v5.1 impressions

Sorry but from what I read, they didn't change anything to the D4 model, or am I wrong?

You are right, the model has been tweaked. It is not clearly said on Pianoteq's main page.

We have now updated the main page, thank you stamkorg for pointing.

I've been thinking. Would binaural mode not also be a good choice when playing through speakers? I've never thought about it until now, but the revamped binaural mode in 5.1 got me to think about that output mode.

(By the way, are the demo/preview buttons in the preset management list new in 5.1 or 5.0? I am relatively sure they weren't there in Pianoteq 4. Nice feature, though. )

I am glad I bought Pianoteq5. I had spend lots of money buying other sampled piano and other piano vst products. But this is the one that actually have enough dynamic range to be musical enough for me. I will not be laying my eyes on another sampled piano again. Non of the sampled piano that I owned had ever come close to a solo piano CD album quality.
The convolution reverb in there is excellent. The fact that you can import other impulse is just brilliant.
Yes 5.1 is a notch better! Thanks.

Ian, I had up to that point not researched the specific characteristics of dummy head recordings and thus the question was essentially exactly that: how does a dummy head recording fare when played back through speakers? It was a rather spontaneous thought. After a bit of research, it seems that such recordings have quite noticeable disadvantages when not played specifically through headphones, so I consider my question answered.

While there is definitely a great improvement in the sound, I find the higher range of the D4 Pianoteq 5 (and 5.1) to be a step back, it sounds rather brittle and synthetic again.
Pianoteq 4.5 D4 is the only sound I can live with.

Very good voicing on the D4. It sounds quite realistic too me.

Are there specific notes that sound synthetic or brittle to you? (You mention the higher range--the very uppermost octave or do you mean another range?

There seems to be another update for 5.1.1 already. I'm downloading it now, does anyone know what the changes are?

On the change history page it says something about OSX, so I don't know if Windows users need this.

I agree with you. My go-to piano is the Bluthner, and although overall it is greatly improved (quite a remarkable instrument!) it is a bit worse than V4.5 in the higher range (and the V4.5 is not quite there yet either). Ii noticed the same thing about the D4 . I listened to a couple of my compositions, played with the Bluthner, very carefully and repeatedly using two different high quality DACs and two different sets of very good monitors not to mention a good set of headphones, and there is no question that the higher range needs work, but work such that the lower ranges, now quite good, are not degraded. I recently posted the following on the same issue under the Pianoteq 5 Impressions thread:

"I agree [with you] that some acoustic pianos (especially those used in pop) sound bright and metallic. These qualities can be effective for pop, jazz, and even for certain classical music. However, many if not most of the finest classical concert pianos seldom sound shrill and ugly when they are used to play the standard repertoire, even if they can be made to sound bright and metallic. I do not expect the goal of modelling the Bluthner is to create solely a virtual pop music piano since there are already several other PT models which do that. The PT5  Bluthner is decidedly a major step forward from V4.5 for bass and mid range notes. However, based on my favorite preset so far (I prefer Bluthner under Stereo without mikes - this avoids the "recorded" sound - and pretty much copy the other settings given in the D4 Spacious preset, then add some PhoenixVerb reverb) some of the treble range is lacking in body and, often at high volumes, can sound a bit like a toy piano as others have pointed out. The treble does not compete with the bass and mid. I have had to revoice a couple of my compositions to avoid the treble range. Now, PT is by far the best virtual piano I have played - far better than Ivory in my opinion although I have no issue with others who disagree with me - but I think that if in a forthcoming PT5.5 the treble can made equal to the existing bass and mid, and the existing bass and mid left as they are, the Bluthner instrument will have reached an even higher level - a level at which it can just about compete with the real thing."

Sure thing - I would suggest playing the following f to ff (loud to even louder, and if your ears can stand it, also play fff, or loudest). Count from the lowest keyboard note (so C5 means the fifth C starting with the lowest C of a standard 88-key piano). Let b = flat and # = sharp.

Play the following simple triads in various inversions and in a good musical rhythm, at two or three varying tempi:

Bb5 - Eb5 - G5
Eb5 - G5 - Bb6
G5 - Bb6 - Eb6 etc…..

Also try the same with simple G major, or any other, triads, in the same general range. Next, play the same triads one and then two octaves lower. This helps identify the problem range as being roughly between F#5 and C7. I would also suggest that you record the playing so that when you play it back it is easier to concentrate on the sound. You can even make a little piece and record it, and see where the harshness occurs. You can even hear it in individual notes - e.g. C6, E6, F6, G6 and others - but to get the full impact it's easier to make a little piece and record it. Often, individual notes sound good but notes in combination do not. This is one of the secrets of the Steinway acoustic grand - hit one note and you're not impressed, but play them together and it sounds great.

Of course, my computer decided to crash down the very day of v.5.1's long-awaited release... so I couldn't try the beast yet (nor hear the revisited  KIViR collection, which was the main reason for me to wait for the update).

I had a question concerning new binatural modelling : is the improved model noticeable also in PTQ stage ? Because from the press release, one'd say that only STD and PRO users will benefit from it...

Let's use the MIDI messages window as standard for topics like this from now on. Click "Options" in the upper right -> MIDI.

Very welcome update. After running some MIDI files I conclude the sound it's a bit clear than before.
Samplers are in a process of extinction...

Virtual Dummy Heady model...

Uuhhnnn...

Does it consider hair, or hair style?

No kidding... Some long or volumous hair perhaps can alter sound perception a bit.

Besendorfer is the correct name for this particular instrument.
Look at the last picture in this post: http://www.forum-pianoteq.com/viewtopic...02#p931102

I understand your point about spelling, an ongoing and never finished process in all languages. I am not a German speaker, but in French, Besendorfer sounds more like Bösendorfer than the usual erroneous Bosendorfer, without umlaut. Maybe there was an intention on the part of Ignaz Bösendorfer to appeal to the french market of the time...

Also, the instrument's nameplate is publicly accessible at the Kremsegg museum and the modeling is made on the premise of being an accurate reconstruction, hence the idea of keeping the original spelling also.

I dunno, but I think I'd take either over an Evil Dragon. (humour attempt)

Greg.