Thank you, David! We need reviews from you, the everyday musician's perspective as well, so highly welcome! And thanks for even mentioning me in the end, haha. Yes, it's my go-to practice VST.
Thanks David. We also need your demonstrations so we can see what the piano is really capable of at the highest level of playing. I appreciate you brother. God bless.
Hi. The speakers I have are Genelec 8050's and are really nice. They reproduce a very accurate frequency response of the original audio with good bass extension. Headphones color the sound a bit and I use them mostly when I don't want to disturb others with my playing. I normally record in the evening or night when others are sleeping.
Thank you so much for discussing Modern D. I purchased it yesterday and am looking forward to trying it. I was so interested to hear your thoughts on it
Thanks for this nice demo, but I can't help finding this sound rather electronic and not natural at all. I did not try listening to your demo with headphones but through my notebook speakers, I do not find this sound any better than Pianoteq. I do not understand why so many people rave about this VST. Soundwise, the best sampled Steinway D still is the Vintage D. I made all my recordings with that one, although it is quite jumpy and diffcult to control and comes with a very hard attack. Maybe the perfect VST will never exist.
You might want to consider listening to the demos on the VI Labs website if you haven't already. They will probably give you a better idea of the sound given the style and selection of songs.
Hello David. I am trying to decide between VSL Fazioli 308 (which I know you love) and this new Modern D from VI Labs. I admire VSL dedication to programming the Piano Robot, allowing to sample to an extent impossible to mere mortal, plus their Stage A and expertise, though VI Labs appears to have taken a great stride in realism, for example in the sustain pedal, in their walkthrough it looks (sounds!) amazing. Is there some problem with maybe half-pedaling or super fast staccato (I know sampled pianos sometimes have trouble with both, I have NOIRE which is ferrari when it comes to speed, but with Kontakt it is a wrecked ferrari when it comes to pedalling) with Fazioli or Modern D? I just love the balance of Fazioli, is like magic when you can so smoothly flow from first octave to the last, truly harp-like. But I also wonder if this new VI Labs isn't the next level, and then should be considered, if they overcame some problems VSL might have been still struggling with few years ago? Maybe you also are aware of some updates to Fazioli, which would make me trust in it regardless of some (scarce and at least partly misguided and likely derived from poor technical understanding of editing - but nevertheless still existing) opinions on some piano forums? Which would you recomend? Can I jump into Fazioli with pure heart? Or is Modern D a revelation? Kindest regards,
Hi. I do like both pianos and I was just playing/comparing both today. It's hard to be objective because I just got the Modern D and it's the new toy for now. The Fazioli has an overall cleaner sound and a more harp like quality to it, but the Modern D sounds, plays, and behaves more like a real piano. Real sympathetic resonances, pedal resonances, una corda samples, and the versatile sound of a Steinway concert grand. If I had to choose just one today, I'd go with the Modern D simply for the realism worked into their samples and scripting. Although, I do like the Synchron Piano software better than UVI (Modern D). There are a few notes on the modern D I wish I could edit (make them a bit louder). VSL has single note editing while VI Labs doesn't. However, the Modern D is so playable and ready out of the package that it doesn't need much adjustment at all. The Modern D just seems to be further along in the evolutionary development of virtual pianos. I'm sure VSL is looking to improve, but for now, they are one step behind VI Labs. I'd go with the Modern D.
@@Comfort_One_Another I see.... So Fazioli has no sympathetic resonances? They say on their site that: "You may also adjust the volume of (...) sympathetic strings..." - but these are not "real" sympathetic resonances? As in, they are modelled? Or maybe just don't feel as organic as the ones on VI Labs? Is it the case with the una corda as well? I think the Fazioli's fourth pedal is meant to work in tandem with the una corda pedal, so that seems an odd choice in that particular piano. But do they sound any good, the una corda modified/stylized (and not real) samples in that Fazioli? Also, to further expand on my inquiry, I want to have, most importantly, a beautiful piano sound, with ability to realistically play with the sustain pedal, I think that's what I will only end up doing. In case of pure sound design and composition, and not pianissimo designing a library to >play< and not to just >compose
@@artvrrvtra5235 There is really no comparison if you're looking for realistic resonances both string and pedal. Again, no comparison if you're looking for real una corda function. The Modern D has it all and it's scripted for great playability. The individual note samples on the VSL F308 sound great, but everything else is simulated. Most users I'm familiar with don't use the simulated sympathetic resonance feature because it sounds unnatural. The una corda and fourth pedals are just volume attenuators. No realism compared to an actual concert grand. VSL might be working to improve those areas, but until they do, VI Labs is in the lead with the Modern D. It sounds like those features are important to you, therefore, I'd look more closely at the Modern D as an option. See if you like the overall tone and voicing. It has a very recognizable and common sound being a Steinway. It's very versatile. The F308 is very unique and I love the way the bass notes sound on it. Very clear. It really boils down to what features are most important to you. David Lai - who did the demos for VI Labs Modern D - is a classical pianist and the features we talked about are essential for him in a practice piano in order to prepare for concerts/recitals. I'm just a ham-fisted intermediate pianist that mostly plays simple gospel music. Therefore, the features we talked about aren't essential for me and that's one of the reasons I can get by just fine with the F308.
Thank you, David! We need reviews from you, the everyday musician's perspective as well, so highly welcome! And thanks for even mentioning me in the end, haha. Yes, it's my go-to practice VST.
Thanks David. We also need your demonstrations so we can see what the piano is really capable of at the highest level of playing. I appreciate you brother. God bless.
