The Sound Board

Here's a piano sound that, only two years ago, you simply couldn't get out of Pianoteq: a crisp, snappy, finely-chiseled, articulate sound that immediately sits rather well in a mix, without the need of chains of processing plug-ins.

It's the brand new C. Bechstein Digital Grand that's just been released as an expansion for Pianoteq. (And when purchased before January 31st, you get a 50% discount on whatever other instrument pack that takes your fancy.)

(For those that are interested in these things: the drums in the above demo were done with Mixosaurus — which, like the Bechstein Digital Grand, also has its roots in Teldex Berlin, hence the name of the piece 'Berliner Jam'. The bass is MODO.)



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Sounds Great as always Piet. Makes me think I should look into picking up PianoTeq - seems like I had a version way way way long along.

But I have to ask - is this a model of a Sampled piano? Is that what the Digital Grand is? Is this perhaps the first time someone modeled a Sampled Instrument?

Yes, it seems to be a modelled version of Bechstein's own Digital Grand (which was sampled at Teldex). I don't have all that much information on this new Pianoteq instrument, I'm afraid, because this time around, I was only able to follow the development of this piano from a distance. But if you really want to know, I can always ask Philippe at Modartt.

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Love the track, Piet! A little slice of Fagen/Grolnik heaven.

That is an excellent track, Piet. This piano sits nicely in that mix, but having tried it this weekend, I find the mid-range has that lifelessness that Pianoteq does tend to struggle with. I think the dark, mellow tone of the Bluethner masks this, but it has a way of standing out on the brighter pianos.

Still, every year is an incremental improvement. Really great to see Pianoteq pushing forward.

Doug, Jason, thanks.

Yes, Jason, depending on what you play and where on the keyboard you play it, the modelled nature of the instrument still might come through a bit more than you like. The big thing in this release though, for me anyway, is what I mentioned at the start of this thread: this Bechstein can produce a really snappy, well-articulated sound (that has just the right amount of energy in its attack transients) and that is something which, until now, always was beyond the software's abilities.

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I hear that as well, and nice track, Piet.

I looked into Mixosaurus (your drums sounded excellent). Discontinued, but available at $399. A bit over my pay grade, but they certainly sound great.