Pianoteq Karsten Collection

Description

Peter Karsten is an instrument collector from Braunschweig, Germany, who over the years has assembled an impressive array of historical instruments, each preserved with remarkable care.

Authorized by Steinway

The virtual copy of the New York Steinway square piano (1858) is evaluated and authorized by Steinway & Sons in New York. Peter Karsten himself participated in multiple stages of development—from initial recordings for audio analysis to final beta tests—working alongside experienced musicians. This collaboration ensures that the authenticity of each instrument meets the highest standards, making them suitable for concert performance and recording.

Innovative tonal qualities

All instruments in the collection are physically modeled, offering innovative tone features and extremely small file sizes (megabytes instead of gigabytes). Advanced physical parameters allow the sound to be precisely shaped, while multiple tuning temperaments can be selected via presets. An “Original” preset reproduces the current state of the instrument, whereas additional presets aim to recreate its sound as it was when first built. With Pianoteq 9, these historical instruments benefit from the new audio engine, which adds subtle evolving resonance, spatial depth, and a more organic tone. Felt presets provide soft, intimate voicing for historical instruments, and refreshed Binaural presets deliver immersive headphone playback.