Do you prefer speakers or headphones for vst playing David? Thanks for the review and demo, pianoworld member 😊
Hi. The speakers I have are Genelec 8050's and are really nice. They reproduce a very accurate frequency response of the original audio with good bass extension. Headphones color the sound a bit and I use them mostly when I don't want to disturb others with my playing. I normally record in the evening or night when others are sleeping.
I wonder how it compares to vsl steinway
Thanks for the video
Sounds great davidd. I find myself turning the tone knob up a little bit for extra brightness. My favorite mics are player-side-close combo
Thank you so much for discussing Modern D. I purchased it yesterday and am looking forward to trying it. I was so interested to hear your thoughts on it
Cool. I like the All Around Clean preset. That's what I'm currently using with some slight modifications.
Thanks David, you made it shine! 🤩
Thank you.
it feels easy to play, easier then most vis you reviewed so far, sound... surprisingly like a real steinway d😂
great vid David❤
Thanks.. It is easy to play and doesn't seem to require much adjustment out of the box.
Thanks for this nice demo, but I can't help finding this sound rather electronic and not natural at all. I did not try listening to your demo with headphones but through my notebook speakers, I do not find this sound any better than Pianoteq. I do not understand why so many people rave about this VST. Soundwise, the best sampled Steinway D still is the Vintage D. I made all my recordings with that one, although it is quite jumpy and diffcult to control and comes with a very hard attack. Maybe the perfect VST will never exist.
You might want to consider listening to the demos on the VI Labs website if you haven't already. They will probably give you a better idea of the sound given the style and selection of songs.
Hello David.
I am trying to decide between VSL Fazioli 308 (which I know you love) and this new Modern D from VI Labs.
I admire VSL dedication to programming the Piano Robot, allowing to sample to an extent impossible to mere mortal, plus their Stage A and expertise,
though VI Labs appears to have taken a great stride in realism, for example in the sustain pedal, in their walkthrough it looks (sounds!) amazing.
Is there some problem with maybe half-pedaling or super fast staccato (I know sampled pianos sometimes have trouble with both, I have NOIRE which is ferrari when it comes to speed, but with Kontakt it is a wrecked ferrari when it comes to pedalling) with Fazioli or Modern D?
I just love the balance of Fazioli, is like magic when you can so smoothly flow from first octave to the last, truly harp-like.
But I also wonder if this new VI Labs isn't the next level, and then should be considered, if they overcame some problems VSL might have been still struggling with few years ago?
Maybe you also are aware of some updates to Fazioli, which would make me trust in it regardless of some (scarce and at least partly misguided and likely derived from poor technical understanding of editing - but nevertheless still existing) opinions on some piano forums?
Which would you recomend?
Can I jump into Fazioli with pure heart? Or is Modern D a revelation?
Kindest regards,
Hi. I do like both pianos and I was just playing/comparing both today. It's hard to be objective because I just got the Modern D and it's the new toy for now. The Fazioli has an overall cleaner sound and a more harp like quality to it, but the Modern D sounds, plays, and behaves more like a real piano. Real sympathetic resonances, pedal resonances, una corda samples, and the versatile sound of a Steinway concert grand. If I had to choose just one today, I'd go with the Modern D simply for the realism worked into their samples and scripting. Although, I do like the Synchron Piano software better than UVI (Modern D). There are a few notes on the modern D I wish I could edit (make them a bit louder). VSL has single note editing while VI Labs doesn't. However, the Modern D is so playable and ready out of the package that it doesn't need much adjustment at all. The Modern D just seems to be further along in the evolutionary development of virtual pianos. I'm sure VSL is looking to improve, but for now, they are one step behind VI Labs. I'd go with the Modern D.
@@Comfort_One_Another I see....
So Fazioli has no sympathetic resonances? They say on their site that: "You may also adjust the volume of (...) sympathetic strings..." - but these are not "real" sympathetic resonances? As in, they are modelled? Or maybe just don't feel as organic as the ones on VI Labs?
Is it the case with the una corda as well? I think the Fazioli's fourth pedal is meant to work in tandem with the una corda pedal, so that seems an odd choice in that particular piano. But do they sound any good, the una corda modified/stylized (and not real) samples in that Fazioli?
Also, to further expand on my inquiry, I want to have, most importantly, a beautiful piano sound, with ability to realistically play with the sustain pedal,
I think that's what I will only end up doing.
In case of pure sound design and composition, and not pianissimo designing a library to >play< and not to just >compose
@@artvrrvtra5235 There is really no comparison if you're looking for realistic resonances both string and pedal. Again, no comparison if you're looking for real una corda function. The Modern D has it all and it's scripted for great playability. The individual note samples on the VSL F308 sound great, but everything else is simulated. Most users I'm familiar with don't use the simulated sympathetic resonance feature because it sounds unnatural. The una corda and fourth pedals are just volume attenuators. No realism compared to an actual concert grand. VSL might be working to improve those areas, but until they do, VI Labs is in the lead with the Modern D. It sounds like those features are important to you, therefore, I'd look more closely at the Modern D as an option. See if you like the overall tone and voicing. It has a very recognizable and common sound being a Steinway. It's very versatile. The F308 is very unique and I love the way the bass notes sound on it. Very clear. It really boils down to what features are most important to you. David Lai - who did the demos for VI Labs Modern D - is a classical pianist and the features we talked about are essential for him in a practice piano in order to prepare for concerts/recitals. I'm just a ham-fisted intermediate pianist that mostly plays simple gospel music. Therefore, the features we talked about aren't essential for me and that's one of the reasons I can get by just fine with the F308.