Volume settings like a concert grand using Pianoteq 🎹

[@davideguiguren2770]

I created a decca tree mic preset and I can't believe how realistic it sounds!

[@PhilBestMusic]

That might be a bit spacey for my taste in piano recording but if you like it then that's great! It's very cool we can create different mic setups according to what we like.

[@PeterWalkerHP16c]

The realism or immersion of playing is my most important goal. (Which is why I turn off all the reverb etc) What I am trying for is the old upright I practised on when I was a boy. I fiddle with the monitor placement, Pianoteq settings and some three ply, it can be done. Then I can drift of planet for a while.

[@DisneyTomWright]

Very interesting vid, and couldn't agree more about the importance of getting the volume to a realistic level. However (!) do you find that by turning up the volume, that when playing PPP - that the notes are diss-proportionally loud (compared to a real concert grand) ???

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thanks! No, I find the dynamic range to be pretty much as expected. Of course, the audio interface and speakers can play a role in this too...

[@31416]

As a reference, using an audio meter on your phone, ball park dB near you head would give us laymen a bit of an idea of the volume. Say for fff, f etc. Not perfect but...

[@PhilBestMusic]

We have to use our ears really as speakers vary and rooms too but the loudest sounds you can make are about 80 - 90 dB for the pianist sitting at the piano but obviously that's only when you play lots of keys very loud. A single note played pianissimo might be less than 60dB. This can easily become a rather sterile examination of numbers. I go on what feels right to me.

[@31416]

For sure feel is the best. Or Phil? ;) Thank you!

[@PhilBestMusic]

🙂

[@MikeKhristoforov]

Hi Phil, what's the name of the piece you play starting from 4:08?

[@PhilBestMusic]

It was a little unplanned improvisation...

[@MikeKhristoforov]

@@PhilBestMusic Thank you for your response. That was very impressive!

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thank you!

[@eleuterio5117]

I have my host input and my USB one connected and Pianoteq recognises the keys but there's no sound. I have ASIO4ALL installed but there's still no sound. Any help, please?

[@PhilBestMusic]

I'm afraid I don't know. Maybe try the Pianoteq forum and ask for help there...

[@KimBrown900]

Please forgive me if I’m asking a question that’s already revealed elsewhere but I’m curious what controller you were using. I’m using the VPC 1 and since I switch to that it’s made all the difference in the world. I’m also curious what speaker system you’re using.

[@PhilBestMusic]

No problem. I list my gear on the "About" section on my channel. This piano is a Roland HP605 and my speakers are M-Audio BX8s.

[@WoodyGamesUK]

It may be pushing it too far, but have you thought about having your speakers inside the piano? Or does your piano have speakers, and can you use them as line-in? I haven't got good speakers connected to my computer, so at the moment I can only really experience a decent sound with headphones. But my keyboard, although low range, still has the better speakers, but I can't use them with a virtual piano (no line-in connection). Is that a common issue that is overlooked?

[@PhilBestMusic]

Pianoteq can be played through the HP605 speakers - many DPs have this feature - but I much prefer the sound of the BX8 monitors.

[@WoodyGamesUK]

@@PhilBestMusic Thanks, good point, I'll check if I have this feature.

[@brianthorsen2262]

Phil, loving Pianoteq 7 and really appreciate your awesome videos. What studio monitors are you using?

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thank you! My monitors are M-Audio BX8s.

[@MrEMann]

What would you say the dB level of playing the actual piano would be? This could help for those of us unfamiliar with real concert grands

[@PhilBestMusic]

A Google search will reveal that concert grand pianos can exceed 90dB when played fortissimo. However, perceived loudness is a very different thing. The room acoustics, the direction of sound from the speakers and so many other variables need to be considered. So really, the only way to discover the power of a concert grand piano, is to hear one in the flesh!

[@JaneFlemingPiano]

What are the earphones you're using, Phil? I live in an apartment and only play with headphones. I've used Sony MDR7506 but am interested in experimenting with something else. Very much enjoying your videos. I've had Ivory II for years but just dabble so have been using the built-in sounds of my Avant Grand. But I just downloaded the Pianoteq demo and am going to kick the tires (tyres?) based on your videos on presets, etc. Thank you!

[@PhilBestMusic]

Hi Jane, Thanks! My earphones are Shure se535s and I do like them very much. Have fun with Pianoteq!

[@checkcheck411]

I don't really understand the comments, because when I bought pianoteq it very much sounded like a midi piano. I tried a bunch of different presets, messed around with the EQ, compression, reverb everything, but it never sounded even close to realistic. But when watching your video, I assumed the piano you were playing was an acoustic upright, until you said it was pianoteq. I tried adjusting the volume and using your techiniques, but my pianoteq still sounds pretty bad and for the price I'm a bit disappointed. Can you tell me what you did to make yours sound this realistic (What presets, mixing techniques, and everything else exactly used)? I'm even more confused because I tried the same presets you were using in your video, and mine didn't have the rich, and realistic tone of yours. Mine very much sounded like a midi piano, and considering everyone in the comments thinks pianoteq is fantastic, I'm must be doing something wrong

[@PhilBestMusic]

Honestly, I just play it as it is and it feels/sounds like a real piano. You've got to play with some feeling and freedom to get it to "speak".

[@danieleciavatta7522]

Don't worry, I too have the same results with Pianoteq. In demos and videos on Yt it always sounds better than when you actually use it. It's an effect of suggestion, probably, (or a scam... ?). No matter what settings I dial in, My Pianoteq 8 "Steinway" always sounds and feels worse and unrealistic than my modest Young Chang G-157 Baby Grand. Software and digital will never sound as the real thing, simply because they are NOT the real thing. There's nothing to do to change reality.

[@aether3395]

@@danieleciavatta7522 really weird because in many years it's the first time I heard people says that about pianoteq. maybe youre doing something wrong or you have a problem with your midi keyboard your using . find the cause of the problem and not conclude "it's pianoteq fault" without searching

[@niky4021]

Qualsiasi scheda audio?

[@PhilBestMusic]

Tutto è nella sezione "about".

[@hkooistra3518]

Very nice and informative video, but please be careful with your ears, avoid hearing damage / tinnitus!

[@PhilBestMusic]

Thanks! And that's good advice for a musician, of course. But the piano volume hasn't hurt my ears. I'm happy to report that I hear high frequencies much better than most people my age!

[@mfurman]

Neither my wife nor my neighbours would tolerate the “real volume of piano” 😄

[@PhilBestMusic]

I know it's a lot! My poor neighbours!

[@pianosenzanima1]

nice haircut!

[@PhilBestMusic]

🙂