The Sound Board

I've yet to hear any official announcement, but Modartt has released version 9 of Pianoteq. Upgrade price is $29 USD.

https://www.modartt.com/pianoteq_overview

From the change log:

• New instrument: Triple Harp, added to the Harp instrument pack.

• Modern and historic grand pianos have been thoroughly updated.

• MKII and Vintage Reeds instruments updated.

• New 'Sombre' presets added to all grands.

• New 'Felt' presets added to historic grands (Kremsegg and Karsten packs).

• Improved pluck realism on Celtic and Concert harps.

• The CP-80 in KIViR.ptq has been seriously improved.

• Metronome sounds improved (4 choices).

• Native support for Windows on ARM.

• VST2 support removed.

• VST3 support now available on Linux (alongside Windows and macOS).

• Automatic migration of projects using an older major version of Pianoteq, when that version is not available. Requires host support: Cubase, Pro Tools,
  Logic Pro (except automation curves), DP, ...

• Full compatibility of Logic projects between iOS (using the AUv3) and macOS (using the AUv2), including automation curves.

• NKS2 support implemented.

• Up to 8 microphones can now be used in the updated Mics & Mix panel.

• Pianoteq STAGE users can now access the Mics & Mix panel and modify mixer settings.

• FX panel: equalizer now features 5 configurable bands.

• FX panel: ping-pong option added in delay effect.

• FX panel: low-cut parameter added to the reverb effect.

• Global Hammer Hardness parameter added.

• Hammer Tone control added (for STANDARD/PRO users, note-edit for PRO users).

• Velocity Offset control added (note-edit for STANDARD/PRO users).

• Thunder pedal added.

• Note FX panel: monophonic mode added, with legato and portamento options.

• The main windows can be freely resized by dragging its bottom right corner.

• New 'Tall' interface mode, in addition to the already existing 'Compact' mode.

• (iOS only) Added support for portrait orientation, and windowed mode.

I was just debating whether or not to upgrade from Standard to Pro in order to reduce latency at higher sample rates, and since the price is the same for the upgrade to version 9 of Pro ($130 USD), I went ahead and did so. Not a huge leap forward in the same way v7 to v8 was, but I've also only spent a small amount of time with it. The Sombre presets are okay, but I'm not very interested in the terribly broad and unspecific category of "cinematic music" that others may find good use of this with. The additional features available in the upgrade to Pro outweigh my initial impressions of the upgrade to v9, in other words.

As usual for Pianoteq, I see one P. De Ridder is credited for a few demos.

Curious to get your take on this release, Piet, having clearly spent some time with it.

tack wrote: ↑Oct 15, 2025 8:29 pm(...) having clearly spent some time with it.

Actually, nowhere near as much as usual, Jason. Due to a sudden increase in work (a month or two ago) which, from one day to the next, required nearly all of my time and attention being directed elsewhere, I had to excuse myself from the later stages of the Pianoteq 9 beta-test. So: quite a few of the new features and additions in v9 are new to me too. (In fact, most of what's on the above change log list is new to me, I was only present during the weeks when the updated models of the acoustic grand pianos were up for evaluation.)

I haven’t made any new demos for v9 either. (And I honestly don’t understand why several of my old demos — some of which are actually *very* old, and all of which, I’m sure, could be improved considerably if redone lovingly with v9 — appear among the demos for this new version. Strange decision.)

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I've heard good things about this one... I've skipped Pianoteq because I just couldn't ever love the sound, and I use VI Labs and Spectrasonics for all my piano needs. But I like modeling technology in theory and Modartt is one of the clear innovators in that field. I'll probably take 9 for a demo spin at some point.