.

Nice playing, as always. Seemed to me the Keyscape sound was "thinner" than the Pianoteq, even when "warmer" as you said. It also seemed like there was a bit more reverb or sustain in the Keyscape version. This may be a parameter setting and it may be the difference between 5 and 7. Developing a "model" of a honkytonk piano or a cheap German upright that was not tuned in 10 years, has a cost and the expectation to sell it and earn the investment back - which may have held Pianoteq back in developing one. Or, I don't think there is a loser here - both are very good. Of course "we want more". I have to say the Vienna approach sounded really great and this probably has more refined samples that require less processing to play them back seamlessly. The comparison makes me think of photo apps that do raw processing (invent RGB colors that are missing in monochrome raw files). By default, Lightroom opens with a neutral profile that is not very vivid. Capture One opens with a vivid profile. In both cases we can swap that around. This is a marketing thing and the user needs to tune this to their own taste. The default we get is a programmer's vision (meh in both cases), not you the artist's. Pianoteq opens with a flawlessly tuned piano that can sound perfectly artificial (or is that artificially perfect) and no doubt has a control to make it more natural. As to natural, I heard a demo recording of a real physical top-line brand grand piano in a (covid empty) concert hall. The recording had been done with two pairs of microphones, one "in" the piano and the other pair at 4..5 ft distance from the piano's case, both horizontally and vertically. These four microphones had been mixed down into two stereo channels. Microphone placement and mixing had made the piano sound very "cinematic" in the playback. Not at all how you would hear it when playing it, not how you hear it in the concert hall either.

the way pianoteq creates the sympathetic resonances is so inmersive

personally i have been after a comparison of harpsichords, but even as such i really enjoyed this review, and although I am not so much interested in the type of music played on - let's say - electrical keyboards, it was really very enjoyable to hear all those subtle yet characteristic differences which you can normally can hear on good jazz recordings. Thanks for that.

Now... Keyscape is just beautiful sounding... inspiring. I enjoy playing Keyscape way more than any other Virtual Piano.

THANK YOU SO MUCH! Stu is always the person I search when I need a piano review, but I did not know he also did plugins! Thank you Merriam Music.

@MerriamPianos

6 ай бұрын

You're very welcome! We're glad you stumbled upon our VST reviews. :)

@QalinaCom

6 ай бұрын

@@MerriamPianos It was recommended to me by youtube❤

Thank you for making such nice demos 👏👏👏😊

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! Thank you for taking the time to tune in! :)

Thank you for this detailed review!

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! Thanks for tuning in! :)

Very thorough and great knowledge. Appreciate your content

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for tuning in! We're glad you enjoyed the video! :)

I have Pianoteq, Keyscape, Alicia’s keys, the Gentleman, Noir, and the V collection. They all have their uses and vibe.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely! This is the great thing about VST plugins! Most people don't have room for 5 or 6 concert grand pianos in their home, but, thanks to the power of technology, it is possible to have access to all of their voices simultaneously. :)

@QalinaCom

6 ай бұрын

after reading your comment, I researched all of the above (it's Noire BTW, I got confused)-thank you for this, I didn't know about any of the above!

@drum877

6 ай бұрын

@@QalinaCom Pianoteq is amazing. It’s the most realistic velocity and customizable piano and it’s such a small file size since it is not sample driven.

@QalinaCom

6 ай бұрын

@@drum877 I downloaded the trial Pianoteq iOS version and played both Bechstein and Steinway-both seemed kind of too "remote" just with the "out of the box" preset. As if it's really far away with way too much reverb. I am looking for a quality honky tonk/saloon beaten up piano sample, but when you "age" those pianos, it doesn't sound convincing to me. I was interested in their historical pianos, but you can't even trial them, you just have to buy them... But at least I could try them, with Keyscape you just gotta buy it... Will stick to my Kawai sound for now, the VTS is a pricey investment, you must be so broke after buying all of them LOL hope you have fun with them all!

@dubsbarry9963

2 ай бұрын

you apparently also have money :)

Nice comparison sir, loved your playing too, new sub from sunny Birkenhead Uk.

Great playing 👍🎹

Very very good test ! thank you !!!!

I bought Keyscape and have never looked back since. But then again, Eq and compression is pretty much all I fiddle with. Also the electric pianos sound so much better to me in Keyscape.

Nice video. I liked the keyscape much more especially the electric piano sounds.

8:25 - 8:48 - Thank you for that. You were speaking from your heart there... Nothing but love for ya, man.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for tuning in! I will be sure to pass on your kind words to Stu on your behalf. :)

@percyvolnar8010

Жыл бұрын

@@MerriamPianos Thanks! Really love listening to him build harmonic structures.

I am a Pianoteq user (Bechstein/NY Steinway/YC5), and it is my go-to. Keyscape's comprehensive collection has wonderful attributes, and I could happily live with both--and with my b'day coming up, I just might buy myself a present, if only for the added integration viz Omnisphere/Keyscape Creative. In this comparison, the sound of the C7 in Keyscape appears as if the user is in the room, hearing a beautifully maintained instrument, whereas the Pianoteq sound is more, let's say, "direct," as if the user were sitting AT the keyboard itself. Flip a coin; there is no wrong choice. Nice playing, by the way. . .

