Pianoteq YC5 Rock Piano by Modartt

Overview

The YC5 Rock Piano is a virtual grand piano for Pianoteq that delivers a bold sound, ideal for pop and rock music.

Key Features

• Sound is generated and evolves during playback.
• Dynamic response.
• Virtual Grand Piano for pop/rock mixes
• Bright timbre.
• Modeled from a Japanese grand piano.
• Includes refined attack and soundboard modeling.

Technical Specifications

Presets

13 presets

Plugin Formats

VST3, AU, AAX

Standalone

Yes

Grand Piano Size

Original 200 cm (6'7")

Ideal Use Cases

• Producers creating energetic pop and rock tracks that need a piano to cut through a dense mix.
• Keyboardists performing live who require a responsive and bright piano sound that can stand up to electric guitars and drums.
• Songwriters composing new material and wanting a vibrant piano sound to inspire their creative process.
• Music students and educators practicing and teaching contemporary piano styles with a dynamic and present instrument.
• Mix engineers looking for a piano sound that is easily malleable and sits well within a modern band arrangement.

Included Presets

• YC5 Mix Recording
• YC5 Solo Recording

Insights from Real-World Use

Strengths

• expressive response
• notes kind of bloom more
• absurdly long, endless sustain
• cuts through better when used in an orchestra
• many other parameters to change the sound
• can get the sound they want
• intimate, close-miked timbre
• different, very nice, melodic and simple tone
• has its uses
• perfect in some pieces

Weaknesses

• sterile
• no spaciousness
• no richness
• flat
• lacks detail in the highs
• weird resonance in the mids
• Pianoteq still struggles a bit
• presets are very few
• Modartt did not upgrade it in Pianoteq 7,5

Tone: sterile, expressive response, blooms, close and direct, flat, in your face, lacks detail in the highs, weird resonance in the mids, sharper, softer, fuller, not so tuned, intimate, close-miked timbre, less cohesive, different, nice, melodic, simple tone

Review Snippets

• I would choose Pianoteq YC5 for a Yamaha piano sound over Alicia's Keys.
• I got the stage U4/YC5 a couple of years ago, still very happy with them, but one day I may add 2 more, all the best to you 😊...
• Sometimes I move the slider to the right when i need a softer, fuller sound. but this is a "rock piano" so if the sound is a little sharper, it cuts through better when used in an orchestra. But you are right, some people think the ptq is tuned too well so moving mint slider making it sound not so t
• Am I the only one who doesn't like Pianteq with the slider on the "mint" side? I like to drag it over to the right for a bit more soul and realism.
• Pianoteq YC5 has a strong expressive response, making notes bloom more.
• There is something slightly sterile when using Pianoteq YC5 with MIDI input.
• I got Steinway D, Blüthner, Bechstein and Petroff and I already have Steinway B, Steingraeber, YC5 and electric pianos... modartt.com/pianoteq the only.
• pianist swoon. From the graceful serenades of the Bösendorfer 280VC to the rock-ready sounds of the Rock YC-5 Yamaha emulation, the selection is no picnic.
• I am beginning to hate your videos. :) I have Pianoteq installed on my computer. Now, I want to buy the YC5 piano. :).
• @PhilBestMusic There are many things I like about Pianoteq EXCEPT the absurdly long, endless sustain (which is the main reason I like the YC5 better than all the PTQ grands). Also, PTQ sound feels always a bit too much in your face, even when compared to the exact same piano sampled with the same mi
• Thank you! Maybe so! If mic placement and ambience matched maybe those midi-programmed chords would have sounded equally good on the YC5.
• I feel Pianoteq's YC5 lacks detail in the highs and has a weird resonance in the mids.
• YC5 sounded Fuller , AK was a little warmer, I want both, they were very close!
• to me yc5 sounded really harsh after AK piano which sounded pleasent. And I'm pianoteq fan, still using 2.3 with my own settings.
• I think he is using Pianoteq 7, though the yc5 was improved in the 6th edition. Perhaps 8 is a lesser program?

Frequently Asked Questions

What host software is required to use this piano VST?

This is a virtual instrument for Pianoteq (version 3.0.5 or higher). It also supports standalone use.

Is this piano plugin based on samples or modeling?

The YC5 Rock Piano is a modeled virtual instrument, meaning its sound is generated and evolves during playback rather than relying on samples.

What genres is this piano best suited for?

It is ideal for pop and rock music, designed to cut through dense arrangements with a bright, modern, and clean tone.

What operating systems are compatible with this VST?

It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems.

Does this piano VST support half-pedaling and sympathetic resonance?

Yes, it features Half Pedal and Sympathetic Resonance capabilities for expressive playability.

How many presets are included with the Pianoteq YC5 Rock Piano?

The plugin includes 13 presets, such as 'YC5 Mix Recording' and 'YC5 Solo Recording'.

What is the form factor of the piano modeled?

It is a grand piano, modeled from a Japanese grand piano with an original size of 200 cm (6'7'').