Pianoteq 8 is now on the AppStore

[Deleted User]

Thanks @Gavinski you are a gem to this community

TurnItUp

@Gavinski said:

>

Demo the 2nd level, Standard version, or 3rd level, Pro version, some keys will still be restricted, but all other features of those levels are available, for up to 20 mins max, which can be paused but you only have 20 mins total to demo each level.

Compare this to the demo version of many desktop plugins, which gives you only a few minutes before it quits or there is a bleep or whatever. The magnanimity of this demo version makes me feel very well disposed towards the pianoteq devs.

Ahh. I found how to change the pricing tiers in the demo mode. Do you know if the Instrument Packs have to be chosen immediately after purchase?

Gavinski

@TurnItUp said:
I have a few questions. I am considering getting the stage version (for now).

What Pianos come with Stage? Or is it just the 2 instrument packs I choose?

Do I have to pick the two instrument packs upon purchase or can I still preview them?

What parameters are available to adjust on Stage?

This has all been discussed at length here already 😂. You mofos driving me crazy here.

A few things:

You can demo everything! See my post above.

Stage version comes with a bunch of free instruments. This is called the Kivir pack. See modartt website for details.

Annoyingly, you can't demo these free packs in the demo version, but if you look on their website you can find audio examples. There's nothing in the free versions that comes close to the paid packs except the clavichord, for me, and maybe the harpsichords. The electric piano is nowhere near the level of the Rhodes paid pack, for example. The pianos are nice but they are historical instruments and more on the experimental side for most.

If you buy the Stage version you have to choose your 2 instruments before you get the free stuff. This is very silly to me, but that's the way it is.

For parameters available to adjust on Stage, check the website or modartt forum. I can't remember clearly, I'm currently on the Standard version. There's still a lot to play with and you can also download lots of presets that other people have made from modartt's website, which have perhaps tweaked those hidden parameters, if I understand correctly.

Gavinski

@TurnItUp said:

@Gavinski said:

>

Demo the 2nd level, Standard version, or 3rd level, Pro version, some keys will still be restricted, but all other features of those levels are available, for up to 20 mins max, which can be paused but you only have 20 mins total to demo each level.

Compare this to the demo version of many desktop plugins, which gives you only a few minutes before it quits or there is a bleep or whatever. The magnanimity of this demo version makes me feel very well disposed towards the pianoteq devs.

Ahh. I found how to change the pricing tiers in the demo mode. Do you know if the Instrument Packs have to be chosen immediately after purchase?

You can choose them any time, but you can't download the free Kivir pack until you choose your paid packs. Stupid! You can however change your paid packs within 2 weeks by writing to modartt to ask them to change,according to someone else who posted here earlier

Gavinski

Again - I would like a confirmation from someone else about whether they can access the physical modeling parameters on the free version. If you tap on the picture of the piano or whatever other instrument, and it brings up a panel with 3 subheadings, tuning, voicing and design, it means you can tweak the physical modeling parameters on even the free version. I think Hes said that was possible but I'd like confirmation from someone else. I'll make a video on this at some point so need to be double sure

Gavinski

If you tap on the screen shown in the first pic, and the menu shown in the 2nd pic opens, it means you can even modulate the physical parameter settings in the free version. If you tap and nothing happens, it means that is not possible.

Grandbear

@Gavinski confirming here that it's not possible

Gavinski

@Grandbear said:
@Gavinski confirming here that it's not possible

Thnx! As I thought

Gavinski

@Grandbear said:
@Gavinski confirming here that it's not possible

Are auv3 parameters in the 'design' submenu visible to you in a host?

Grandbear

@Gavinski said:

@Grandbear said:
@Gavinski confirming here that it's not possible

Are auv3 parameters in the 'design' submenu visible to you in a host?

Yep they are, and they work while in the Standard demo. If I pause the demo and switch back to Stage then they remain visible in the host (checked in AUM and Drambo) but don't have any effect.

hes

@Gavinski said:

@Grandbear said:
@Gavinski confirming here that it's not possible

Thnx! As I thought

No, it is possible. Not only possible, I've done it!

I think there's confusion regarding Stage, Stage demo, Standard, Standard demo, Pro, Pro demo.

In the free version, where you start out running the Stage demo, you CAN'T access the physical modeling parameter page. This is because you are demoing the Stage version, and in the paid Stage version you can't access that page, either.

But, if you open up the free Stage version demo, you can switch it over to being a demo of the Standard or Pro versions. Once you switch it, the demo will have the features of the Standard or Pro versions.

