Pianoteq vs PREMIER SOUND FACTORY
Pianoteq
modartt.comPREMIER SOUND FACTORY
premiersoundfactory.comSide by side
| Figure | Pianoteq | PREMIER SOUND FACTORY |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 4 | 10 |
| Spec score · Virtual Instruments | 8.1 (#7) | 8.6 (#2) |
| Founded | 2006 | 2000 |
| Integrations | The desktop software supports standalone use and VST3, Audio Units and AAX hosts; the manual also lists NKS compatibility. | Libraries run through Native Instruments Kontakt or the free Kontakt Player where a product page specifies compatibility, and support common DAWs such as Cubase, Logic, Pro Tools, Ableton Live and Reaper. |
| Product | Pianoteq is a virtual piano and instrument suite that generates sound through physical modelling. | PREMIER SOUND FACTORY sells sampled software instrument libraries, including acoustic and electric pianos, Japanese instruments, drums, basses, and Mellotron sounds. |
| Support | The maker says contact messages will receive a reply within 24 hours and provides user manuals and a support page. | The FAQ says phone and email technical support are not provided; it directs users to a dedicated support area in the PREMIER SOUND FACTORY forum. |
| System requirements | The manual lists 512 MB RAM, a recent CPU, Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.13 or later, or Linux x86/ARM; Windows users need ASIO-compatible audio drivers for low latency. | Typical libraries require 64-bit macOS 10.9 or later or Windows 7 or later, 4GB RAM and product-specific disk space. |
Plans
Pianoteq
- Pianoteq 9 Stage$139, paid once
- Pianoteq 9 Standard$269, paid once
- Pianoteq 9 PRO$399, paid once
- Pianoteq Studio Bundle$929, paid once
PREMIER SOUND FACTORY
- Hellotron Premier GFree
- Wurly Premier GFree
- Wind Chime Premier G$16.20, paid once
- Bass Premier G$81, paid once
- Shakuhachi Premier G$106.92, paid once
- Princess Koto KAGUYA$128.52, paid once
- PIANO Premier at first light$139.32, paid once
- Bass Premier G & Acoustic Bass Premier G Pack$145, paid once
- Drum Tree$213.84, paid once
- PIANO Premier KAWAI Legend$270, paid once
In their own words
Pianoteq
Pianoteq is a virtual piano and instrument suite that generates sound through physical modelling rather than built-in samples. It creates notes in real time, and the maker describes it as about 50 MB. More than 20 instrument packs cover electric pianos, plucked strings and historical keyboards. The software models sympathetic resonances and exposes physical parameters for adjusting tone. Pianoteq 9 can position and mix up to eight microphones to stereo or multichannel output. Desktop editions run standalone or in VST3, Audio Units and AAX hosts; NKS compatibility is also listed. It is available on iOS, Linux, macOS and Windows. There is no free plan, but the Pianoteq 9.2.5 evaluation version is full-featured with eight silent notes and a restart required every 20 minutes. Stage costs $139, paid once and includes two instrument packs; Standard costs $269, paid once with three packs, while PRO costs $399, paid once with four. The Studio Bundle is $929, paid once and includes PRO plus all current instrument packs.
PREMIER SOUND FACTORY
PREMIER SOUND FACTORY sells sampled software instrument libraries for music and other production work. Its catalog includes acoustic and electric pianos, Japanese instruments, drums, basses, and Mellotron sounds. KAWAI Legend is offered in 96kHz/24bit, with a 48kHz version for sessions at 48kHz and 44.1kHz; listed features include harmonic resonance, release-trigger, damper and half-pedal playback, and Velocity+. KAGUYA includes two koto instruments, 16 articulations, 36 Japanese scales, and 214 audio phrase patterns. Drum Tree, KAGUYA, and Shakuhachi Premier G work with Kontakt Player; other products require full Kontakt. Specifications list Audio Units, VST, AAX Native, ASIO, Core Audio, and WASAPI, along with support for several named DAWs. Standalone app and built-in samples are listed. Free products are available, and paid products start at $81. A license covers two computers, but cannot be transferred. Download links expire after one month.