I’ve been keeping my eye on Pianoteq for YEARS now, and have upgraded over time to the Pro version and a few sample packs. I don’t play much, but I love the technology behind this and want to support its development. IMO, the pianos still sound a little too thin and simulated, but certainly usable, and they get closer and closer with every release. This is definitely the way of the future, and I am encouraged by their progress. If I were better on the keys, I’m sure the responsiveness and variety their software offers would be an absolute trove of time lost in musical bliss. In the meantime, I’m just happy to help fund their efforts. ❤️

This showcasing is extremely helpful. I have always been on the fence regarding software pianos but this definitely helps. And your playing is very good indeed…thanks a lot!

Pianoteq absolutely smashed competition when it comes to live playing. When you bang same keys multiple times, they respond with more inertia. It really does feel like real instrument. Sampled eps are good when you need specific sound, but sometimes limiting when played live (not to mention ram and disk strain for X or XX GB ep library). Acoustic pianos could be better, but they’re way harder to emulate.

Apologies? Are you kidding? Your playing is always wonderful.💜

I love PianoTeq it so low on CPU usage as well as sounding great there are so many different pianos for it, I love the Yamaha piano as well as these electric pianos. You can also record and play MIDI files with it, it’s great software.

Interesting comparisons, thanks for your dynamic presentation 🏋‍♂️🎵🤸loved the Leslie

A while ago I've downloaded the demo version of the Pianoteq products (EP but also grands, pianofortes, historic pianos, harpsis, etc...) and I was realy impressed, their modeling technic is more than excellent. They do organs simulation as well Now the Modartt plugins are definitely in my wishlist as soon I'll get the money for their complete collection.

great review! amazing playing! thx

Pianoteq is awesome. The EP sounds are amazing.

That's awesome Woody!

Thanks for the demo Woody, I've added the E.P pack to my copy of Pianoteq. I think the price is reasonable on these, sound great and responsive af!

Thanks wow I'm impressed by the sound of this i will try this one out my self nice playing too.

Great demo Woody nice to hear often thought about this plug in ! Like to hear the real pianos…

Always loved Pianoteq especially how small the program is and the responsiveness

I like the vintage EP's in a general sense, but the real meat for me is in the FM Electric Pianos (like those found in the 01/W or SY99). The Montage is chock full of that good EP sound. But this VST is freakin' cool too. I believe you can even edit your key temperaments with it.

Mmmm. Rhodes and Wurlis. That's what I like! That last W1 (slightly modified) example was beautiful.

I personally like the "drenched" sound of a lot of the emulations out there - mainly because that's probably how I will end up using it in the mix. (One of the things I loved about my Nord Stage when I first played it, btw, was the ability to pile on the FX so easily.) But I hear what you're saying about the raw, dry sound representing the true nature of the beast, and the Pianoteq really is pretty good, isn't it? Loved the MkII - nice and crunchy. Venus Theory has been championing this particular plugin for while and I have to say it's definitely something I would check out some more. And, despite your protestations to the contrary, some really nice playing there. Great demo, Woody 🙂

Thank you Woody. That cream shirt is a great colour on you. You’re looking good. Enjoyed the video.. 👍😊👍

Love that Shalamar track! Nice choice Woody!

I think the rhodes definitely has some of that modeled uncanniness, especially in the bright tiney sounds which almost sound like fm, but altogether some solid sounds and I love the stereo fx, epic review

Lovely - I'm looking at your technique. I'm just starting to "get" the keyboard. I enjoy your videos quite a lot and find them comfortably reliable!

Woody out there playing Shalamar!! Go Woody! I knew I liked you!

10:10 Hearing Swing Out Sister made me smile. Modern sampled pianos are likely much higher resolution than 4 velocity, 4 steps per sample, given how much disk space they can consume. Modelling still has its place, though!

Thanks for this, Shackman. I dont have pianoteq yet, as far as i can tell from listening, I think I LIKE Lounge Lizard the most of the modeling options for EPs. But they all seem to have their subtle own way of doing things. Even the cheap (or maybe even free?) vsts from the makers of the Crumar products sound lovely for Rhodes and Clav, PLENTY good enough for me. But Pianoteq and Arturia are better with some of the more random editable parameters. Lounge Lizard, maybe not as true when pushed in the parameter editing either, but also just a syrupy sweet sound. What REALLy sets Pianoteq apart at the moment is the MORPHING. If you are doing more pianoteq and other modeling videos, which i really hope you are, then the morphing should be high on your list of deep dives. Morph from a piano to a steel drum to a pianet, to orchestral mallet sounds, to clav, its beyond why I can really imagine, and like Han Solo said, I can imagine a lot.

