« At €269, for what is effectively a perpetual licence, Organteq mightn’t be a no-brainer, but for what it offers it’s a bargain. It should go straight into the shortlist of everyone who’s looking for a virtual, portable, DAW-friendly version of the king of instruments. A super new option for French Romantic and German Baroque organ sounds, utilising all the strengths of physical modelling. »

« The conclusion couldn’t be simpler. If you’re eligible to upgrade to Pianoteq 8, just do it. This is fabulous software that has reached new heights of sophistication. If you’re investing for the first time, it’s a great time to get on board. »

« The refinements that Modartt has crafted in the new Pianoteq Version 8 models have given the instruments an even warmer and more organic sound than before. It was already my go-to VSTi for much of my piano work when recording, composing and arranging––meaning it already sounded THAT impressive. If you already own a prior version of Pianoteq, upgrading to Version 8 is well worth the $30. Did I mention that it will run natively on iOS shortly? »

« So, well done Modartt. The guitar is a triumph and Pianoteq already was a triumph, but you made it even a little better. I eagerly look forward to whatever comes next. »

« By now it is no doubt clear that Pianoteq is a truly stunning piece of software. You don’t need to take my word for how great Pianoteq sounds and plays of course, because you can try the free demo for yourself. Enjoy! »

« Modartt has done an excellent job of creating a wide and very diverse range of musical instrument packs, from humble world-instrument types to highly refined ones that represent extraordinary marriages of craft and technology (those latter usually accompanied by forbidding price tags as well, of course). Once you have the basic Pianoteq platform, any of these packs are available at about the cost of a week of purchases at your local boutique coffee dispensary. There’s much, much to like here. »

« I own several fantastic-sounding sampled piano libraries, but Pianoteq has become my default virtual piano over the last few years. It loads quickly, sounds fabulous, and leaves enough RAM for a host of other libraries to be run simultaneously due to its paltry system requirements. When it was first introduced in 2006, it became instantly popular even as modeled pianos were a novelty item. Since then, Modartt has developed its algorithms to the point where its physically modeled instruments can actually outperform their sampled counterparts. »

« I was sceptical as to whether such a lightweight package could compete with the expansively recorded instruments that I use regularly (some over a thousand times bigger), but it only took a few chords to dispel my doubts. On first impressions, Pianoteq 7 is a very special piece of software indeed. The default instrument is modelled on a Steinway D, fresh off the production line in New York, and it's a joy to play. It sounds just like a Steinway, with the same sweet tone and clarity across the register. Even more impressive is the feel of the instrument - responsive to every nuance, agile and delicate without a hint of the clunkiness that bedevils many virtual pianos. »

« Pianoteq 7 ultimately presents an easy task to a reviewer: it’s a brilliantly refined virtual instrument that builds in meaningful ways on already formidable strengths, and is a pleasure to work with. For acoustic piano duties it’s now virtually impossible to distinguish it in quality from huge single-piano sample libraries, and the degree of sound design flexibility the modelling approach allows can easily make them look like dinosaurs. »

« If you are looking for the best virtual piano software your computer can offer, in terms of real piano sound, look no further than Pianoteq from Modartt. It’s won more awards than any other virtual piano, is endorsed by Steinway & Sons, and is probably the deepest, widest, and most beautiful. It uses physical modeling to emulate every nuance, noise, tone, and movement of real piano from hammer hardness to string length and sympathetic resonance. You can adjust the lid position, microphone placements, and the condition of the instrument. It simply sounds more authentic than any other piano and gives you an astonishing amount of control over the sound if you need it. »

« Recreating the sound of a pipe organ is not easy. In fact, it's bloody difficult. Nonetheless, emulations have improved considerably over recent years although the best of these - whether delivered as huge sample libraries or as physical modelling in traditional console organs - are not cheap. But now Modartt have released Organteq, a physically modelled software instrument that aims to do for pipe organs what Pianoteq has been doing for pianos for the past few years. »

« Assuming you’ve got a reasonably robust computer, Organteq could be just what you’re looking for. I can tell you that in working on this review, I’ve been having an absolute blast. Great, great fun! »

