A brand new Steinway from VSL: 1887 model D concert grand

JonFromMaine

This is nothing at all like the D-274. Universes apart. Much warmer, much closer, and more character/vintage.

It has seemed the most playable to me of any of the VSL libraries I own out of the box, but I am a rank amateur compared to the average user on this forum, so all with a grain of salt.

One interesting note about the presets on this version is that there is almost no overlap in mics between standard and full. It is almost like choosing between mic set A vs mic set B.

I am finding the standard library to be quite sufficient for concert and ambient settings, but I miss the tube and the sphere a lot for player perspectives. As a VSL veteran, I am sure you know what to expect by now from the condensor mics.

It is really hard to find a current library to compare it to as nothing in the lineup really sounds like it. The vintage quality of it makes me sometimes think of the German Upright, but it is nowhere near that level of "character" and it obviously isn't an upright - it seems far more versatile for being used across genres. The presets also significantly change the tone. The VSL site does a good job showing how this instrument can be used in a variety of situations.

OlivierW

Hi Olivier,

I see you have added clarification into the folder as to what everything is (perhaps in response to my question on Pianoworld) and now I can see those are Logic patches, and I see you have also added Gigperformer versions of the Modern D patches.

Could you add Gigperformer versions of the VSL patches as well? I don't have Logic and it would be wonderful to be able to use your customized patches as a non-logic user.

mducharme The patches (sample + modeling) for the VSL 1887 and VSL D-274 pianos — made for Gig Performer 5.1.4 PRO — do not work in Essentials, because they rely on a MIDI script that disables VSL’s sustain behavior.

These patches are ready to use, but you’ll need:
• the corresponding VSL pianos, and
• at least the Standard or Pro edition of Pianoteq 9, which allows fully playable resonances with re-pedaling and true sympathetic resonance.

I’m a Logic Pro user on Mac, but I created these GIG PERFORMER/VST3 version presets especially for you tonight.

Tozen

i know this is probably inappropriate, but since i cannot test it for myself due to my very busy life, can you send some playing samples of yourself? i'm especially interested in the second and third close mics with no reverb (and also not combined/mixed), i completely understand if you don't wanna do it, thanks anyway

but if you did, please showcase the sustain of some of the 5th octave notes, cause that's where most synchron pianos are horrible

OlivierW Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. I already have Pianoteq 9 standard.

mducharme
I’ll update the Gig Performer presets later today (For VSL D-274 and STEINWAY 1887 - both — they’ll be much better.
wait and see... 🙂 (it will improve the missing features in VSL Software : VSL : great piano / recording, but Software ....)

mducharme https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/0i2wton7fgcf90461k1dt/h?rlkey=ry3iuzwbwvy6bog832f1k8z7p&st=4jhkmks1&dl=0

V3.33 updated :

I also recommend adding the Waves L4 Ultramaximizer on the output stage —
it’s perfect for transparent piano enhancement and low latency, keeping the dynamics natural while reaching around –14 LUFS,
ideal for live optimization or streaming platforms such as YouTube, which target –14 LUFS loudness normalization.

Regards,

Olivier W. Frappier

pianow

Hey PianoW! Forgive me, but I am also pretty slammed right now, so I don't think I have space for this at the moment. However, Simeon from Praisetracks is scheduled to do his live stream on YouTube soon and he will likely do this far better than I would 🙂

OlivierW Thank you so much yet again! I got the previous versions working last night just fine, but I will now download your updated versions. Much appreciated!

I've been trying this out today and do quite like this piano from VSL and it has a really nice character. It plays much nicer than the other VSL pianos I tried and the samples seem to have way less hiss.

However there is no way I can justify £379 for the full version! Even with educational discount it costs almost triple what I paid for ViLabs Modern-D! Whilst the VSL concert D 1887 piano does have a nice vintage character, it is not on the same level as Modern-D which is considerably cheaper! I'm now considering the ViLabs Modern-U for an upright option.

dickiefunk I may be wrong, but I am not sure whether you are aware of the fact that the source for the "Studio Concert D 1887" is an actual piano from 1887. It has been preserved in a way that a historically accurate restoration has been possible at all - and in that it is an actual instrument.

It took months of preparation of the piano in terms of regulation and voicing, getting new hammer replicas just for the sampling session and a lot of back and forth between VSL and me to actually have the Una Corda sampled separately.

Whatever ways other products on the market went to achieve their results, I am pretty confident that both VSL and clavierhaus went a lot more than just one extra mile to give you something that is completely unique.

Different from all the modeled VSTs out there, you can simply give me a call and arrange for the unique opportunity of playing the actual piano in real. This 1887 D (S/N 62523) exists, resides in my studio in Vienna and can actually be played and be rented for special occasions.

I am curious to learn what other VST providers tell you when you inquire about the serial number of their "D" and whether you can play it at some place upon making an appointment.

clavierhaus The only other Steinway library I know that does exhibit their Steinway serial number is Modern D. The Steinway used has the serial number 616803. However, I don't know where they sampled the instrument, or where it lives now. I got the serial number from their product website.

616803:

"Congratulations, this Steinway is so new that it has not yet been added to our online system. "

Maybe one digit too too much due to fat fingers. And if it was supposed to read 60103, then it's not the real deal, because that's a B residing in my home in Vienna.

Tozen

my dear friend, i shouldn't have asked in the first place but since i'm extremely rude i did it lol, i'll watch simeon then 🙂

clavierhaus this piano is a blessing for sure, thank you again, i wish you collab with vsl again, like i'm pretty sure there's a B211 in your possession so that can be a good "next move", especially because people have been tearing at vsl for not sampling a steinway b (in their stage b)

the d 1887 stands out on so many levels, regulation, preparation and tuning is top notch, the una corda sounds very good and it's still very dynamic,

so i believe vsl should just continue working with you people 🙂 their last few releases weren't good at all and most of the problem were in the preparation phase, like the second octave on the f212 sounds dead and muddy where the rest of its octaves are fine, there are dynamically limited notes on the f308 and some out of tune ones on the cfx,

there's none of that in the d 1887, so i'm extremely grateful, and i'm sure a modern steinway b211 would be awesome 🙂

pianow there's none of that in the d 1887, so i'm extremely grateful, and i'm sure a modern steinway b211 would be awesome

My Steinway B211 is even 1 year older than the D. And it has taken me 4 years and a lot of effort to bring it from sad to awesome.

[

clavierhaus "Congratulations, this Steinway is so new that it has not yet been added to our online system. "

Well, it was made in 2021 or 22 or something like that. On their website it said that when they sampled it, the Steinway was 2 years old. So you're right, it's a new D.

clavierhaus You do play very beautifully too. It's rare that musicians get to work with sample library makers, I think this is a great start.

clavierhaus

wow so you're all into historical pianos, that's just cool, i'm watching simeon playing the d 1887 RN and mayn, it sounds wonderful, i don't think there's anything like it on the market, i mean it, i used to like the tone of embertone steinway but this one just beats that in everyway, thank you again, i love your work man.

I downloaded the demo and played with it today.

Below is a link to three recordings (mistakes aplenty - beware!)

I recorded it using the condenser mic solo (no reverb, no ambience) then re-rendered it with sphere mic solo and tube mic solo. So there's one "identical" recording soloing each of the three mics.