This is brilliant. Thank You!!

@MerriamPianos

11 ай бұрын

You're very welcome! We're glad you enjoyed it! :)

Great review. Pianoteq 8 has just been released on iOS which I think is pretty huge as the sampled pianos available on that platform don’t have many dynamic layers. Having such a wonderful instrument on an iPad or even iPhone is amazing!

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! We appreciate it. And yes, this is very exciting news! I believe this release was delayed a little bit, so I know there were a lot of people eagerly awaiting it. :)

@JayTheLane

2 ай бұрын

Version 8 is fantastic. Your licence covers both ios and Mac/Win 👍🏼

man... that pianoteq sounds beautiful!! I personally own the keyscape, but this is really convincing me to just pull the trigger on the pianoteq

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

The great thing about VST plugins is that they do not take up any physical space! While many players would love to have 10 concert grand pianos in their home, most people don't have the space (or budget of course) to manage that. With VST plugins, you can easily have access to a plethora of piano sounds at your fingertips. :)

Pianoteq is hands down the king. It motivates me to practice again. What it has that the sampled piano VSTs don't is RESPONSIVENESS and DYNAMIC RANGE.

@truthmanifestingtruth

Жыл бұрын

Hands down😁 subjective sure✌🏾 Many of Keyscape demos sound better in this video. The playability and other factors will likely take someone playing both and hearing them in person. What is more universally “hands down” is that they are both top notch products.✌🏾

@percyvolnar8010

Жыл бұрын

If you are on a budget, pianoteq is great and sounds fabulous. You can build a stand-alone keyboard running raspberry pi that autoruns pianoteq and have a formidable set up. that is portable and powerful. However, keyscapes sample-streaming and rock-solid velocity detection is the best in the game. The piano's they sampled were sampled incredibly well and you really hear it when you put on headphones.

@unsertrefflicher4678

Жыл бұрын

If you don't have money Pianoteq is a good enough.

it seems like pianoteq translates the expression from the fingers better while the pure sound of keyscapes seems better (obviously). wish there was a mix of both

@julianmanjarres1998

Жыл бұрын

You can customize pianoteq so much that you could likely get it to sound close to the exact same as keyscape

Thanks Merriam! I think many secretly wonder and dream of attaining Stu's talent also.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! Stu is incredible and we are beyond lucky to have such an incredible virtuosic player and piano mastermind at the helm! :)

Good comparison. I would rate both those products highly. The keyscape does seem to have some sort of additional warmth / complexity to the sound that the modeled instruments don't quite deliver.

@julianmanjarres1998

Жыл бұрын

Depends on the preset

As far as pianos go, they are both different but amazing in their own way. However, I really REALLY wanted Pianoteq to at least be 80% as good as Keyscape with electric keyboards because Keyscape in that regard sounds absolutely stunning (was listening on monitors and the sound is just so pure) whereas Pianoteq kinda sound toy-ish by comparison. This is no knock to Pianoteq, I love the concept, love the tiny footprint and it being algorithmically generated rather than just triggering samples kinda makes it its own instrument, and the customization is just insane, but it just doesn't quite capture the magic of the Rhodes or any of the electric keyboards, also the upright was significantly better on Keyscape as well. Still, it's amazing what the guys over at Modartt are doing and maybe in the next couple years they will find a way to really inject that genuine magic that isn't quite there with their electric keyboard simulations. They do seem to get better with every update.

Great video. What you think about sample 4 piano vs these?

Keyscape makes my heart sing. Eric Persing was my idol back when he was working for Roland.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Keyscape is an awesome piano VST! We're glad to hear you connect with it sonically. Thanks so much for tuning in! We appreciate it. :)

@percyvolnar8010

Жыл бұрын

@@MerriamPianos Thanks for putting the content up and for having me!

What is the best piano feel controller for keyscape will you recommend. Thanks.

Good playing.

On Golden Pond! Nice playing.

Comparing Pianoteq sounds, and saying it doesn't sound the same as Keyscape... Well, its not going to, not unless you find the right starting preset, and tweak it. At least you have the chance of going from Pianoteq=>Keyscape The opposite would be impossible Hence Pianoteq is kind of doomed, as everything is viewed in terms of "how like Keyscape". You want it "warmer"? Change the settings or choose a different preset. Even the condition slider is an easy win for more real world texture. Still, your playing is as ever, amazing.

Great review and comparison, thank you! I love the ability to tweak anything in Pianoteq but I get a distinct "guitar" or plucking type of sound in the attack of the middle keys that makes it feel artificial to my ear for example at 1:10, is it just me? Can it be fixed easily?

@stenaldomehilli8809

2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely true! I got such impressions as well. It looks like we could hear the original sound-wave they modified.

