My Desert Island Piano VST - VI Labs Modern D

HZPiano

Modern D might be slightly more resource intensive than Modern U, but not hugely I don't think.

I caved and bought Modern D tonight, and it is magnificent (I feel pretentious using that word, but it's really a fantastic achievement). By a wide, wide, wide margin I think it's the nicest sounding Steinway D library out there.

The hammer mics alone are incredible. It's great to have the flexibility of all the other options, but having just the lone set of mics turned on makes a beautifully balanced sound with huge dynamic range. I love the percussiveness.

If I won't straight up say it's the best grand piano VI I own, it's only because of stubbornness (and continued loyalty to the Kawai legend and VSL CFX…and recent fondness for the Vienna Imperial!).

It seems like we don’t have note-per-note edits for the “magnificent” Modern D, and I wonder why? for, surely it is magnificent, the Modern D, and having at least note-per-note for volume & intonation would be, well, magnificent!

Also, is there an “Ancient/Olden D” that we can compare to the Modern D for some perspective?

And finally, according to you all the Modern D has not only met but also broken right through the proverbial bar, so should we even bother looking at other -now lackluster- Ds, or should we simply toss them all out with yesterday’s (olden) garbage? If this is the case, I also recommend that we stop sampling any more Ds; because, after all, this D is “perfection in the making,” and I wonder if anything can top perfection?

So good, this Modern D, that I wouldn’t be surprised if Yuja uses it (controlled by a VPC-1) for her next concert……

Pete14 should we even bother looking at other -now lackluster- Ds?

Nope.

CraigNZ

I like that, Craig! Straight-up owning it!

It seems like some people ‘round here like to have it both ways, “it’s the greatest, but the others are great too,” and no, you can’t have it both ways!

And yes, you/we do have a favorite child, so please stop patronizing the other child, and simply give it to him straight, “I love you, little Timmy, but not as much as I love Jimmy, for he’s great, and you’re average at best!” 😁

Pete14 It seems like we don’t have note-per-note edits for the “magnificent” Modern D, and I wonder why?

It already sounds like a piano, that’s why 😃

CyberGene

Okay, but keep in mind that depending on many variables (including room acoustics) it can come handy to have at least volume note-per-note edits to tame down offending notes….

Perhaps this goes without saying, but Pianoteq does offer this “minor” detail, and I’m not 100% certain, but it might even allow note-per-note control over partials & fundamentals (perhaps one of you could check for this?)…..

Now, assuming that Pianoteq allows for this (partials & fundamentals), which I’m not 100% sure of, it would be quite magnificent, but surely, not quite as magnificent as your beloved Modern D (successor to the “Olden D?)…..☺️

CraigNZ

i can safely say that it's the best sampled piano around because of some really important features

but first, the vsl stuff are ridiculously expensive, i own 4 of their pianos and I love them, but i mentioned in another thread that why i don't think they're the best :
1 lack of some truly necessary features like una corda and resonances, silent key and more
2 the pianos themselves aren't very well prepared, you can clearly find some out of tune notes and some weirdly paning in the velocity layers, and the voicing is sometimes isn't good (the best example is their steinway, the first synchron i got)
3 they're always a bit far away, even their close mics don't have that punch in the midrange (mid frequencies not mid register)
so all you get is some high frequency sharp attack.

then you can opposite everything that I've said above about the nodern d
1 flawless in teams of having every important feature.
2 the piano is perfectly in tune and well prepared for the sessions
3 the close mics have all the roundness and sharpness of the real instrument, a truly masterfully recorded piano

pianow

Calm down, Sofia! 🤣

CyberGene

exactly
when a piano isn't well prepared, you can't do anything with the per note controls
and when the piano is well prepared, the per note controls aren't necessary

besides that i never use this feature, even if i hear some annoying notes while playing

pianow +1

And, most importantly, it sounds match that of a Steinway D, and it's fit for playing.

Now I want to be careful here to not get into digital and acoustic debates, as Pete hangs around and always want to knock me down. But I'll say this -- I've already deleted Garritan CFX and Ivory II American Concert D. Besides the Modern U, this and the Ravenscroft 275 are the only pianos I now actively use on my PC.

CraigNZ Congratulations on your purchase, and I'm glad you are enjoying this virtual instrument. And thanks for the CPU report. Yes, I have lots of things running. My PC isn't just for music, it's for work, study and entertainment… Also, my CPU is a laptop CPU, the performance has been compromised. I guess gaming laptops might have better performance nowadays.

pianow idk but david is a top level pianist, he uses all kinda things while playing, like complex pedaling, resonances, a high polyphony and such

I don't know about "top level pianist," but the rest is all true.

Irmin Really interesting. Thanks for sharing your CPU usage report. Like I said above, I believe my CPU has so-so performance mainly because it's been tuned down for laptop. Even in its full performance level, it's not as robust.

OlivierW Hey, a toggle switch on the interface! Great idea, I'll email them later today to see if this can be done!!! Maybe this can be another thing to test.

Mindbullets You're welcome. I'm glad my demos make sense, and represents how Modern D can function for solo contexts.

David Lai And, most importantly, it sounds match that of a Steinway D, and it's fit for playing.

like some vi control users said : this is the one

David Lai as Pete hangs around and always want to knock me down.

well, he's actually dying because everyone's new favourite virtual piano is a 100% sampled one😄
It's like he's the only one who loves pineapples on a pizza in Italy. but as i said at least he's a funny troll.

David Lai
you are....
you're a top level pianist my friend

pianow I'm humbled. Thank you!

pianow like some vi control users said : this is the one

From a pianist's perspective, I have to agree. 🙂

David Lai From a pianist's perspective, I have to agree.

Okay, let’s forget about who’s the best for a minute (Pianoteq), and pay attention to the bigger picture:

David is indeed an accomplished pianist, and there he is playing demanding repertoire on a good ol’ digital powered by his favorite VST for pennies on the dollar (as compared to the almighty acoustic), and this is very important, because not long ago many described the digital as a toy incapable of inspiring a serious pianist, yet here we are!

Also, let us not forget how much fun, if addictive, it is to discuss, bash, speculate, and/or wait for the next early Christmas (N1XA?); whereas, with the acoustic you get ONE piano (supposedly for life), and other than setting up appointments with a greasy tuner to come into your home and disgrace it, you get none of the added fun factors, and if we’re to equate this to modern living, a machine that does only ONE thing, doesn’t even tease about the next upgrade, is a diva (“I demand a regulation now!”), and costs a bundle upfront & to maintain suddenly doesn’t seem so appealing (yes, I know, “it’s alive,” “a wall of sound,” bla-bla-bla)….IMHO!