So, to switch to Standard version demo with the free version of Pianoteq:
1. Open up Pianoteq. You are now running a demo of the Stage version.
2. Go to Options page and choose Instruments.
3. There you will see Options to purchase the Stage version ($139), but also upgrade options from Stage to Standard ($129) or from Standard to Pro ($129).
4. For both of those upgrade options (to Standard, to Pro) you will see small buttons to switch to their demo versions. In each case, the buttons have green text saying "Try (20 minutes)".
5. Click one of those buttons to switch to a demo of the Standard or Pro versions. In each case you will have access to physical modeling parameters, and this is all doable from the free demo of the Stage version of Pianoteq.
6. Once you close the free version of Pianoteq, I think it will reopen each time as a Stage version demo, even if you were using the Standard or Pro demo when you quit. If this is the case, just go to the Options, Instruments page and restart the Standard or Pro demo.

Grandbear

@hes ah yes I thought @Gavinski was asking about the Stage/Stage demo mode specifically

hes

@Grandbear said:
@hes ah yes I thought @Gavinski was asking about the Stage/Stage demo mode specifically

Ah, good.

I should clarify that, although Pianoteq's physical modeling gui page is accessible and the parameters can be changed with free Standard or Pro demo versions, those parameters can't be automated by the AUv3 host. You will see them in the host's parameter list, but they're 'locked'. I suspect you could still automate those parameters directly via midi (go to Options, Midi page and you can set CC numbers for them . . . .), but that involves going around host AUv3 system, doing things manually. Kudos to anyone who wants to try.

Gavinski

@hes said:

@Gavinski said:

@Grandbear said:
@Gavinski confirming here that it's not possible

Thnx! As I thought

No, it is possible. Not only possible, I've done it!

I think there's confusion regarding Stage, Stage demo, Standard, Standard demo, Pro, Pro demo.

In the free version, where you start out running the Stage demo, you CAN'T access the physical modeling parameter page. This is because you are demoing the Stage version, and in the paid Stage version you can't access that page, either.

But, if you open up the free Stage version demo, you can switch it over to being a demo of the Standard or Pro versions. Once you switch it, the demo will have the features of the Standard or Pro versions.

So, to switch to Standard version demo with the free version of Pianoteq:
1. Open up Pianoteq. You are now running a demo of the Stage version.
2. Go to Options page and choose Instruments.
3. There you will see Options to purchase the Stage version ($139), but also upgrade options from Stage to Standard ($129) or from Standard to Pro ($129).
4. For both of those upgrade options (to Standard, to Pro) you will see small buttons to switch to their demo versions. In each case, the buttons have green text saying "Try (20 minutes)".
5. Click one of those buttons to switch to a demo of the Standard or Pro versions. In each case you will have access to physical modeling parameters, and this is all doable from the free demo of the Stage version of Pianoteq.
6. Once you close the free version of Pianoteq, I think it will reopen each time as a Stage version demo, even if you were using the Standard or Pro demo when you quit. If this is the case, just go to the Options, Instruments page and restart the Standard or Pro demo.

OK! That makes it super clear, thank you so much. Wow they really did their work on this one - I didn’t think it would be possible to put AUv3 parameters behind a pay wall, and always thought that was why Audio Modeling had not managed to do it. So, looks like it was more carelessness on Audio Modeling’s part, or maybe a little gift to savvy users, though I highly suspect the former, as Audio Modeling certainly know how to squeeze every penny out of their customers by providing the same thing again and again but in different formats with different accessibility levels, lol - massively hobbled Roli Noise, slightly hobbled Geoshred versions, then their own less slightly hobbled AUv3s

Gavinski

@hes said:

@Grandbear said:
@hes ah yes I thought @Gavinski was asking about the Stage/Stage demo mode specifically

Ah, good.

I should clarify that, although the Pianoteq's physical modeling parameter page is accessible and the values can be changed with free Standard or Pro demo versions, those parameters can't be automated by the AUv3 host. You will see them in the host's parameter list, but they're 'locked'. I suspect you could still modify those parameters directly via midi (go to Options, Midi page and you can set CC numbers for them . . . .), but that involves going around host AUv3 system, doing things manually. Kudos to anyone who wants to try.

So you’re saying if free version users click on the pic of the instrument in the demo, they can tweak the physical modeling parameters, mics etc, without having to go into the Standard or Pro demos?

This all gets mighty confusing!

Gavinski

I’d still like to see what a ‘locked’ AUv3 parameter in a host looks like. Have never come across this, a pic of that in AUM would be highly appreciated

Grandbear

@hes Weird, I did try tweaking a couple of those parameters while in Standard demo from the mapped host and automation did work. I even added a slow Drambo LFO to the "(locked) Blooming Energy" param it worked as expected.

Edit: very short demo
https://share.icloud.com/photos/05943erpJog5OsB9-aWVjtWqA

hes

@Gavinski said:

@hes said:

@Grandbear said:
@hes ah yes I thought @Gavinski was asking about the Stage/Stage demo mode specifically

Ah, good.