Stu, as usual You explanations are Outstanding. Hoping that You'll consider a side by side comparison VI Labs vs Keyscapes. My reason is that they're both Incredible Sample VST's So I'm asking & hoping. Fingers crossed. Either way, I do truly appreciate your thoughts an opinions Thanks

Pianoteq for sure is great, but thanks to your hands playing great music that piano plugin is magic. Thanks for your review

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! Thank you so much for tuning in! We really appreciate it. :)

Interesting review, and beautiful playing! Just wanted to note that many settings in Pianoteq (especially the output type / mic placement and reverb) have a severe impact on how the sound "feels", and which preset sounds best for me also depends on whether I use headphones or speakers. Keyscape generally seemed to have more ambient sound while Pianoteq was more pure/direct (in this case). Maybe that also plays a part in the "more warmth" you heard on Keyscapes? Keyscapes definitely has great sound overall, and while it's maybe better or at least more realistic in many cases, I like this close, intimate sound of Pianoteq. In combination with the great dynamics, it gives me a connection with the keyboard that I don't feel elsewhere. I think this may be the part where Pianoteq shines most (aside from the low hardware requirements and the ridiculous customizability if you've got the time).

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for the kind words and for taking the time to check out the comparison video! We really appreciate it. :) These are excellent insights. To your point of playing with speakers versus headphones, it is definitely true that different plugins and settings will shine or perform better in different listening contexts. The nice thing about VST piano plugins is that you can own a large assortment of them. That way, you are equipped to use the "right tool" for the right job. Thanks again and all the best!

This is a great comparison of the sounds, but there are other factors to consider as well, depending on your use case. My primary use is live performance and I like that Pianoteq loads much faster and occupies significantly less RAM, allowing room for more VSTs to be loaded and ready to go. But the One Thing about Pianoteq that really hooked me from the start was just how expressive it feels to play compared to other very good sampled instruments I've used (have not tried Keyscape). Hard to really describe, and certainly not a difference the audience will ever hear, but it's a certain tactile feeling that just makes Pianoteq so much fun to play, and inspires me to really explore more of the keyboard as well. This could be attributed to the exaggerated dynamics you mentioned, I don't know...but I love it!

@MerriamPianos

6 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences! The CPU load will definitely an important consideration for some users. Also, I know what you mean about the feeling of connectivity between the player and the piano sound. Whether we are discussing VSTs, digital pianos, or acoustic pianos, that is a very important consideration! :)

You must say that keyscape uses 50 GB of memory and Pianoteq 160 MB..Its a big diference....

@wilsargisson3626

2 жыл бұрын

Keyscape is closer to 80 GB

@Fastvoice

2 жыл бұрын

@@wilsargisson3626 You can do a "light installation" of Keyscape with about 30 GB. And Pianoteq Stage (the lightest edition) has less than 50 MB for the program and about 230 MB for two instrument packs.

your piano playing is very nice

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for taking the time to check out the video! Stu is amazing and we're very lucky to have his talents! :)

muy bueno el video!!👏👏

@MerriamPianos

10 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! :)

Pianoteq is my go to in the studio. I usually use 30 ips tape and a tube emulation on it. I find that it just sits better in the mix. I have been known to swap or double, using the same midi file. Keyscapes, Native Instruments, Ravenscroft, Ivory, give me lots of options in the mix. For gigs, it's tough to beat how Pianoteque is such a light load on your laptop.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Pianoteq is fantastic and you raise a very good point about computer load (particularly for live situations). With that said, the great thing about VST piano plugins is that you can have a massive library of them to choose from if desired. It is a little tougher to do that with acoustic grand pianos for various reasons! ;)

Nothing can beats pianoteq ❤

Great video, thank you very much ! I was personally fan of Pianoteq for piano solo projects until… the sound was altered after mastering (especially with Petrof 284) for a reason I still do not understand. Don’t have that problem with Keyscape (probably because it’s samples). I’m looking forward to try the other plugs you talked about for piano solo. Thanks again 😊

@MerriamPianos

10 ай бұрын

You're very welcome! Thank you for taking the time to tune in! :) In terms of experiencing issues with the piano sound after mastering, there are a few things to consider. I would advise recording the piano VST file as an audio file before printing a mixdown or master. Sometimes, there can be artifacting, latency, and mistriggering of MIDI information when using an instrument track and running the VST in real time. Also, if you are running any type of plugins during the mastering phase, that will inevitably colour and impact the sound of all of the elements within the arrangement. Thanks again and happy playing! :)

@titougenninee5115

10 ай бұрын

@@MerriamPianos Thank you for your time, I appreciate your response. Best regards

one thing that's nice about pianoteq is that the whole application is under 50 MB and that includes the all the instruments which are unlocked separately. So if you have a low spec PC maybe if you're on a budget or traveling you just need a controller (or DAW) and 50 MB.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

That is a very good point! Sometimes the logistical limitations of one's setup is an important consideration. :)

Keyscapes for me; it’s so seductive and draws you in

@JoeLinux2000

2 жыл бұрын

There is not question many people like it.

Hi. So, as far as the electric pianos are concerned, out of the two which do you think has the most authentic sound? Great video. Cheers.

