VI Labs: Modern U Review

RIP vagfilm or decrease/increase volume per key

In fact, there is a midi command for note volume, from 0 to 127, and by default it is set at the fixed value of 100. But it can be changed on the fly... So, for example, in the VSL D274 the higher velocities are a bit aggressive in metallic timbre; so, I decreased the mapping so it does not enter that top range of samples, and I compensate for that by increasing the volume in those velocities. You need to go back and forth to adjust it properly, but this is an alternative way of increasing dynamic range: mapping key velocities to different sample AND volume curve. I have been playing with linear mapping of 0-127 velocities onto 90-110 in volume. The effect is nice. And you can do that by key, so that bass notes have volume range 90-120, while shrill treble notes have range 90-105 in order to keep glasses intact.

vagfilm there is a midi command for note volume, from 0 to 127

It's been a while since I did look at those detail, are you saying that's a per-note volume? I seem to remember only global volume, not per-note volume. A quick search did not provide me with the answer ☹️

RIP
Yes, it is a CC#7 message, not a parameter in the note-on message, so it is universal. What I do in my tool is that each note-on event results in two messages: a CC#7 setting the volume (depending on the note velocity), and a second message with the actual parameters of the note-on event (note, channel, velocity, time=0).

vagfilm Yes, it is a CC#7 message, not a parameter in the note-on message, so it is universal. What I do in my tool is that each note-on event results in two messages: a CC#7 setting the volume (depending on the note velocity), and a second message with the actual parameters of the note-on event (note, channel, velocity, time=0).

Ah, I see, so it's a trick of yours to hijack the global volume as only for a specific note by changing it right before and right after. Quite astute!

BTW, forgot to mention something I was pleasantly surprised about. I was pretty sure the piano would not be Apple Silicon compatible and would run through Rosetta 2 translation. Well, it's M1-native and runs ultra smooth 🙂 I was able to configure the lowest possible buffer size of 16 which is just crazy and didn't have any audio glitches.

vagfilm What I do in my tool

Hello,

This is quite interesting, and might be of use for @johanibraaten too.

So, the way you defined this, the CC#007 only affects the next note that is played, and not anything that is already sounding at that moment?

In fact, what you propose on a per-key basis is the same as what I attempted to accomplish with Modern U's 'Bend' knobs: velocity curve somewhat more concave, gain curve somewhat more convex (in fact, less concave). That of course applies to all 88 keys, and although a good usable result, yet not fully towards what I was looking for.

Therefore, I was also thinking about intercepting the MIDI messages with per-key corrections, however, wasn't aware of CC#007, so couldn't see how to affect timbre without affecting gain (volume). Which resulted in discarding the idea -- having too much to do as it is already.

So do keep us posted!

Cheers and happy fine-tuning,

HZ

CyberGene Well, it's M1-native and runs ultra smooth 🙂 I was able to configure the lowest possible buffer size of 16 which is just crazy and didn't have any audio glitches.

Cool. My new Mac Pro should be here next week. Can't wait to have the Modern U available at church.

God Bless,
David

HZPiano CC#007, so couldn't see how to affect timbre without affecting gain (volume)

Hi David: it's the opposite - with CC#7 you control volume (gain) without significantly affecting the note character (timbre). I only go as far as ~ 10 % in overall change in gain in a range of velocities, to keep the effect under control without too much "jumpiness".

I have not tested thoroughly, but I assume that CC#7 affects everything that is sounding at the moment in a given MIDI instrument (it is a controller for any volume knob). You can set CC#7 events per midi channel, so it will not affect other instruments in backing tracks, I hope. Moreover, since the (small) change in volume is applied simultaneous with a new sounding note, psychophysically I do not perceive a change in volume on the previous decaying notes, although it is probably happening and it may become counterproductive in some circumstances... Experience will tell. And AFAIK, CC#1 would to the same but since in some applications people may already use CC#1 while CC#7 is almost forgotten, I prefer CC#7...

I think that @johanibraaten mentioned having bought VelPro, which a very good and comprehensive program to manipulate velocity curves, and it is able to do exactly this. The difference between my tool and VelPro is 40 USD, customer support, and good quality vs "whatever-works-well-enough" 😀

vagfilm Hi David

Hello,

Me not David 😉.

Thanks for your further explanation!

Being the purist that I am, I probably wouldn't want the overall volume of already sounding notes/resonances etc. fluctuating with each newly played note.

