A set of virtual tools using physical modeling technology.
Disadvantages of Piano Sampler Libraries
Static: A sample contains a static recording of each note as it sounded at a specific point in time. This does not take into account the effects of vibration from other strings, body resonance, pedal interaction, etc.
Narrowness: A sampled piano cannot change the recorded samples and is generally suitable for a certain musical style
Discrete: A sampled piano has several technical limitations, such as audible quantization noise and uneven tone change (from ppp to fff).
What makes Pianotec unique
Natural: The sound of a piano is created as you play, taking into account all the complex factors that make an instrument sound alive.
You will have the feeling that you have a real piano in front of you .. and you can bend over it and touch the strings!
Versatility: In a few seconds, you can customize the sound for a specific type of music or playing style. You can save your individual settings as presets and share them with other Pianothek users.
Expressiveness: the timbre of the sound changes continuously throughout the entire dynamic range, from the weakest pianissimo to the strongest fortissimo! What you play on the keyboard will also be what you actually hear. The sound of even the weakest pianissimo is absolutely clear without audible quantization noise.
Convenience: Due to its rather modest system requirements, Pianotek is suitable for working on a modern laptop, convenient for a traveling musician. Small size and fast interface, just a few mouse movements to start playing.
It includes the entire complexity of a real piano (hammers, strings, duplex scale, pedals, cabinet)
Continuous velocity from pianissimo to fortissimo, with progressive variation of the timbre: that makes exactly 127 velocities ! A sample-based software program would in theory require hundreds of gigabytes for all these velocities
Complex resonances that only a model can reproduce in all its richness:
Duplex scale (the undamped string parts which come into resonance)
Sympathetic resonances between strings
Damper position effect when key is released (variable overtones damping)
Other special effects like staccato and sound continuation when pressing down the sustain pedal a short time after key release (re-pedalling)
Release velocity
Eight types of pedals (that can be assigned to the four UI pedals):
Sostenuto pedal , allowing you to hold some notes after release without pressing down the sustain pedal,
Super Sostenuto pedal , where the notes held by the sostenuto can be replayed staccato, which is not possible on a “real” piano,
Harmonic pedal , allowing you to play staccato while maintaining the sustain pedal resonance,
Una corda pedal , also called soft pedal, modifying the sound quality or timbre by shifting the piano action to the right (on grand pianos),
Celeste pedal, where a felt strip is interposed between hammers and strings, creating a softer sound. This pedal is usually found in upright pianos,
Rattle pedal , also called bassoon pedal, which equipped certain historical pianos, as for example the Besendorfer from the Kremsegg collection. A piece of parchment comes into contact with the strings to create a buzzing noise resembling the sound of the bassoon,
Lute pedal , where a wooden bar covered with felt is pressed against the strings, shortening the duration of the sound. It can be found in some historical pianos.
lid position _
Damper noise at key release (mainly for bass notes)
Sustain pedal noise: pedal velocity dependant “whoosh” produced by the dampers rising altogether from the strings or falling down
Microtuning and scala format files import
Various effects including equalizer, keyboard velocity setting, volume, sound dynamics which controls the loudness levels between pianissimo and fortissimo, reverberation with control of reverberation weight, duration and room size, limiter, tremolo.