I should clarify that, although the Pianoteq's physical modeling parameter page is accessible and the values can be changed with free Standard or Pro demo versions, those parameters can't be automated by the AUv3 host. You will see them in the host's parameter list, but they're 'locked'. I suspect you could still modify those parameters directly via midi (go to Options, Midi page and you can set CC numbers for them . . . .), but that involves going around host AUv3 system, doing things manually. Kudos to anyone who wants to try.

So you’re saying if free version users click on the pic of the instrument in the demo, they can tweak the physical modeling parameters, mics etc, without having to go into the Standard or Pro demos?

This all gets mighty confusing!

Yeah confusing. No, that's not what I was saying. I was merely saying (1) although you can access and change the physical modeling parameters in the totally free Standard/Pro demos, (2) you can't automate changes of them using the host's AUv3 parameter modulation. Within the host's AUv3 midi system, the parameters are listed normally, but for each they appear as locked, in this form: "(locked) Parameter name" . Will try to get picture at some point, I thought someone had already posted one somewhere on ABF.

Grandbear

@Gavinski said:
I’d still like to see what a ‘locked’ AUv3 parameter in a host looks like. Have never come across this, a pic of that in AUM would be highly appreciated

I'm not sure if "locked" is just part of the label and nothing else

LinearLineman

@McD said:
Took a Piano composition that I wrote out in StaffPad months ago and exported the MIDI into Atom 2.
The target was 2 PianoTeq Instances:

1. layering Steinway D and Celtic Harp
2. Bluthner Piano

Thx for that @McD. I’m going for the D and possibly Classical Guitar or Petrograd. Lol, I still haven’t checked out the demo.

@Gavinski, thanks, as always, for your service. You’re a beacon in a fog bank, sir!

Gavinski

.

Gavinski

@Grandbear said:
@hes Weird, I did try tweaking a couple of those parameters while in Standard demo from the mapped host and automation did work. I even added a slow Drambo LFO to the "(locked) Blooming Energy" param it worked as expected.

Edit: very short demo
https://share.icloud.com/photos/05943erpJog5OsB9-aWVjtWqA

Ah ah, so this was in standard demo mode? But what if you are just using the Stage demo? Ie the one that doesn't have a 20 minute timer, just the normal demo mode? Jesus, I hate the naming conventions for this app

hes

@Gavinski said:
@Grandbear said:
@hes Weird, I did try tweaking a couple of those parameters while in Standard demo from the mapped host and automation did work. I even added a slow Drambo LFO to the "(locked) Blooming Energy" param it worked as expected.

Edit: very short demo
https://share.icloud.com/photos/05943erpJog5OsB9-aWVjtWqA

Curious. Are you running with a Stage license? Or are you running the totally free app?

Grandbear

@hes said:

@Gavinski said:
@Grandbear said:
@hes Weird, I did try tweaking a couple of those parameters while in Standard demo from the mapped host and automation did work. I even added a slow Drambo LFO to the "(locked) Blooming Energy" param it worked as expected.

Edit: very short demo
https://share.icloud.com/photos/05943erpJog5OsB9-aWVjtWqA

Curious. Are you running with a Stage license? Or are you running the totally free app?

Totally free app, in Standard demo mode; it really is a confusing naming convention 😅

Grandbear

@Gavinski said:

@Grandbear said:
@hes Weird, I did try tweaking a couple of those parameters while in Standard demo from the mapped host and automation did work. I even added a slow Drambo LFO to the "(locked) Blooming Energy" param it worked as expected.

Edit: very short demo
https://share.icloud.com/photos/05943erpJog5OsB9-aWVjtWqA

Ah ah, so this was in standard demo mode? But what if you are just using the Stage demo? Ie the one that doesn't have a 20 minute timer, just the normal demo mode? Jesus, I hate the naming conventions for this app

Right, in Stage demo mode (i.e. what the plugin open as by default) I can't open that panel nor automate it

Grandbear

I think that the overall point is that from the free app store download you can test absolutely everything (all instruments, all settings, automation, etc.) except for the free instruments. I'm definitely taking advantage of this before making a decision, which is great. I also read that an online store has a 16% discount for all Pianoteq purchases so if I do decide to go ahead I'd try that.

McD

I am so glad they have this generous demo mode. I suspect many will fool around in it and realize it doesn’t actually fit
With the musical genres they use and if it does they can still load it in a DAW and record something before the limit is reached anyway.

$260 is a pretty big ask to be able to do some tweaking. The best tweak is the “Attack Envelope” and we have “Attack Softner” which could be applied for a similar result using Stage.

Applying FX filters can cover a lot of the additional tweaking options. So, don’t feel like you are locked out… everything is available for fooling around in short spurts of discovery.

