Modartt Pianoteq 8

The highly-regarded piano - and so much more - instrument reaches version 8, but is Pianoteq still one of the best you can buy?

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€139 to €799 PC MAC

We have, we admit it, been huge fans of Pianoteq for many years. It’s a light-on-your-processor-and-hard-drive piano instrument that has matured to be a lot more than that actually sounds. As well as encompassing just about every piano type you can imagine, it now stretches its remit across chromatic percussion, harps and a lot more. With all of these additions, Pianoteq should really be called ‘Instrumentoteq’. Only that sounds rubbish.

Just about the only complicated thing about buying Pianoteq is the level you buy in at. We’ll detail more on this in the box opposite but there are four entry points. Each one gains you access to a free pack of 14 varied instruments plus access to more packs depending on your purchase level. Add more instrument packs from the 20+ now available at any time should you wish. It’s a highly flexible way to buy and you can really home in on your key favourites.

For our test we have the Pro version loaded up, complete with the extra edit features, so we may discuss some features that aren’t in the cheaper versions, so do check before you buy.

What’s new in 8? 

As well as refining the main engine of the software, Modartt have added a Classical Guitar sound pack to the options available. This is stretching their remit further and certainly an indicator of where v9 could take the software.