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im thinking of getting pianoteq but the sound only comes through either headphones, or the laptop. is it possible to connect them so that the sound comes through the piano's speakers? or does it not work that way?
ive searched the internet but cant really find anything

You need something I haven't got...unfortunately. An AUX IN on your piano. If you have, the phones output of the laptop goes into it.

It's as thickfingers says, however since in this case, you will have both a MIDI/USB cable between the piano and the PC and an audio cable also between the piano and the PC, there is the possibility of a ground loop hum, in which case you will have to address that issue too. Also remember to turn off "Local Control" in MIDI on the DP, as in this configuration, you won't be able to just shut off your speakers/headphones from piano.

I am not sure this is applicable for all DPs but having tried it on a P515 the sound does not do pianoteq any justice.

IMO the headphones (especially if they are decent enough) will yield the better results. Furthermore, external monitors and or speakers with an external audio interface was my way of achieving something that was decent enough to satisfy my ears.

the audio cable, is that the one where both ends look like the plug headphones use? (im not a techy person sorry)

Yes

Yes, if your piano indeed has an AUX IN. It's still uncertain to your audience as to whether it has...

Some DPs like the RD 2000 allow for it via a single USB cable between the two. I never tried it to be honest, but it allows you to play along with what is coming out of your PC and all controlled/mixed by the RD 2000.

So... it is very dependent on what the maker put in it. Read the manual.

In short, what you are starting to do is move into a home studio..... stuff like this is usually accomplished with your computer and piano to a mixer to an amp/speakers.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

my pianos a NU1x so it has an aux in: i could probably try it out, but what would i need to do with the aux-in?

Connect the audio output of the PC to the audio input of the NU1X with the aforementioned audio cable. If you hear any sort of buzzing or humming on the NU1X speakers, then google for "ground loop audio." If you hear on the NU1X speakers what sounds like two pianos playing simultaneously instead of just one, then look in your NU1X manual on how to turn off the "MIDI Local Control" on the NU1X.

Just to be a downer...... Pianoteq is a leading product for sound quality... this type of hookup probably will not sound all that great after it passes through all this circuitry.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

The NU1X has embedded audio interface. No need for audio cable. Connect the piano with a USB cable and the Yamaha’s audio interface will be available to Pianoteq. The MIDI from the piano to Pianoteq will also go through the same USB connection. This is MUCH better than audio connection because it’s entirely digital so there won’t be any noise or ground loops.

You only need to turn local control off, so that the piano's own sound is turned off: press “function” + C key which is an octave below highest C to toggle local control on/off.

Better for what? For routing the trashiest VST ever through his DP? Why would you suppose he wants to do that? And why would you help him with it? You should be advising him to buy another VST. Given your view on this one.

I would actually advise him to keep using the NU1X internal sound

+1. This is the way to go. You can use the same USB cable you already have connected to your computer and get digital audio. Forget the analog Aux In/Line In connection.

Anyway, you will likely get a much better experience with headphones connected directly to your computer (or to an amplifier or audio interface connected to your computer). You can test it, but you will probably not be happy with the VST sound as reproduced by the internal speakers of the DP.

so you're saying the PC only needs to be connected to DP through USB, then pianoteq is able to access DP's own speakers?


+ i understand it probably wont sound as well through all of this extra stuff, i just wanna try it out for myself to decide if i can tolerate it

Exactly. You just need to go to Pianoteq's Preferences, Devices and then select your digital piano as the output Audio Device. Done.

Note that the internal piano sounds of the DP are optimized (e.g. EQ, effects) to be played through the internal speakers. The external VST sounds are not. So, you might want to play around with the sound settings in Pianoteq to try to improve the sound.

right, i did get it to work and try it out, as you guys said, it does get very noisy/buzzy and turns out i cant tolerate it
all in all, great with headphones of course, but i probably wont get Pianoteq

Shame it didn't work for you, can't think why it shouldn't.
I would isolate the earthing pin on your computer mains plug . . . a bit of paper will work for testing purposes. I had a Yamaha which also seemed to have ground issues, and that's what i did.
Nor did i need to turn local control off; I used the Yamaha volume control to do that. And if i fed a little in, I got a wonderful complex sound.
I'd keep plugging away. there's no reason Pteq shouldn't sound real good in your instrument.

Ground loops can indeed be resolved.