@DEITYMUSIC

2 жыл бұрын

Keyscape 100 percent, Ive heard both, I have played both and you literally cannot tell the difference between a real Rhodes (or any other electric piano) and keyscape

How come I can't get the "stock" pianoteq that you have? did you have any post-processing of the video? I tried both with my headphones (Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro - 250ohm) direct out either to macbook pro m1 headphone jack or motu M4 or with Yamaha HS8. My pianoteq sound is really thin and plastic and it is just a bit better than Logic stock piano. What did I do wrong?

The Pianoteq has some great sounds, but it is almost "too" clean, whereas The Keyscape has a 3-D like resonance which fills my headphone speakers.

@JoeLinux2000

2 жыл бұрын

I agree Pianoteq'a electric pianos are a bit too pure, but I never tried "aging" them which might make a difference. Velocity curve could be another issue.

Keyscape just sounds better and more intimate to my ear. Both sound great!

@MerriamPianos

9 ай бұрын

For sure! They're both excellent VST plugin that offer a slightly different flavour, but every player will have their personal preference. :)

Excellent demo as usual. I am not at all familiar with music technology except for some basic general knowledge. I prefer the natural feel of sampling when compared to modelling however impressed I am with the modelling capabilities. One question: what is the keyboard used for this demo? Can it be any type of digital piano (e.g. Rolland FP30-X) or is it a type of keyboard that does not generate a sound of its own? Thanks

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Thank you kindly! Any MIDI compatible piano/keyboard will work in conjunction with VST plug-ins regardless of whether it has a built-in tone engine or is just a straight MIDI controller. With that said, the piano being used here is a Roland RD2000. Thanks and all the best! :)

@angelvoicemusic

Жыл бұрын

@@MerriamPianos The question could be quite important. Transporting MIDI information to the computer in time (!) is in my opinion and experiance extremly underrated in awareness. Apart from my research about ability of many Digital pianos to send MIDI info to a computer as fast as possible, as if it would be a parallel interface (sorry, it's still a serial interface, even with MIDI 2.0) I made experiance with my CASIO GP-300, that I use for producing piano tracks, practicing etc. Good thing: It has this Bechstein piano action. Bad thing: After switching it on, it gives me a poor performance if it comes to compare timing behavior to a real piano. But if I switch local off (free the internal processor from calculating the internal sound) switch off reverb and any other effect... then I get a much better behaviour. The processor is not distracted by unnecessary calculations. This could be improtant for the use of any digital piano as tool to play software instruments. A Roland a-88 MKI and II for example do not have these limits, because they have no internal sound engine.

Great video which of these is best for studio production?

@MerriamPianos

11 ай бұрын

Thanks! That ultimately comes down to a matter of opinion. With that said, the great thing about VST plugins is that there is no limit to how many you can have. Having more tools for different types of jobs can be quite handy! :)

@rjthewise182

11 ай бұрын

@@MerriamPianos thanks for your reply. i only have a budget to buy only one now. I do gospel praise and worship music. Keyscape or piano tech which one best one for studio production?

Thank you very much.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! Thanks for tuning in! :)

the fun fact is,it seems like an sampled VST like keyscape must have better fidelity because it captures all the sound behavior of an acoustic piano.However,sometimes sampling can't regenerate back that true fidelity of waveform,keep in mind that the real piano is creating sound just by physical vibrations which can be reasonably emulated by algorithms.

@R.Tafolla

Жыл бұрын

It’s only limited by the accuracy and complexity of the algorithms in recreating the sound. But I can say that it can only get better.

@truthmanifestingtruth

Жыл бұрын

Yeah but at the end of the product, Keysacpe sounds good, and in many of the comparisons between sounds/presets, Keyscape sounds better. That matters more than simply harping on modeling vs sampling. Pianoteq is coming along though. It is increasingly being considered the best for its piano sounds.✌🏾

@lanmichaelmix2818

Жыл бұрын

@@truthmanifestingtruth keyscape is still the beast,but it's too large and heavy.I don't use pianoteq,i use keyzone which is even lower rated vst.

Love my Pianoteq..fits perfectly with my old laptop.Keyscape though a great vst,its too damn cpu hungry and takes up too much gigs.

@truthmanifestingtruth

Жыл бұрын

Too hungry for your specs & too many gigs for your storage capacity? I understand that but for those with the specs and the storage, it is not too much. It’s just great!✌🏾

@angelvoicemusic

Жыл бұрын

As fast as possible get a Apple M1. Intel is a high risk in summer or with crowded rooms concerning high temperature. And an M1 it will give you a way better playing experience. It can handle RAM memory WAY better.

One other piece of software is Addictive keys piano. If you are a gen 2 Focusrite scarlett user , this comes as a FREE bundle option. It may not be as good as pianoteq and keyscape, but it's pretty good and who can complain at a Freeby!

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Free is certainly a tough price to beat! ;)

How do you come up with what you play? Are you improvising over different chord progressions mostly?