« Pianoteq’s reputation of delivering the goods can only be increased by emulating models of this quality and it remains our go-to piano plug-in. Outstanding. »

« With every upgrade, Pianoteq takes our idea of what a digital piano can sound like to the next level; it’s an absolutely extraordinary instrument for anyone who can’t carry a grand piano in their backpack. »

« After years of playing acoustic, digital and virtual pianos, I thought I had seen and heard it all. But Pianoteq 6, with its lean CPU requirements, stunning sound, and near-infinite editing capabilities is a breath of fresh air. Even if you have a go-to hardware or software piano instrument or library, Pianoteq 6 is worth a look and listen; it sounds that good. Bottom Line: It’s possibly all the piano tech you’ll ever need! »

« Pianoteq 6 is a grandiose collection of physically-modeled virtual instruments that are all very musical and inspiring. And the fact that it’s only a 50MB download means it can fit on most hard drives. For this reason alone, Pianoteq will be my go-to piano for sketches, and will surely remain the final piano I use in many of my productions. Not to mention, the marimbas, glockenspiels, harpsichord, and electric pianos also all sound incredible! »

« Pianoteq 6 - everything you already knew and loved about Pianoteq, but better! A musically rewarding, highly configurable instrument for all kinds of hammered, plucked and mallet-struck instruments, which takes up less room on your hard drive than a word processor. »

« As good as ever, light as ever, great sounding as ever, Pianoteq 6 is the slickest way to get great piano sound and a whole lot more. »

« Even after hours of fiddling and playing with the insatiable curiosity of a child, I feel have just touched the surface of this complex but eminently user-friendly product. I recommend it without hesitation. »

« While I loved playing with the acoustic pianos and the electric pianos, as a percussionist I was most interested in the vibes, steel drums, and hand pans. I wasn’t disappointed. It’s not just about the notes or even the strikes, but also about what happens after the notes are hit. Just as the pianos have great harmonics, pedal and body noises and such, so do the drums. The metallic harmonics blend beautifully into a rich tapestry of overtones that are beyond believable. The vibes also deserve special mention as they sound like they just came off of a vintage 1950s Modern Jazz Quartet album. I’m glad I finally experienced Pianoteq for myself; it will see a lot of use in my studio and my live set for quite some time to come. »

« As I wrote earlier, I approached Pianoteq as a skeptic and now stand as a true believer. These are wonderful pianos-rich and full of woody character-and are a joy to play. Every nuance of my playing came across, and you can shape the sound in ways never before possible. Version 5 improves on the clarity of all the pianos, and is well worth the upgrade if you own a previous version. If you don’t own Pianoteq yet, I strongly suggest you check it out if you use a computer for music-making and are searching for a versatile and great sounding software piano instrument. »

« It seems that something really momentous has taken place with the release of Pianoteq 5. This is the Pianoteq we've always wanted. Musical, flexible, efficient, lean, and now truly comparable with the sound quality of the sampled opposition. »

« Using modeling technology as opposed to a huge sample library to create piano sounds, Pianoteq delivers authentic piano sounds while only taking up a tiny sliver of storage space, handy if you dread the thought of committing half of your laptop’s SSD storage to big piano samples. Pianoteq has evolved to include a variety of additional instruments, but most importantly, the pianos themselves have been upgraded over the years to the point where we think they now stand up to the finest sampled alternatives. We have always marveled at Pianoteq’s technology, and now we can marvel at the sound, too! »

« Still the best way to get authentic, believable acoustic piano and similar sounds on your computer while using hardly any space. Powerful and playable. 10/10. »

« Pianoteq 5 is a very welcome upgrade. The instrument has only gotten more CPU efficient over time, and is now an extremely solid piano VI. Add to that the portability of Pianoteq, it’s low impact on disk space and ease of registration (no iLok or dongle here - just a plain old serial number) and you’ve got a great piano instrument for your mobile rig (where I started using it) or studio (where I wound up using it). »

« Pianoteq is a remarkable instrument and its pianos and indeed the various add-on optional sounds are breathtakingly realistic. It’s all the more amazing that this is achieved with such a tiny footprint and a relatively low CPU hit. »