The effects is essential as they are integrated into several of the instruments, and there are quite many preamp and effect mods that really changes the instrument's sound and is used in different recordings. You gotta have both a chorus,Phaser, flanger, Tremolo, Wah effect to make it sound like a select reecording :) But your absolutely right that having the clean sound helps hearing the quality of the engine. I Feel it sounds a bit too "nice". I'm missing the querky sound of a real Rhodes key off. but maybe that can be adjusted. The magic of a real used Rhodes also is they all sound different, cause of wear and how well adjusted they are.

Sounds very good! I still don’t 100% click with physical modelling.. it can sound a bit dull and too even but Pianotec does it well. I have a 1973 Mark 1 that I restored on my channel, with the new preamp and restoration it’s a very crisp and lively sounding Rhodes so it’s hard to compare, but there’s definitely some magic in the real thing, and I usually get along better with good sample libraries if I’m working in the box! But tbh if you don’t want to carry around hard drives or max out a MacBook then this is a great software option! I’ll have to try it myself sometime

If all you want to do is play/practice, then the Stage version is all you need.

I remember watching someone do a comparison and determining that Pianoteq's e-pianos were superior to Lounge Lizard, which was his goto previously. I've spent years trying to convince my friend that it's a great plugin, but he personally doesn't feel that it can truly stand up to sampled libraries.

What song is that cord progression from ? 12:25 please ?

Was that A Night to Remember that you played on the MK1 towards the beginning of the video?

It's unfortunate that you need the Hohner Collection as well (for the whole nostalgic fun), setting you back another 49 bucks. Then again, I upgraded from 6 Pro to 7 Pro for only 29 bucks which is a steal. Hmmm... I like Modartt's approach more than Spectrasonics'. The software barely uses space on the SSD and you still don't need high-powered CPUs. Oh, and the best thing for me is: it is available for Linux and works like a charm! EDIT: Uh, just bought both packs (Electric Pianos, Hohner Collection). Looking forward to putting them under my talent-starved fingers! ;-)

Yep, that sounds like a Rhodes Mark V.

Off topic, but does anyone know if the Komplete Kontrol keyboard used here can be used with stand alone apps on an ipad, or do you have to use the keyboard in conjunction with a DAW program?

I have Pianoteq, but not the Electric Pianos expansion. I have the AAS collection, so have Lounge Lizard EP-4. I'm wondering how the two compare?

Do the MiniDEXED DX7 emulator running on a Raspberry pi next. I built one . it's basically a TX816 8 DX7s running on a Raspberry Pi 4.

Recently I have taken a bit of interest in what you might call Ambient Music, much of which is not keyboard based, but has box(es) of electronics. The pros seem to have their studios dark, with lots of flashing/sequential colored lights on devices not part of the audio performance. Other performers seem to go for a minimalist look, with attention to as few cables as possible, strictly arranged geometrically - but always (it seems) a potted plant. That was a somewhat rambling introduction to my observation that the Piano Shack videos seem to lack visual appeal. Of all the many things I know less about than keyboard playing, visual appeal is high on the list. But you might want to think about a biscuit tin, or similar, in the background. At least until the New Shack is ready 🎹

I use these Pianoteq Rhodes and Wurly a lot. I just have one comment: the amp simulations here are not good enough if compared with Native Instruments things. So I usually try to add other amp vst to make the sound gritty and warm at the same time. Not easy. But funny...

Hya Woody, I feel the gap between VSTs and hardware stage pianos keep getting bigger - that is VSTs are leaps and bounds more advanced while you can find 500 mb samples on a chip of 2k$ pianos etc. I wonder what the future holds - if somebody invents a keyboard that allows to run VSTs on the road with no PC/MIDI needed at all times, he's gonna be a millionare. While the invention of MIDI allowed all manufacturers communicate with each other, maybe similarly a new "VST" protocol should be arranged so all VSTs run the same engine/platform. Not sure how it could be done.. but what are your thoughts? Maybe an idea for a future vid :P

I love Pianoteq and its "classic" piano models (astonishing!!!)..but these electric pianos imho sound a bit "iper-realistic" and too "perfect" to seem real

I still prefer a real Rhodes Mark 1 or a sampled one.

Pianoteq is a killeron acoustic piano but not on thé electric pianos ...acoustic samples is far better

Out of tune is very authentic, but very unuasable also...

sorry, sounds nothing like a Rhodes