@JoeLinux2000

2 жыл бұрын

Talent, a great ear, and significant time spent on the instrument.

@crazyRyoga

2 жыл бұрын

Understanding scales harmonization and the circle of fifth is really the best way to begin to learn improvisation. Once you're fluent with chords progressions, adding a melody line comes naturally. It's all about practice. More practice means more sophisticated progressions (extensions, substitution, etc.). A basic improvisation is kinda easy, but playing like he does requires years, and it shows. Jazz is a nice style to learn for improv, and youtube is full of great teachers.

My opinion is the Pro version is Pianoteq the only version to put your money into I started out with "Stage," upgraded to "Standard," and finally to "Pro". It ended up costing me more than if I would have just gone for the Pro Version from the start. What you consider "insane," I consider essential. As far as I know, it's the only version that allows for complete adjustment of every detail on every individual note. This is essential to correct for velocity issues with your input device, and subsequent hard spots in whatever speaker system you are using. You can tune every individual note, adjust the voicing and so forth. It's absolutely like a real piano. Granted I' am a Pianoteq player, but to my ear, Keyscape sounded rather bland by comparison, I always feel I'm hearing a real acoustic piano with Pianoteq at least with certain of their instruments. Phil Best did this comparison and concluded Keyscape may work better when the music is sequenced, while Pianoteq is better as a live performance instrument. Whatever you have, either one of these instruments is probably good enough. Both sound authentic enough to be completely deceptive. You talk about "plugins" I'm not clear on the difference between a plugin and a stand alone instrument. With Pianoteq, you have a stand alone instrument that runs on natively on Linux. If you know how to use Linux, it's very doubtful you will ever go back to Windows. You'd have to be very desperate. I'm not totally keen on the Pianoteq Rhodes. I've owned several actual Rhodes and Pianoteq is just too pure. I'm much more OK with the Keyscape Rhodes. Again if you only have one, it really isn't any sort of disaster. The stand for my DGX-670 arrived today. It's well made and properly priced. It was quite logical to put it together. I didn't have to use the instructions at all, and the various screws are easy to figure out. It's more or less impossible to screw up. The actual piano may arrive tomorrow or the next day. I was glad to get the stand and pedal unit first. The pedals also look very well made and substantial for a reasonable price.

@phenixnunlee372

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, as a linux user it is the choice sounds good.

thankyou for educating our palette, my final verdict is Keyscape just sounds more natural, warm and has more character right out of the box 😁, but it's not abailable on iphone.

@MerriamPianos

Ай бұрын

You're very welcome! They are both compelling VST plugins, but every player will have their own personal favourite of course. :)

@enlightenment00

Ай бұрын

@@MerriamPianos True, its very subjective, and prone to change 😆

Very good and honest review . I’m not a fan of either actually for two reasons Pianoteq : doesn’t sound real . In fact the main issue with modelling softs today is that there is no existing good model for sound dissipation which is one of the most important aspect of piano sound. Keyscape : no Una corda / no sustenato . A show stopper for any classical music player . Not such a problem for rock/pop I think Garritan CFX ( grand version) and VSL synchron are in a different league .

@ericburger9334

2 жыл бұрын

...and an sampled instrument has sounddissipation! I mean a sample of couple of seconds?!?!?! None of the sampled pianos has sympathetic response btw, but pianoteq includes all parameters, which is important to a piano sound. You always should use these kind of libraries in a mix instead of solo.

@ChristianJoannes

2 жыл бұрын

@@ericburger9334 of course it has sound dissipation because it is recorded !! As simple as that . Sympathetic resonance is modelled and use the same algorithm whatever software it is . The fundamental advantage of sampling libraries is original capture is the decay and real reverb of the studio or hall in which the sample was taken . Garritan CFX is the best in that department as you get the real reverb of the legendary studio one . No effect , just pure natural gorgeous sound . Believe me no professional studio uses any acoustic modelled sampling , they will use in the majority of the cases real acoustic grand and if no avail they will use top notch sampling such as synchron or Garritan .for those interested with the subject I have a thesis document that shows the mathematical limitation of modelling algorithms . One day will come when these limitations are overcome but unfortunately it is not today even though the sound they produce is quite decent .

@classicsound7146

2 жыл бұрын

@@ericburger9334 Eric , sorry but best sampling software record sound for the entire duration of the decay i.e. several seconds. That is why the libraries are so massive .( in some cases near >100 GB of data ) . Pianoteq is nowhere near these VSL when it comes to sound accuracy. It doesn't bad but it doesn't sound real either

@Nico-rw2tl

2 жыл бұрын

vsl is far ahead of all these other competitors

@mktsound8240

2 жыл бұрын

@@Nico-rw2tl If you consider the 2 elements of natural sound captured during the process , I agree with you on the piano sound VSL is top notch , now Garritan has the best natural reverb as it’s the unique abbey road studio 1 acoustic, so I guess it’s a matter of personal taste and also depends which type of piece you are going to be playing .

