Pianoteq V6 - opinion on the 'new' Yamaha YC5

Hello,

The new YC5 has been improved +++++ over the v5.
It's now a really great sounding piano, at the same level with the others. It is a joy to play, and I think to buy it myself.

Now, only you can decide whether you need it or not...

IMO, the standard Steinway D and K2 are enough to play all my life.

I added other piano models because I like that, I like to try, to test... ok, but they are not needed to play or to enjoy the piano.

Thanks for your opinion.

I bought the Yamaha (I guess YC5 should be a Yamaha...) though I did not plan to buy any other instrument in Pianoteq because the D4 seems to be more than enough concerning quality.

I do not play piano regularely, and as a beginner, Pianoteq 5 Stage, upgraded to Pianoteq 5 Standard (microphone setting are the only reason), upgraded now to version 6 and now having bought the YC5 is way more money I ever wanted to spend for a piano software.

But to make it short:

I think, the YC5 just 'fits' to me. I like the rough sound. And now, with verson 6, this rather old instrument in pianoteq no have this metal sound any longer.

All of the pianos are updated in Pianoteq 6, and they all sound great. I used to ignore the Yamaha C5 model grand (the YC5), but it is now one of my favorites. Actually, all of the pianos are now my favorites for different reasons, and it's sometimes hard to choose between them.

Beto: thanks - I'm glad you weren't necessarily referring to me. I don't think I'm radical, but maybe others do - maybe it's normal for radical people not to realise it themselves. ;^)

I hate the word "troll" - I think it's overused. It means that the person is saying bad things just for the fun of it, or to harm. Even when people exaggerate, I don't think of them as "trolls" - I just think they're trying to get their point across. I'd need a LOT of evidence before I truly accepted that someone was a genuine troll.

+1

Pianoteq V2 :

Pianoteq V6 :

oh wow... TOTALLY improved. was the most disappointing model (with add on cost) to date... lot of good things in Pianoteq but YC5 was never one of them...

and now...

oh yeah... really useful. bottom end needs to be rounder but yeah, this thing is finally usable!

Kudos to the Pianoteq team on this one, and double kudos 'cause I see less limiting, less delay compensation being "on" in the presets... everything breathes better and sounds more natural with these off!!!

Afer a couple of days playing with the YC5 I would say:

It's my favorite piano now.

General I would say pianoteq 6 is better. But the differences are not always hearable up from the first minute. What I recognized from the beginning is a better '3D-feeling', I feel more 'sitting in front of a piano'.

I have to hold myself back not to buy the UPRIGHT. For my part as noob the YC5 should be enough.

Over here: http://www.forum-pianoteq.com/viewtopic...72#p950272 Stephen_Doonan asked me whether I had tried the new YC5. Yes, I have. For an example of a sound that I think is excellent, please refer to this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_97KkAFM7HI&t=601s which uses a Yamaha baby grand, model unknown. (I have asked - no reply yet). 

I think the YC5 falls a fair way short "out of the box", but maybe someone can come up with a preset that gets me closer.  I'll be up front and say I currently have a negative "doubting Thomas" attitude, so it probably needs someone with a better attitude than me to do the editing. ;^) Maybe I don't deserve any help and should just go and jump in the lake.

Seriously though - I would be genuinely appreciative of anyone's time.

Greg.

Skip, Modartt need you and similars to point where still there is evidence of artificiality, even if 95% ou more of people dod not notice.

Well, there was a time, in earlier versions,when everyone pointed specially the middle range as problematic. In the last days I only heard you refer about the trebble as still synthetic.

---
Uploaded an .fxp custom-preset file of the YC5 edited in Pianoteq Pro 6 (using the Note Edit feature) for brightness and evenness across the keyboard range.

http://www.forum-pianoteq.com/file/7qw998y2

(MP3 demo file included with .fxp file in "FXP Corner" link in webpage header)

Be sure to use an appropriate velocity curve suited to the velocity response of your particular MIDI keyboard, or this .fxp custom preset is likely to sound much too bright even when played with a moderate touch or softly.

If you like the .fxp preset but feel it can be improved in some way after using it for a while, please let me know.

(Note: this is not the preset referred to in my previous post in this topic and used for its MP3 file, nor am I trying to imitate the sound of the recorded Yamaha grand in the YouTube video above.)

Stephen: sorry to be a wet blanket, but I'm not wowed yet. There is a TON of high frequency stuff going on in the YT clip that I don't hear in yours.  Yours sounds pretty, but quite a long way from the clip.

I haven't tried your preset yet - just listening to your audio.

And I'm not having to use high end gear to hear the difference - phone over BT to car stereo.

Thanks for your time though.

Greg.

Oops - sorry Stephen - my mistake.

I am extremely impressed with the YT clip - if anyone else wants to have a crack.......

Greg

Try adjusting the Equalizer (which affects each note individually before the combined output signal), the EQU3 parametric equalizer in the effects (which affects the stereo or multiple output), reducing the hammer hardness, especially for the mezzo (medium) and forte (loud) velocity ranges. You can also try lowering the Impedance (of the soundboard), adjusting the Direct Sound Duration (to a higher value perhaps). Just a few ideas.

It's beneficial to become familiar with Pianoteq's various adjustments, because only your ears, while you are listening to the sound, can determine which of them have the most effect, or any effect at all, on the particular aspect of the sound that you are focused upon. Sometimes those inconsistencies and idiosyncracies of sound are in the speakers, headphones or somewhere else in the audio-signal chain, however.

If the preset doesn't sound right or good to you with your MIDI keyboard and playing technique, be sure to change to a different velocity curve that is more appropriate for your keyboard and your fingers, or that FXP could sound awfully sharp and harsh. You could first Reset the velocity curve (using its own title menu), then choose one of the faster or slower keyboard velocity curves, until you find one that sounds good. My MIDI keyboard (a Kawai VPC1, tends to send "hot" MIDI velocities even with moderate finger force, so I had to create a fairly steep downward velocity curve for it.

Another thing you could do to take off the sharp edge (overly treble) of the FXP I made is to either reset the Equalizer (to make it have a flat response) or turn off the Equalizer (click its glowing green "LED" to turn it off).

I bought the YC5 a while back, but usually ignored it in favor of the Grotrian Concert Royal and the Model B in Pianoteq 5. But I love the YC5 in Pianoteq 6.