« I've got to say that I was pretty darn impressed with Pianoteq 4. The realism and feel is head and shoulders above its sample-based cousins. If you're looking for a great virtual piano, look no further. »

« Pianoteq is a total winner. Whether you're looking for a realistic grand piano, vintage electric keys, struck percussion, or a neverbefore-heard instrument that's equally playable, you just found it. »

« I’ll cut to the chase: Pianoteq 4 is a good bit better-sounding than any previous version. The key to this is the new D4 Steinway-based grand. It’s a much classier model than we’ve ever had in Pianoteq before, retaining the natural dynamic behaviour of its predecessors but combining it with a more commanding, complex and distinctly ‘expensive’ tone. (...) Version 4 keeps Pianoteq at the vanguard of virtual piano design, where it holds its own with any sample-based or hardware alternative. »

« We loved the new convolution reverb, which adds a great sense of space to the sound when played alone. [...] If you wear a tuxedo and hide your Linux box under the stage your audience won't suspect that you're not playing the real thing. »

« When you load up Pianoteq for the first time what hits you is that it looks good. I'm not one for raving (yeah, right) but Pianoteq just screams quality. [...] Now we need to play something and here you're blown away. The sound is extraordinary; it's like a real piano! I guess that's the goal but it's still hard to believe that the sound I'm listening to, despite my dodgy playing, is like having a real grand piano in my little room. The sound resonates, you play one note, let it ring and play another and they interact. The sound is right but there is also a correct ambiance, you feel like you're sitting in front of a real instrument. Did I say real enough times? I think I'm in love. »

« Small is beautiful. Pianoteq seems impossibly compact for such a big-sounding instrument, but it successfully brings crystal-clear piano sounds and an astonishing level of sound tweaking to more or less any system. If you don't need the detailed note and sound-editing tools, the midrange version may be worth considering. But to get the most out of it as a sound-design tool rather than just an instrument, those tools are worth having access to. All in all, this is a remarkable instrument. »

« It has a surprisingly small CPU hit for such powerful modeling, and sounds and plays exquisitely. If you've been using a sample-based piano instrument and are looking for something that gives you a different sense of nuance and control, download and try the demo, and prepare to be amazed. »

« If you don't love Pianoteq for its tiny file size (roughly 21MB), serious flexibility, ease of use or low CPU impact, love it for its sound. Pianoteq is one of the most responsive, beautiful and delicately modelled pianos you'll play. It can be as big and bold or soft and subtle as you need it to be, even before you dive in to any mic repositioning or hammer adjustments. »

« Modartt Pianoteq has come a long way since I reviewed version 1.0.3 in the March 2007 issue of EM, available online at emusician.com. In the interim, version 2 won EM's 2008 Editors' Choice award for Most Innovative Product. In version 3.5.2 the underlying physical model has been significantly improved, and although many of the controls are the same, you’ll find a host of user-friendly enhancements. Pianoteq now comes in Standard and Pro versions, and the difference is in the new feature called Note Edit. The Pro version gives you note-by-note access to most Pianoteq parameters, (...) »

« Pianoteq Pro is an extremely impressive program, allowing you to customise every conceivable aspect of your piano sound, and while the process might appear daunting, it is actually extremely intuitive in operation. [...] Playing Pianoteq Pro using a hammer-action digital keyboard really feels like performing on a quality acoustic grand piano with all the true sympathetic resonance of an acoustic instrument. [...] I am delighted to recommend both these instruments [Pianoteq Standard and Pro] as outstanding products and and I strongly advise you to test them out for yourself. »

« For me, no other virtual piano matches the naturalness of Pianoteq’s dynamic response, and it’s one of the very, very few virtual instruments that you can feel truly involved with, and ‘coax’, in the same way as a real instrument. »

« I was so inspired by Pianoteq's tone that I couldn't resist laying down the beginning of the piano part of a Brahms cello sonata, after which I overdubbed the cello. [...] Does it really sound like a piano? Yes, absolutely. Things like the envelope decay and the delicate interplay of overtones in the bass strings are extremely realistic. »

