Pianoteq vs. Petrof

At the 2008 Music Bridges International festival in Prague, pianist Hugh Sung compares two pianos - one digital, by Pianoteq (keyboard controller by Bohemia), the other acoustic, by Petrof, playing a small segment of Debussy's "Clair de lune". At the end of the clip, Hugh refers to a "piano tasting" radio news piece that was aired on WHYY in Philadelphia. You can read the original post at

http://www.hughsung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=1001

or you can go directly to the audio clips here:

http://www.whyy.org/podcast/news/arts20080730.mp3

http://www.whyy.org/podcast/news/arts20080729.mp3

Pianoteq is the virtual piano program being developed by Modartt in France (http://www.pianoteq.com )

For more about Hugh Sung and his forays into technologies for the classical musician, please visit

http://Hughsung.com

For more information about Music Bridges International, please visit:

http://www.musicbridgesinternational.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Hugh
• Sung
• digital
• acoustic
• piano
• pianos
• Pianoteq
• Petrof
• Prague
• Wallenstein
• Castle
• music
• bridges
• international
• Modartt

[n0rad]

I also like Pianoteq very much. It's a magic compared to the other VSTs...

But Hugh, I've got a question: Despite the fact that you are a Pianoteq-advertiser, what do you 'hate' in the Pianoteq as it is now? What do you think, what needs improving?

For example, I don't like the high and low-end notes, but I'm sure that will be improved later...

Thanks, David

[hughsung]

Hahaha - i've never been addressed as a "Pianoteq-advertiser" before! I'm just a musician who really appreciates the amazing potential of a good digital instrument. You pose a really good question - i'm not sure if "hate" is the word, but i do recognize that at first blush the Pianoteq still sounds "synthetic". If they could overcome the tonal qualities and have it match the expressive capabilities, they'd have a hands down winner. That and the fact we need a better speaker system!!

[jerseyrayashley]

Despite some of the limitations of the audio recording, I can still hear more depth and expression from the acoustic instrument. For pop, rock, and jazz though, the digital instruments are just fine. For the Debussy I think there is no contest - the Petrof wins.

[hughsung]

I still think the Pianoteq gives an impressive demonstration with regard to its own range of expressivity, particularly with delicately nuanced compositions like the Debussy. Some folks in the audience actually preferred the Pianoteq over the Petrof! Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but i would maintain that the Pianoteq technology demonstrates an amazing advance in the use of digital pianos as artistic tools.

[jerryaltman]

The room reverberation was quite distracting. But his performed was very good. Nice comparison, depite reverberation problems.

[hughsung]

You're absolutely right about the reverb - unfortunately, i only had the audio input from my camcorder to work with. Normally, i try to set up a separate audio recording source, but having to travel overseas made me limit the equipment i could bring along. Next time i'll have to try to find a more portable microphone solution for videos. Thanks for the comment!

[elementc]

"Never" is quite a bit longer than a lot of people seem to think. I don't doubt for a minute that we'll eventually have a simulation good enough to be indistinguishable from the real thing.

You underestimate the advance of technology to a fault. (However, I still prefer a real grand as of now. :D)

[OMERTA011]

I'll have to disagree.. look at mr sax t and the trumpet.. they sound so amasingly real.. nevertheless, I don't like this "test".. much reverberation. you cant compare these two tings..

and yeah Petrof still sounds better

[28jadufer]

Los pianos acusticos, por muy buenos que sean los digitales, siempre serán preferibles , salvo por la cuestón de poder estudiar a cualquier hora. Despues, sin un piano acústico, nunca encuentas la obra y la sonoridad en su totalidad con uno digital.

[horncomposer]

i bought pianoteq 3 about a year ago and really love it. there's no way i can have a real piano in my apartment.

lots of people seem to try comparing it to the real thing. sure, it's a physical modeling synthesizer, but you can do so much with it. for example, just change a setting and you're in a different temperament. you don't need to spend the hours and hours retuning a piano. for example.

but the biggest problem to pianoteq is the speakers....they never really give the right sound...

[Lemon77UG]

Hmmm, 10MB, 10GB, or 10 tons. Tough choice.

[luigiperso]

I was a rock guitarist (well, I still am sometimes, eh eh) and we have the same problem, i.e. getting the big ,warm sound of the distorted sound of a great tube amplifier.

They tried to recreate the same thing digitally with digital amplifiers, but as good as they sound, they can't match the sound obtained with a real tube amp.

Pianoteq is a very impressive product but it's just not realistic to expect it to to substitute real pianos. But for recording and practicing quietly it's a monster

[luigiperso]

very interesting , hughsung, I tried pianoteq and it's great, but I think I would kill for a real piano, even an upright

[pianogirl13669]

there is no comparison. How I wish I had a Petrof!!

[OSanBrazil]

Of course, acoustic pianos (the real ones) will always sound better than the digital ones. Imitation will never, ever be like the real thing. I see technology as something to add to traditional music and instruments, not a substitute! But it's very useful in terms of cost and ease. And it's also an alternative for amateurs like me who don't have enough money to buy a high quality acoustic piano. Have you experimented Pianoteq 3? It sounds much better now!

[mcvspam]

@rositadog It will be, believe me. Just like 35mm analog photography was. It's just a matter of processing power and work to do. But to be honest, I'm sad about this. :(

[Nebelvir123987]

@tunglour I agree and I must say, that even though pteq sounds good, the real grand is still better

[rositadog]

acoustic is and will never be replaced

but who cant afford an acoustic-pianoteq is a good and only 20 mb alternative.