I really wish there was a solution, though, for having a per-key independent velocity-to-timbre and velocity-to-gain curve/adjustment/influence.

I do salute VI Labs for having separate curves for timbre and gain, that already works very usefully. If that was expanded to per-key adjustments, that would be perfect.

Cheers and happy playing,

HZ

HZPiano do salute VI Labs for having separate curves for timbre and gain, that already works very usefully. If that was expanded to per-key adjustments, that would be perfect.

Yep. I've gotten spoiled with VSL's user interface. Individual note gain/volume adjustment is very helpful with some of their libraries (280VC). I could get way more out of the Modern U if it had those adjustments.

God Bless,
David

David B Individual note gain/volume adjustment is very helpful with some of their libraries (280VC).

Isn't that common to all synchron pianos? The 280VC has more controls?
Anyway, what the VSL (and others) don't have is the possibility of applying changes according to combinations: ie, use velocity AND note to apply a gain (volume) adjustment.
I will try to find some time during the weekend to run some tests and will post.

vagfilm Isn't that common to all synchron pianos? The 280VC has more controls?

It's a common feature in their software. I just find it more necessary with the 280VC. Not so much with the Bösendorfer Imperial.

God Bless,
David

Well, as we say in Bulgaria, "you can't carry an awl in a cloth bag", meaning I can't wait until my vacation and decided to record something with the Modern U. I made my own patch by mixing two of the microphones, applying some EQ to tame down the highs, using custom half-pedal values to avoid the abrupt pedaling (it's pretty good now!), etc and then recorded a Scriabin piece I'm currently learning and still playing from the score and towards the end it's too sloppy and I'm dragging it too much while seeking for the notes... And because I've been so busy at work, I have a total of 1 hour at the piano for the last 2 weeks 🙁

Anyway, here's the recording:

CyberGene I'm dragging it too much while seeking for the notes...

You're being too harsh on you. I am often sloppy, dragging it too much and seeking for the notes myself -- if in that condition I were playing 10% of the quality you are playing, I'd consider myself and accomplished pianist.

On the sound, I can't comment because the kids have taken all the headphones and left me only with computer speakers for now (I could use the NU1 speakers, but I'd need to boot another computer and don't have time now). If you ever record this same piece again with another virtual piano, please share so we can compare apples-to-apples.

In any case, thanks for sharing!

CyberGene decided to record something with the Modern U.

Very beautiful song and nicely played.

I'm curious, since you grew up playing an upright, does the Modern U provide the illusion of actually sitting behind an upright when you're playing it?

In my limited experience, it seems to me that there wouldn't be much difference playing the Modern U compared to an actual Yamaha U3. Of course, I could be way off, that's why I'm interested in your experienced opinion.

God Bless,
David

David B it’s a very familiar experience indeed. My upright is a rather short one and doesn’t sound as rich and “in tune”. If a real U3 sounds as good as the Modern U, I’d love to have one.

That being said it’s an upright sound and I prefer Garritan CFX for those commercial-grade polished grand piano recordings 😉

CyberGene That being said it’s an upright sound and I prefer Garritan CFX for those commercial-grade polished grand piano recordings 😉

Yeah, I prefer the full bass response of VSL's Bösenderfer Imperial over the diminished bass of the Modern U upright sound, but in terms of realism, I give the Modern U the advantage because it doesn't have to reproduce the massive power of a concert grand (which is hard/impossible) to do with speakers. However, reproducing the realism of an upright can be more convincing with good speakers.

God Bless,
David

To all of you out there, better pianists than me (easy feat, so nothing to brag about😊): are there technical characteristics (pedaling, staccato, light notes, ???) that are better captured in the Modern U compared to garritan cfx or synchron engine?

My turn to share experience.

Use case: play in the headphones, as similar as it gets to the actual upright I'm sitting in front of (Petrof P118).

Mission almost accomplished. It's of course a totally different instrument, but sounds like an upright. In my memory, U3 was like a whole lot bigger and much more powerful, but probably it's not fair to compare an instrument to its recording played over the headphones.

Here my settings, should anyone be interested:

Velocity curve is the default one, just the bend on the gain response is set to 0.1

Cheers

Mike

vagfilm

I also own the Garritan CFX, but it's a huge grand, not really comparable to Modern U.

Sitting in front of an upright, a captured upright feels more real in all regards😀

Garritan CFX sounds too funny, to play scales and the whole theoretical stuff on, couldn't stop laughing, so switched to Modern U.