« Playing Pianoteq Pro using a weighted action digital keyboard really feels like performing on a top-quality acoustic grand piano with all the true sympathetic resonance of such an acoustic instrument. Piano afficianodos, however, will appreciate and enjoy the limitless possibilities of the individual note customisation available in the Pianoteq Pro edition. [...] I am pleased to recommend Pianoteq 3 and Pianoteq Pro as outstanding products and would advise you to test them out for yourself at the earliest opportunity. »

« If Pianoteq wasn't quite the finished article back in 2006, it certainly feels like it now. It sounds and looks better than ever (the interface has been given a bit of spit and polish) and the aforementioned advantages that stem from it being modelled rather than sample-based simply can't be ignored. Factor in the ability to expand the product with both acoustic and electric sounds (in addition to the optional add-ons, there's a range of free ones) and you've got what feels like the most attractive piano software currently on the market. »

« [...] At the moment, there is no other program that utilizes the modeling technology Pianoteq employs. It’s hard to believe such a relatively small program (by today’s multi-gigabyte standards) can do so much. We said in our previous review that the original product would get better with time, and it has in a big way. »

« As with real pianos, any assessment is always going to be largely subjective. But after two decades of poorly synthesised pianos and sample sets, we feel the output from Pianoteq is phenomenal. It rivals the output from the best sample sets we've heard. The bass register is particularly impressive, and thanks to the mathematical model, you get incredible dynamic range. [...] Pianoteq, without any doubt, is the best sounding piano on your Linux desktop, and probably any other desktop. »

« Great praise to the awesome Philippe Guillaume and his brilliant crew. Pianoteq is simply amazing. Its sound quality is excellent, its user interface is attractive and invites interaction, the add-on instruments are wonderful, et cetera, et cetera. It's not free and it isn't open-source software, but its developers are certainly interested in the open-source community of music makers. In this community member's opinion, Pianoteq for Linux gets four out of four big stars (or Emperor penguins, take your pick). »

« I was hugely impressed with Pianoteq 3. While the overall concept is sophisticated, with the ability to customise every detail to your own taste, it is nevertheless intuitive to operate and I suspect that many of the preset sounds will happily suit most people. Playing Pianoteq 3 using a hammer action digital keyboard really feels like performing on a quality acoustic grand piano, and is genuinely satisfying and responsive. I am pleased to recommend Pianoteq 3 as an outstanding product; it is a delight to play and I strongly advise you to try it out for yourself. »

« So, what about the all-important aspect of all this, the sound? Well, if I was impressed when I first heard Pianoteq, I'm even more impressed now. Those two years and intervening version 2 have made a real difference and the sound is excellent. I applied the sounds to all sorts of piano, electric piano and harpsichord applications, both playing live and slotting the sounds into existing piano tracks. [...] Summing up, I think Pianoteq 3 is a great product. Those impressive sounds will, as I said, be enough for many users, but the extreme controllability to adjust and create your own personal pianos to match the mood and style of what you're playing is the biggest bonus for me. »

« In general, Pianoteq sounds more like you are sitting in front of a real piano soundboard than any sample library does. There is that it factor that is missing in many sample libraries that helps create dynamic, believable piano sounds. And I would be lying if I didn't say I was impressed at just how closely Modartt has gotten to the pianos I grew up loving to play. »

« We tested Pianoteq as an Audio Units plug-in inside of GarageBand, Logic, and Ableton Live, and its responsiveness and wonderful aural quality thrilled us immediately. While nothing is likely to ever match the full majesty and presence of an actual Steinway, Pianoteq comes close. Just plug your own weighted 88-key controller and sustain pedal into your Mac, and you’ve got an awesome piano that never needs to be tuned or polished. It’s a glorious experience, and your audience probably won’t believe that you’re not stroking actual ivories. »

« Finally, I feel the death knell is ringing for the overly bloated multi-gigabyte piano libraries. Not only is Pianoteq significantly smaller, the ability to manipulate the dynamics in real time is nothing short of breath-taking. Pianoteq makes you feel like you're controlling the piano performance instead of the performance controlling your piano playing. »

