The U4 Upright Piano captures all the defining characteristics of upright pianos, offering 21 exciting presets that showcase the instrument’s versatility. In addition to the beautiful timbre of well-crafted acoustic uprights, several presets introduce higher inharmonicity and expressive “imperfections,” with names such as Honky Tonk, Vintage, Detuned, Ruined, Bierkeller, Tacky, Wavy, Weathered, and Club.

Unlike grand pianos, upright pianos are vertically strung with a vertical soundboard and bridges. The earliest upright variant appeared in 1739, with a more modern design emerging in 1800. Mass production followed improvements such as the iron frame and a larger octave range. The compact size and affordable price made uprights increasingly popular in smaller music halls, pubs, and private homes. Legendary composers including Scott Joplin, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard all began their musical journeys on upright pianos.

Pianoteq 9 enhances the U4 with the new audio engine, providing richer, evolving tones and a more lifelike, organic resonance. In Standard and Pro versions, the microphone section allows precise adjustment of wall distance, mic placement, and lid position with the new movable wall feature designed exclusively for the U4. Refreshed Binaural presets create an immersive headphone experience, offering greater spatial depth and expressivity.

Features

System Requirements