My Desert Island Piano VST - VI Labs Modern D

_sem_ After a while of testing Modern D and some others I've noticed that Modern D works with Windows audio better than most others, that tend to crackle without ASIO4all. As if it had sth like ASIO4all built in? The achievable reported latency around 3 ms feels okay for me, while the default 10 ms isn't.

So I'd say that add-on ASIO like ASIO4all does make a difference (if a proper ASIO driver is not available) with other VSTs that handle winodows audio "averagely".

I found another factory ASIO driver for the built-in Realtek card which is supposed to be a "proper" ASIO driver (came with a Realtek driver for some Dell model) which kind-of works but it appears that changing the latency isn't effective, so ASIO4all is better.

Just found out there is a generic Steinberg ASIO driver for devices that don't have their own for Windows (since Dec 2024) but I haven't tested it yet, not sure if better than ASIO4all

I've checked the latency unscientifically with the modern D (and some others) and the Dell-built-in Realtek soundcard on one ear and the built-in Roland engine on the other.

With ASIO4all and 3ms buffer I don't notice any latency, 10ms slight.

With Windows audio and 3ms buffer slight, 10ms more noticeable. Exclusive and low-latency modes more noticeable.

Steinberg ASIO also has more noticeable latency, buffer not adjustable.

I'm going to post in this dead thread just to say I started using Modern D recently and I really love it. I am spending tons of time playing just to enjoy the sound of it. It sounds a lot like the D's that I've heard in person, and, most importantly, is super responsive and feels so good to play on. It was @David Lai 's enthusiasm (and excellent recordings) that convinced me to try it, so I just wanted to say thank you!!

ignaz Well, thank you! I'm glad to hear that my demos have led you to Modern D. I've long thought of the music that would best demonstrate the piano, so I'm glad my examples makes sense.

Happy playing!

You can never have too many posts about Modern D on pianoclack lol. Glad you are liking it! I also really appreciated David's videos when I was picking it up. I have them as part of my work piano playlist and cycle through periodically. I usually enjoy listening to music by people here and other forums… it is nice to be in the community and get inspired!

Tozen Wow, thank you! I have little to give, but thanks for your appreciation!

brahms3.mp3

Snippet of piece I'm currently learning. The bass in this library can really blow your hair back!!

ignaz Oh yes!!! Put the hammer mics and either the side or room mics together, and you get a full gang of bass!!!

pianow I am many years late here, but the noise in garritan and vsl are easily managable if you use the correct tools and techniques

locture Well, they've reduced the noise on Modern D, so all good.

David Lai VILabs does an excellent job managing noise in the 1.1 update. But even if they didn't (like in Garritan), users could still get rid of those noise by themselves. It's a fairly easy job through a dynamic EQ.

locture dynamic eq will hurt resonances and release tails unless the noise has very narrow frequency range.

Vlad Every denoise process does this, it's unavoidable. Using the dynamic eq wisely (i.e. as expander than compressor) can minimize the risk.

Hey all...I just bought the noire VST and am having problems EQing it to sound the way I want. Reading and watching reviews of the modern D gives me some FOMO but i'd love to be able to hear one of my songs done with the modern D (just the basic preset) so I can compare it to the noire before dropping $250 more bucks...

is that a thing that people do here who have the VST? it would be much appreciated (i'm obviously brand new as a poster). or should I be posting this somewhere else?

file is in this google drive folder https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Qf3pZD2BYd-u7DE7JctDkw6qhbD6EFYT?usp=sharing and the folder is editable so if you did the rendering you could drop the mp3/wav right there

thanks,

-mark

Mark Johnson and in case anyone is interested, in the google drive there is a mp3 of the noire version ('basic pure' preset and to be fair, does have some EQ/effects added in logic as well as some tweaks to the noire settings beyond the default settings from the 'basic pure' preset)

Mark Johnson Hi Mark, and welcome to the forum.

I made a version, I just don't know how to drop it into your shared folder, so it's here for you for a limited time. Let me know if you've downloaded it.

I used the "all around clean" preset, and you're hearing the close position, the U87 mics.

Good luck,

David

David Lai - Thank you so much!

I REALLY appreciate you doing that (and so quick!).

And wow sounds great...It will be interesting for me to now be able to compare sound for sound on my own (rough) performance!

Gratefully,

-Mark

Hello,

@Mark Johnson In case it is of any interest to you, I once made this thread:

#334

That was over four years ago, I don't use nor have Noire anymore, so I'm afraid I can't answer any specific questions about it anymore.

Noire is fun, however (if the source piano fits your preferences) VI Labs' quality is several levels better.

Cheers!

HZ

Mark Johnson I put in some files in your share and also put David's rendition in a folder with his name.

One of the files is Noire with my settings, can you guess which?

Now that you have all these files, can you rank them?

dikrek emailed you before I saw forum post, so this is a copy of my reply:

Oh wow thanks Dimitris for all those versions. Now I am really curious which VIs these are. 🙂

My gut reaction thoughts to the versions:

phoebe 1 - very pure sounding piano with some resonance and brightness (i like more than 3)

phoebe 2 - i like more than 1, still has character but less resonance and a mellowness (i'm guessing this is Noire. I think one thing that might have given it away was the pianist noise, which I THINK I recognize, but I also just like this one sonically

Phoebe 3 - bright, resonant, “hollow”?

Phoebe 4- i think i like this one second best to phoebe 2. mellow (perhaps on the muddy side but i realize that could be over pedaling)

So in order, my preference:

2,4,1,3 

HZPiano Very cool, I'm going to check that out. Thanks! I'll take any help I can get.

Interestingly I am coming around to the sound of the Noire (I do think I like it's 'character') but getting it right certainly seems like it's a finicky beast, like a high performance vehicle you have to tinker with to get juuuust so.

But also good to get your opinion that the D is several levels better.