« Oh boy! I played one note, all alone, on the standard generic preset that comes up when you first start Pianoteq, and I could immediately tell that this was something exciting. The immediacy, depth, warmth, and presence of hammer sound were all there in a way I have never heard before through electronics. The damper pedal was very natural and made the right kind of difference in the sound. (...) Pianoteq is without a doubt the most flexible, realistic - and tiny - keyboard application I have yet to try. Go for it! »

« I was extremely impressed with Pianoteq. While the overall concept is sophisticated, with the ability to customise every detail to your own taste, it is nevertheless easy to operate, and I suspect that the default sound will happily suit most people. Playing Pianoteq from a hammer action digital keyboard really does feel like performing on a concert grand, and is genuinely satisfying and responsive as an instrument. »

« When I first heard about Pianoteq I found it rather hard to believe that a plug-in just over 15 megabytes in size claiming to model a real acoustic piano could actually do the job. Boy was I wrong! Pianoteq is clearly on the cutting edge of a new generation of virtual instruments offering an amazing amount of nuance, playability and great acoustic piano sounds and all a really great price point. »

« I was sure when I saw the download size of only 12 MB for the Mac version (or 8 MB for the PC version) that this would be another fake-sounding piano ready to come and go like so many others. But even my experienced and exacting piano ears and fingers were pleased with Pianoteq's interactivity and sound quality. It's the first nonhardware acoustic piano I've been able to play at truly full polyphony, even on my speedy MacBook Pro. Modartt really took the time to fine-tune its algorithms, and that paid off in spades. Pianoteq is quite possibly the best-sounding software piano I've heard, and its functionality and CPU-saving approach only seals the deal. Skeptical pianists should look closely. »

« Being first in anything is almost always a double-edged sword, but in this case, we feel that Pianoteq does a very good job at their goal: creating a realistic piano sound not based on sample playback, full of nuance and expression, that is relatively friendly to hard drive and CPU processing requirements. »

« Pianoteq is the first of an entirely new generation of digital pianos, and its future looks very bright indeed. In many recording situations, it easily rivals the best of the competition, while offering significantly more sonic versatility and a much smaller computer system footprint. »

« Modartt Pianoteq marks a milestone in physical-modeling technology. From the first note, there's no doubt that this is a very playable piano with all the special controls that only physical modeling can bring. »

« I must say that I really LOVE Pianoteq. Not only has it resolved most of my piano needs but the sheer quality of it’s emulation is quite amazing. Coupled with an excellent and user friendly GUI, this product can only be a success. »

« I compared Pianoteq to one of the best of the recent crop of sampled grands, and the difference was pretty dramatic. Both pianos sounded fine on simple pop/rock styles, handling big stately chords, slow melodies, octave bass lines and fast repeated chords with aplomb. But when it came to expressive improvised music, Pianoteq was much more playable — its notes sounded more connected than those of the sampled instrument, giving fast runs and phrases something of the silvery cohesion of a real piano. The lack of discernible latency was also a huge plus. »

« In fact I was able to get the entire keyboard range to sound absolutely stunning, and I don’t use that term lightly. The dynamics are extremely convincing. (...) I really like Pianoteq. Its sound is pure, vivid, alive with responsiveness, and without question the most flexible of any "acoustic" piano instrument on the planet today. »

« We’ve already mentioned the quick, easy and (most importantly) space-saving installation, but there are also the fast preset-loading times to consider. How great it is to be able to select a new patch and have it instantly ready for playing, and how refreshing not to have to wait for a multitude of samples to load every time you boot up a project. »

« For a brand new instrument, and a version 1 of that instrument to boot, you can't help but be impressed with Pianoteq. It has a sleek, classy user interface, oodles of controllability and can come up with some great piano sounds, both real and imaginary. And it does all of this in an incredibly small 8MB memory footprint! I'll stick my neck out and say that physical modelling will probably be the future for the virtual piano, and Modartt has got there first with Pianoteq, which, at this moment in time, is already a good alternative to the current crop of piano VSTi products. »

« It's really light weight, easy to carry on a laptop. By tweaking it, it gave me the ability to make it to what I want and to make it my own, and it really did sound good. For solo work, the additional features would certainly be a big plus for your studio. »