I think many of the Keyscape instruments you demonstrate have a more ‘ready mixed’ sound. They’re already EQ’d, have some stereo effects, maybe some compression. I do think on many occasions they sound bigger and more detailed in this demo, but it’d be interesting to know if the Pianoteq sounds can get there with a little bit of post-processing.

@MerriamPianos

16 сағат бұрын

That is a very good point! And, for some users, the "ready-to-go" nature of a certain VST is going to be a very important selling point. Work-flow can certainly be a concern. Thank you for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! :)

Just a question, hope this is not out of topic. I own a Roland FP-10 and my dilemma is whether to get pianoteq or a focusrite. I am not sure if my comparison is correct but my main goal is to have recordings that are free from the room noise thus using mics is not ideal due to noisy environment. If I get pianoteq, will the "FP-10 sound better" vs recording based from the FP-10's line out using a focusrite?

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Hi there! Not off topic at all! In my experiences, when it comes to portable digital pianos that have smaller speakers and less powerful internal amplifiers, taking a line out for a clean, noiseless signal is always the preference. In terms of choosing the internal piano tones from the FP10's tone engine or Pianoteq, it all comes down to a matter of personal preference. I imagine you are quite familiar with what the FP10 has to offer by now, so my recommendation would be to listen to as many samples and recordings of Pianoteq to gain some clarity in terms of which sound you ultimately prefer for the type of playing and style of music you will be recording and producing. Thanks and hope this helps! :)

Both sound amazing. I personally feel more inclined to support Pianoteq and other instruments/VSTs that use physical modeling rather than samples, not because I like one sound more than the other, but because I just think it's so damn cool that we're already able to get so close to the sound of an acoustic piano strictly algorithmically. I imagine when a lot of people hear "algorithms" they picture some kind of AI that generates the sounds using programmatic black magic indecipherable to humans. In reality, the sound for any given piano modeling VST consists of a single audio recording of a hammer striking the bridge of the real-life piano--and that sample is then modulated by layers upon layers of real-world physics equations (vibrations of different steel wires, struck by hammers of different hardness, at different velocities, traveling through wood of different densities, etc). By representing all of these physical parameters mathematically and building the results of the equations on top of each other, they just GET these sounds. Beautiful, near-perfect, but endlessly customizable because every parameter of a real piano in a real space that you would ever want to tweak has already been represented by a physical model in the code and just needs a slider in the UI to adjust the value. It's just so endlessly fascinating to me. I absolutely have no problem with sample-based VSTs like Keyscape, at least currently, because they do sound just as good and are clearly also a labor of love. But the writing on the wall is clear to me: sampling doesn't have much room left to grow, while physical modeling will only get better and better as the algorithms are refined and the sound approaches literal perfection--not just for pianos, but for any other instrument as well.

@MerriamPianos

11 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your wonderful insights! The realm of physical modelling is certainly an exciting one and the sky is still the limit for it to grow and reach new limits sonically. With that said, more companies are starting to embrace hybrid engines that combine the best elements of sampling and modelling simultaneously. In any case, there are exciting times ahead on the digital piano front! :)

@Prexsplay

10 ай бұрын

@@MerriamPianos One example of Hybrid

they both sound good. I haven't played keyscape yet, but from what I've personally heard, the PianoTeq sounds more mid registery (I know, not a word) and the keyscape sounds brighter (more bell-like upper register), and probably the best of the two as far as acoustic piano goes. of course, keyscape is a much larger install, so cpu and storage come to mind. but the most important question for me, which of the two makes for the easiest mixing?

@MerriamPianos

2 ай бұрын

They are both fantastic VSTs that, as you mentioned, offer a different musical flavour. In terms of which one is easier to mix, it really depends on the context of use as different styles of music will require a different tonal quality. You may find that brighter sounding pianos are easier to mix into an ensemble setting where there are multiple instruments (i.e. guitar, bass guitar, etc.) occupying the low and low-mid frequency registers. Conversely, a warmer piano sound with more activity in the low and low-mid registers may be preferred for solo piano music.

@dubsbarry9963

2 ай бұрын

I actually think mid register piano fits better in my mixes. Yes I have to EQ to keep things from clashing, but the twinkly high resister stuff, tends to cut through too hard in everything except where it's specifically needed. Just my two cents

Can you tell us what keyboard you were using in this video ? Thank you.

@ervinlotric8393

2 жыл бұрын

ROLAND RD2000

Would be great to hear a compare between the Pianoteq and Roland RD2000 modeled pianos. For what I can hear, Pianoteq sounds great... UNTIL you play the Keyscape C7.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

We have received a few requests to do a comparison between onboard sounds and VST plugins. It would be an interesting topic to explore and we will do our best to tackle it in the near future. :)

Disregarding for a moment the sound aspects and concentrating instead on the feedback that the instrument gives back to the player: is it true that, thanks to the nature of the generation method, a modeling-based system like Pianoteq is "more analogic", that is, it answers to your fingers in a more continuous and natural way and possibly allow to establish a more intimate relationship with the instrument and hence .. allow you to play better?

@JoeLinux2000

2 жыл бұрын

The answer is an established, "yes."

