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Considering pianoteq 7 for my Casio gp400 (I put that in there not to invite Casio bashing, but because the perspective of other Casio gp owners about comparison between built-in tones and vst would be nice....). I play classical/romantic, early intermediate.

A few questions:
1. Pro seems to b offer minimal advantage over standard. Thoughts?
2. Tones- which should I get if just 3? I see a lot of posts saying that the Steinway d disappoints. Is that criticism valid for the 2020 version? (As noted, comparison to the tones I have could be useful if you own a casio). The Bluthner is a must. It's spaciousness is what's convincing me too make the jump.

Why not download the free trial version ?

That would help you with the answer to many of your questions.

All you will get here are opinions and arguments.

Thanks for your reply. I downloaded it. I would still like input. My ear is developing, so I just wanted to survey opinions..... If someone points something out I'll usually be able to hear it, but really uncertain.....

Standard would be the one to buy if you decide on Pianoteq. You can always upgrade to Pro later when they have a sale if you think you will need it. Standard because of the morphing and layering that is only available on the standard and pro versions.

I agree with dmd about it all being opinions as I'm one of the folks that like the Steinway B model. I would put on your list the C. Bechstein model.

A couple of subjective opinions of mine:

1. Buy Stage if you like tinkering with the settings a bit. Buy Standard if you like tinkering with the settings a lot. Buy Pro if you want to make tinkering with the settings your main activity in life.

2. All the acoustic pianos sound quite similar. There is not the same difference between one Pianoteq sound and another, that you would find between one sampled piano and another. That said, I still have my favourites (Grotrian, Bechstein DG, and Bluthner). I always disliked the Steinway D, but in the latest version it seems useful (and now there is the additional "D" from NY).

I got a chuckle out of this one

Really
Me too. I don't think Pro is really necessary unless you are the audio engineer

With version 7 standard is nice to have IMHO.

+1

I bought the PRO last year because it was within my budget and the BF price of it was just a little above the regular Standard version.

About the choice, I second what others answered above. Even if you are not experienced, your ears are the best judges. I asked the same question last year and, though I acknowledged then (and still do) it is a matter of taste, reading other's opinions helped me to select the four models that suited me most:

http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2911287/your-favorite-pianoteq-piano.html

I hope this helps

Standard is nmuch better than stage; might not've been so previously, but with version 7, it's a must imo. You'll find plenty of nice sounds without having to alter stuff, but every electronic piano will be different, so some compensation might be needed but probably not much on the quality instrument you have.
When you go down this path, be aware that you will be playing less music as a result.

@EVC2017 Your thread is like all the PT threads. It is so subjective what we as individuals like

Still want to get another instrument or two tonight at the sale price. Still trying to decide myself which to add. Petrof is winning the battle to my ears.

EPW, I totally agree. My point, if it was not clear above, is that some of the answers of that thread made me review my wish list and pick what turned out to be my favorite PTeq model (Bechstein), which I had discarded at first.

Reading others opinions could help one to look at the matter from a different point of view. That is the only reason I linked to that thread.

I found the Bechstein and Grotrian most satisfying. I haven't played the Version 7 Steinway D enough to evaluate it; in v5 and v6, it didn't move me. V7 "D" has several favorable comments here.

I agree with:

. . . "Download the demo, see what you like best, buy those."

I use Stage; I am easily distracted by screenfuls of options. Even in Stage, you have a good set of reverb/delay and EQ controls.

FWIW --

I started using Pianoteq because the decay time of my PX-350 piano sounds was _way_ too short, and my pedalling technique was distorted to compensate.

. . .Any of the Pianoteq instruments solves that problem --
. . . their decay time is comparable to acoustic pianos I've played.

I don't know whether the GP400 has the same "short decay" samples. If it does, then whatever Pianoteq models you get, they'll be a vast improvement.

I have to add that I found K2 to have its merits now and before I was just like it is okay. I think over time our taste change and it is nice to have the variety instrument add-ons in Pianoteq

Get at least Standard, but get Pro if you can. The note-per-note tinkering allows you to do what no sampled grand player has ever done: change those three or four notes you’ve been dying to.
It’s pretty miraculous.
As for the sound packs, I’ve got Studio and would suggest the Electric Pianos (as those are the best Rhodes and Wurly models around), the Steinway D (for the many presets and now that sweet NY grand) and the Blüthner (for that incredibly subdued mid range). If you go Pro, add the C. Bechstein (as it’s a model of Bechstein’s own Digital Grand) or the Steingraeber (with its Mozart rail).

Petrof's my current favourite; needs the balance adjusting for my tase so if you have Standard, I'd say go for it.

I would advise you to get the demo version and check out the different models. They are quite distinct in their sound, but in my opinion not so distinct that you need all of them. I would consider something like this:
- A large, bright concert grand like the Steinway D, Bechstein, Petrof etc.
- A more mellow concert grand like the Grotrian or a studio grand like the Steinway B
- And something different: The U4 for example or the electric pianos

I started off with the Bechstein, Steinway B and the electric pianos. I then added the U4 and now on BF the Steinway D. I decided against getting more because for the the difference in sound isn't worth it. I'd rather have less and know them inside out.

I have the GP-310. Casio "improved" the sustain by looping 🤦🏻‍♂️😂, so the built-in samples do not bear comparison to the new "double polarization" models in PTQ7. The sympathetic resonance is much more complex, especially in high polyphony. I have heard highly variable quality of the top register though, so custom settings come into it.

How about for back and forth convenience when practising, Model D to match the "Hamburg", and C. Bechstein DG to match "Berlin"?

Do you use a VST?