HotStrange

@Gavinski said:

@HotStrange said:

@Gavinski said:

@HotStrange said:

@Gavinski said:
I’m glad you can change your purchases within 2 weeks, because I feel I might want to trade in one of mine for the Steingraeber, which - having played around more and comparing the pianos back to back on some midi I recorded - strikes me as very lovely indeed!

Oh that’s great! With something this pricey it’s good they offer that. Which packs did you end up with in general?

I got the Steinway D, Upright Piano and Steel Drums.

Just adding to the above though, there's a lot you can tweak. For example it's interesting to shorten string length with the Steinway etc to considerably change the tone (as long as you have Standard version). Good thing about the Steinway D too is that it has by far the largest number of user generated presets (available on modartt site, which I haven't even looked into downloading yet, but I imagine there will be a lot of great stuff there, some hugely experimental, some more subtle). Pretty sure anyone can download these btw, even if on the free version, maybe someone can confirm.

Woah thanks for the tip! I’ll check on those downloads later tonight. I’m not in a rush to buy yet, it’ll probably be summer time before I’m able to splurge for it. Luckily that gives me plenty of time to really dive deep and compare every piano. The Steinway D and Petrof are probably my favorites. But the Rock Piano is nice too. I think 1 Piano, the Hohner collection for some more unique stuff, and the Steel Pans are the way. I would love to have the guitar but considering I already have actual guitars, it’s not exactly necessary lol.

I like a few of the artist instrument packs too for their uniqueness. How’s the steel pan one?

Also is it correct that you get the entirety of the KIVIR instruments as well?

Hi, what are the artist instrument packs?! I'm not even aware of those yet.

And yes, once you get the Stage license, you get the Kivir stuff. Some of those pianos are definitely not bad but don't really compare to the paid, main pianos, for my taste, the epiano is OK but nothing compared to the Rhodes, the clavichord is absolutely beautiful and the harpsichords are pretty nice too. Remember you can listen to examples of all the Kivir stuff on their website. The steel pans are definitely beautiful.

I say artists packs loosely referring to the specific artist/year recreations with different types of pianos and harpsichords.

I kinda figured the quality of the free instruments wouldn’t be as great. How many do you get? Also the layering/morphing functions. I assume you can only morph the instruments you buy correct?

A steel pan and acoustic guitar mixture might be cool 🤩

HotStrange

@McD said:
Took a Piano composition that I wrote out in StaffPad months ago and exported the MIDI into Atom 2.
The target was 2 PianoTeq Instances:

1. layering Steinway D and Celtic Harp
2. Bluthner Piano

Did you get all the pianos? I think the Petrof is my favorite so far but the Steinway D and Rock Piano are close.

HotStrange

@Gavinski said:
Oh, let me correct the above - if you quit the host that is running the auv3 you can indeed run the Pro and Standard demos as many times as you like. Same with the standalone.

Why it didn't work for me in aum when I tried just now was because I just removed and reopened the plugin in aum. But quitting aum and restarting resets everything

@Gavinski said:

@BerlinFx said:

@Gavinski said:

@BerlinFx said:

@TurnItUp said:
No direct path to Standard at a reduced rate is a garbage pricing model. $270… F that!

As someone explain to me you buy the VST for your Mac OS Daw and you got as a gift 💝 ios PianoTeq 8 at the beginning it was their focus. I got LogicPro so I should buy the standard VST to have the iOS free if I understand.

Or buy the iOS app to jet desktop versions free - works both ways.

@TurnItUp try the free version - it gives you so much that you might not even feel a need to buy the app. Incredibly generous what they give for free, actually.

I will try the free one before any buy just something I don’t understand you are limited to 20 minutes to play each time you open the free app or 20 minutes for a global trial. I can remember just that someone talk about 20 minutes for the free ??

I forget how long the demo lasts first time you open it. But then a pop up appears asking you to 'rewind'. If you keep tapping the rewind circle, your next demo session can be as long as 45 mins. The 20 minute demo is to demo the standard and pro features. @hes mentioned above that you can quit the app and run this again as many times as you want but that is not what I see. If I demo the pro version for 1 minute, close the app and open it, then I have only 19 mins of Pro demo left.

So:

Play with the free app as much as you like, for up to 45 minutes at a time, with just a few keys on the entire keyboard range disabled. 7 exactly, at the high and low registers.

Demo the 2nd level, Standard version, or 3rd level, Pro version, some keys will still be restricted, but all other features of those levels are available, for up to 20 mins max, which can be paused but you only have 20 mins total to demo each level.

Compare this to the demo version of many desktop plugins, which gives you only a few minutes before it quits or there is a bleep or whatever. The magnanimity of this demo version makes me feel very well disposed towards the pianoteq devs.

No way! So closing AUM completely resets the 20 minutes? That’s VERY generous. But I will say, it does just enough to make me really want the full version so good on them for coming up with a damn near perfect demo model.