@yoni23able

2 жыл бұрын

I would second Mr IPA below (or above). Go to Phil Best's channel for a very eloquent explanation why (lovely music too).

@deyvidpetromusic

2 жыл бұрын

@@JoeLinux2000 I would say yes and no. I have both and to be honest with you Keyscape is just as responsive as Pianoteq.

Which midi keyboard are you using in this demonstration, thanks!

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

I believe Stu is using the Roland RD2000 for this video demonstration. :)

Nice review. Pianoteq sounds rather muffled to me. It lacks clarity and there is something artificial about its sound. The Keyscape piano might not give you as much options to tweak, but to me it sounds instantly more realistic.

@phenixnunlee372

2 жыл бұрын

Wait it sounds muffled to you? It sounded brighter to me.

@MacXpert74

2 жыл бұрын

@@phenixnunlee372 Yeah, I just listened to it again. I think it has to do with the difference in the attack of the notes. The attack is less pronounced on the Pianoteq sound. I also feel it's EQ'd a bit different. There seems to be a slight emphasis on the frequencies around 500 Hz. This I interpreted as 'muffled'. But both don't sound particularly 'bright' to me, and are maybe quite similar in brightness. It's the attack that's different, I think.

@tuneunleashed

2 жыл бұрын

@@MacXpert74 Well….it sort of is artificial it’s physical modelling no sampling involved which is pretty impressive tech but the sound it’s self can’t compare to samples because samples come from the real thing unlike physical modelling it has great attributes but it just doesn’t compare.

@ItsThatJahncke2

2 жыл бұрын

@@tuneunleashed I think physical modeling tech will get to a point where it outperforms sampled libraries. One huge advantage is the library size, also the connection between musician and piano while playing is just pure magic on Pianoteq. Of course, that's only if you care about the connection and feeling while playing a piece.

@lanmichaelmix2818

2 жыл бұрын

@@tuneunleashed But keep in mind that the real piano itself is a synthesizer that creates sound by vibration so no key sounds the same the next times.

I appreciate the benefits of modeling vs sampling, but the better sound is what I’m after. Keyscape is supreme and pianoteq is not far behind and still improving with no apparent ceiling.

@julianmanjarres1998

Жыл бұрын

Its all about mic position You can adjust that in pianoteq

Hello Stew. I'm very interested in the virtual piano world. I have a Kawai K200 ATX 2 with Midi out (and I believe tripple sensors). Would that be a good instrument to feed a Virtual piano on PC? Would it be as good as your new Roland phantom 08 for that use or would it have any disadvantages wrt the Phantom 08? And if so what would be less good?

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the question! The K200 ATX2 would be a wonderful instrument to use in conjunction with VST instruments on a PC! I would actually argue that it will be far superior to the vast majority of digital piano actions, including the FANTOM-08. With the K200 ATX2, you have the advantage of a real acoustic piano touch with all the sensations and nuances that come along with it. :)

@MrGadaga

Жыл бұрын

@@MerriamPianos Thanks so much for your quick reply Brent !! You right that the millennium 3 action in the K200 will be very realistic. However I thought that the sensor part would be less sophisticated than for example the Phantom 08? Would you know if these key sensors in the K200 are optical sensors (so no wear over time) or Mechanical sensors (which might start to be less precise over time)?

Dang this dude can play!!! He makes everything sound cool. The Keyscape sounds a lot warmer. Pianoteq is brighter and thinner. Both have something cool to offer. My question is which is more CPU demanding?

@MerriamPianos

6 ай бұрын

Hi! Brent here! Thanks for tuning in! I'll be sure to pass on your kind words to Stu! One of the very appealing things about Pianoteq is that it is not particularly demanding on one's CPU. :)

I'm a long time Pianoteq user who has dreamed of owning Keyscape (and Omnisphere) for years. I'm now able to purhcase Keyscape (and have computers that can handle it) but it's still a lot of money up front. To my ears there's (based on this review) a "sweetness" or as you put it, warmth, to Keyscape that is definitely missing in Pianoteq. Great review. (By the way, you play your @$$ off!)

@MerriamPianos

8 ай бұрын

Hi! Brent here! Thanks for tuning in! It is very exciting that you're in a position to venture into Keyscape. It is an impressive VST plug-in! Also, I will be sure to pass along your kind words to Stu for you. :)

Good review. I quickly realised that the Keyscape was on a totally different level to the Pianoteq. Far richer, more realistic. I know what I would buy, but I suspect that the Pianoteq would consume far less CPU and memory resources.

@truthmanifestingtruth

Жыл бұрын

Less storage but cpu usage is decent. Since the plug-in requires the computer to do more than just play back samples, playing live uses more resources than people seem to realize. However, most computers today have the specs they recommend.✌🏾

You were at Living Crossing Delancey

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Hi there! Thanks for tuning in! I'm not familiar with reference.

