Modern D enhancements

Mindbullets · 2025-07-16T21:54:31+00:00

Saw this on VI Control: Hello all. Some exciting news for Modern D owners and I'm here to pass it along on behalf of Vi Labs: We've been working on an update to the Modern D for several months now to fix the various issues that users reported on forums and by email, the official release will come later this Fall most likely. For now we're doing a soft roll-out to address specific issues, but also to release it before our Summer Sale to avoid customers that would buy it now at full price then be angry with us. Also there still could be some more fixes needed before the official release. We fixed the noise build up when playing a lot of notes and/or using extreme EQ or compression. We also enabled the extra Sympathetic Resonance with pedal down playing like we have in our Ravenscroft 275 and Modern U libraries. Plus there are numerous other bug fixes and general improvements, the full change log will be published with the official release this Fall. The new version is available right now in your VI Labs account, it’s the same link, so use our Installer app or the download page to get it. If you want to keep your old version, simply rename it beforehand by adding 'old' to the filename or such. The new version has the same file name, so any DAW projects will load as expected. Custom drawn Gain Curves will have to be made again since they will not load in the new version, but any other setting from your old presets will. *This update requires the latest version of UVI Workstation V4.0.1 or later, or Falcon 3.1.1 or later.

CyberGene

A CFX from VI Labs with all their experience and the mature engine, that would be a dream come true. I’m biased but to me there’s no better acoustic piano than CFX now.

Pete14

CyberGene I’m biased but to me there’s no better acoustic piano than CFX now.

pc-king

I would even be interested in a virtual Pearl River or Kayserburg. After all, it's the largest manufacturer in the world.

David Lai

pc-king wow, you’re bringing Chinese brands into the horizon. Unfortunately as a Chinese person, I have nothing against these Chinese brands, but I much prefer Yamaha or Steinway pianos for the consistency and overall tone quality.

pc-king

OlivierW He used to be a great pianist... In my opinion, Chopin would be turning in his grave (if that's possible without a heart) if he had to hear this.

PASHKULI

pc-king Chopin would be turning in his grave

dickiefunk

The CFX is probably my favourite concert grand as well. I’ve played Steinway D’s, Kawai and Yamaha CFX concert grands. The CFX was my favourite of these followed by the Model D.

I’m currently using NI Noire for a CFX piano and I think you can get very acceptable results after a bit of tweaking. I actually preferred it over the VSL CFX when I was demoing it. However, ViLabs are ahead of everyone else in terms of authentically creating piano sample libraries and to have a CFX of at least the Model-D would be truly wonderful.

David Lai

dickiefunk Well, they've set the bar very high for themselves. It would be interesting how they're going to hit it next.

dickiefunk

David Lai

Agreed!

pc-king

David Lai Listening to all 127 velocities at maximum gain one after the other, the different layers are clearly audible. At C1 I hear 12 layers. A finer gradation would certainly be desirable here. Especially with ppp-mf, I find the gradations too coarse, and I also miss the more metallic sound of fff from 120 onwards. In vel. 2, there is also the error that this note is silent. In addition to the previously suggested improvements to editing (per note, etc.). But we agree that it is already by far the best thing available.

johanibraaten

pc-king He used to be a great pianist... In my opinion, Chopin would be turning in his grave (if that's possible without a heart) if he had to hear this.

I listened to it now and I think it was quite cool. Definitely unorthodox but I don’t really like that piece so it felt refreshing in some way.

CyberGene

johanibraaten I agree, one of my least favorite Chopin works (and Nocturnes in particular) but I think this performance is very interesting and improvisatory which is really refreshing. I doubt Chopin would’ve disapproved, since he himself was known for doing it often. You certainly can’t expect that all these great composers would have played their works always the same way, each time.

pc-king

CyberGene Of course not. And perhaps Chopin played it the same way when he was drunk and had an injured hand.

pc-king

Recently, concert grand pianos have become available where the price difference between virtual and physical models isn't so significant. A new Jibao concert grand piano (275 cm) costs approximately USD 21,000. https://jibaoinstrument.en.made-in-china.com/product/fsJmvFjYfikZ/China-Concert-Piano-Grand-Gp275-Black-Colour-China-Piano-GP275-.html

Jay Lane

pc-king No disrespect but following that link and looking at that piano doesn't inspire confidence. I mean the item has one picture.

johanibraaten

CyberGene You certainly can’t expect that all these great composers would have played their works always the same way, each time.

Most certainly so, and I believe that’s especially true when it comes to Chopin.

HZPiano

OlivierW

Wow, I don't really like the loose (to say the least) timing and strange "adlibs" in this performance…

Cheers!

David Lai

Then what do you think of this? This is one of my favorite unique performances of this nocturne.

CyberGene

David Lai I’ve listened to his Chopin a lot. Koczalski was a student of Karol Mikuli who was the favorite student of Chopin and the first editor of Chopin Works. So, similarly to Alfred Cortot, we can listen recordings of pianists that are as close to Chopin as possible. And indeed, they play freely and often with improvisation and notes that are not in the score. That was pretty common in the late 19th century piano performance. That’s very different than the modern piano performance which follows the score way too literally and strictly.

OlivierW

David Lai Good find for those grumpy minds who think playing the piano is like being a MIDI file.
It shows that the close lineage of Chopin’s favorite students played with sensitivity and intelligent rubato — not like a MIDI file.
And it proves wrong those who claim to know what Chopin would have liked.
Chopin himself improvised and didn’t always play his own pieces the same way, according to historical accounts.
Thank you, David, for this gem.

« Previous Page Next Page »