Ambos plugins son increíbles, pero para mi Keyscape es más eficiente, nada de vueltas que tanto andar tocando parametros, plug and play it, enjoy! Es cierto que no se puede modificar el sonido tanto como en pianoteq y quizás para alguna mezcla el keyscape junto a otros instrumentos quede demasiado exagerado, pero para piano solo ni hace falta modificar ya suena tan bien que es ponerlo y a tocar. El trabajo de Spectrasonic es increíble. Buen video, me gustó mucho!

@MerriamPianos

4 ай бұрын

Thank you kindly for tuning in and sharing your thoughts and insights! These are definitely both amazing plugins that will have their individual fanbases. They offer something a bit different, so they're both handy to have in the arsenal when feasible. :)

*"I'm gonna play the same thing. or the closest thing to it:"* Why don't you just draw in the note in a DAW, and just hit play, so that the same, exact note would be repeated on each instrument.

@killaken2000

Жыл бұрын

Good idea. He could then use the DAW or plugin to normalize the audio so that volume differences don't alter our perception.

More harmonic content on keyscapes. Pianoteq needs some harmonics... Plus you can add imperfections in app.... I also think you might try some different reverbs. It definitely can get there without too much trouble. But you're right. At factory. Keyscapes is warmer and funkier. There's something that pianoteq has in those tiny little nonlinear details that would be really hard to sample.

@MerriamPianos

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights! They are both excellent, but every player will inevitably have their personal preference. :)

Well the comparison to Pianoteq is ruined by the omission of the "condition" slider right there above the keys. It's the quickest and most important setting to get warmth and character out of the pianos modelled. Most users seem unaware of it thought. Bad UX I guess.

@cosmic_gate476

Жыл бұрын

Yeah lol I only saw it yesterday despite using the program many times before. I'm using the Pleyel 1926 double grand piano, recording preset, weathered a bit and it sounds awesome in pianoteq 6 stage. I'm planning on using it to record chopin etude 25-12.

@lundsweden

6 ай бұрын

Once I noticed it, I couldn't unsee it though. I like putting it a little toward the worn side.

Try Reason pianos. Has 3 the up right Steinway, Steinway D and Yamaha C7. For keyscape would have been much much better to use the Steinway instead.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Thank you kind for the suggestion! We will certainly take the time to check it out! :)

Awsome's

Hands down, Keyscape sounds absolutely authenticate and created by passionate musicians who have an insane amount of attention to detail!

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely! It is a fantastic VST plugin! Thanks for tuning in! :)

@ChristianJoannes

Жыл бұрын

Well not so sure about ´insane amount’ of detail attention when it doesn’t support half pedalling . So basically if you play chromatic thirds , you either have an awful dry sound or messy sound with full pedal . It is a deterrent for any classical or jazz pianist . For electric Rhodes lovers , this is the best on the market though.

@thepearlworks

Жыл бұрын

@@ChristianJoannes I find when programming this is not an issue. You also have the ability to assign another pedal to the release parameter which can help your particular problem.

Pianoverse released by ik multimedia. I wish hear your thoughts about it

@MerriamPianos

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for the suggestion! I will pass it along to our production team. We will do our best to tackle that for you. :)

Keyscape seems to have a tad more presence. I like both but have KS. Nice VST to use, never crashes and has plenty of classic great sounds that I've yet to hear be bettered. I use a RD-800 so really need KS to get great sounds! I'm guessing your RD2000 is better equipped?

While pianoteq acoustic pianos are great there is simply no comparison about the electric ones. Keyscapes' are far superior. If i wanted to play a Steinwey VST I'd go for pianoteq no doubt. Should I want to play a MKI, so to say, Keyscapes is the clear winner hands down.

Isn't keyscape like 75 gb?!?

Pianoteq is generally cleaner and more sterile to me. I think it would be great for live use, but for studio use Keyscape has that authenticity that I would prefer

Based on these sound tests, I'd buy the Pianoteq. Much less disk space and much faster loading times.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

Every piano player will have their preference between these two fantastic piano VST plugins. To your point, the loading time and required disk space will certainly be an important deciding factor for some players. Thanks for tuning in and all the best! :)

It's difficult to judge when Pianoteq is set at a higher volume level than Keyscape. Otherwise, great comparison.

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

I believe the output/volume settings were the default ones for each VST. In other words, Pianoteq's default output is a little louder than Keyscape's.

What camera does he use? It's so sharp

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

I am not entirely sure to be honest! I would have to ask Stu and the production team.

Drinking game: take a shot every time he says “KeyscapeS”

Oh God damn it! The keyscape is real! It is real! It sounds real! Despite the fact that Pianoteq is an incredible VST, pretty economic in terms of gigabytes and so forth, Keyscape is so real and authentic as ... I don't know what to say! I love it!g

How's with the lag on Pianoteq these days? When I tried it I couldn't get the lag bellow 4ms which was still noticeable

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

There are a multitude of factors that determine latency with VST piano plugins. It is a combination of your hardware/software setup, the settings and the VST plugin itself.

wondering what is the song you are playing during this video eg. 1:06 ?

@MerriamPianos

Жыл бұрын

I would have to ask Stu as to what song that is, but it is quite beautiful! :)