The Best Steinway D Sample Library? VI Labs Modern D Review 🎶🎹

[@richardpenrose1968]

That's for sharing this excellent walkthrough. The Modern-D is now on my Christmas list. My go-to's have been NI Noire and PianoTeq. I have tried or owned most other piano sample libraries including the ones from VSL and this one really stands out. It's great to hear this library doesn't have the swelling noise floor issue that the VSL pianos and some of the other multi mic piano libraries that I've tried as that really put me off those libraries for solo piano recordings.

[@HenryNewbury]

Amen about the noise floor, pianoteq is definitely at a massive advantage from square one there. Noire is brilliant, and the spectral engine thingy is fantastically fun. Seems mad that the VSL libraries have that issue at such a high cost, but maybe something more modern processing is better able to handle?!

[@richardpenrose1968]

@ Yes totally agree about the VSL noise floor. I can’t believe such an expensive premium product has so much hiss build ups. Really looking forward to getting hold of Modern-D at some point,e point soon. I will probably add NI Claire to Noire at some point as well.

[@YoungsPiano]

A wonderful demo video, Henry! Your playing was so beautiful. Now I'm interested in modern D

[@HenryNewbury]

Ah thanks so much :)) happy playing!!! 😌

[@ChrisCadenhead]

Yes. Yea it is the best to date. (I’ve played them all since Ivory I came out)

[@djodjchannel8212]

Hello Chris. Compared to Synthogy Ivory 3 American D, which one do you prefer ? Thanks !

[@IvoryBuBu88]

different genre, professionly played; this is the best showcase of a pianovst; bought it immediately after hearing rachmaninoff and tiny dancer

[@HenryNewbury]

Ah honestly thanks so much, I super appreciate you saying! I hope you have the best time with it!!! ☺️☺️☺️

[@tontouchapol]

30:00 What song did you play on Solo New Age Ambient? It's just beautiful!

[@jackieclark8253]

Nice playing!! I have both as well, and I feel the Modern D has better release samples overall. I also love the use of multiple mics for each position to get different nuances of the piano in Modern D. Also, to get the best realism I purchased the Roland triple pedal....this makes the piano come to life even more! I'd recommend getting the triple pedal to all players with this software!

[@HenryNewbury]

Ah triple pedals are brilliant - fortunately the RD800 I use has three or 4 regular pedal inputs so you can just use two third party pedals for sustain and una corda which is handily versatile! Having so many mic positions and a 3 channel mixer is so nice, but the player 414's are just 👌👌

[@jackieclark8253]

Very cool! I’m using the A88 MKll midi controller with the Roland triple pedal. The A88 has the 3 inputs for it as well! 👍🏾👍🏾

[@JCON631]

Gotta love the "D" 😀😉

[@hz7984]

Hello Henry, This is one of the most authentic and charming reviews (of anything) that I've seen so far. Highly enjoyable, thank you! Also, rest assured that your explanations along the way are spot on, no need to weave apologies in! There aren't that many reviewers that explain the details correctly, often those are hits-and-misses at best. By the way, so far the Modern U is my one and only piano (for actual playing at home) and I'm a real fan of the thoroughness, quality and authenticity of the works by VI Labs. They really started to hit the ball with the introduction of Modern U. Maybe they even hit out of of the park with the D, for me, I don't need it for some time to come. I share your longing for a great, well rounded Yamaha or, for me, Bösendorfer 225. Done by VI Labs of course. Cheers and keep up the good work, HZ

[@HenryNewbury]

Hey HZ!!! Thanks so much for such a detailed message! I really appreciate the kind words and glad that it's helpful :) Also very glad you are enjoying the piano too! I don't know so much about Bösendorfers - tried the trial VSL library and liked that a bit, though I'm not super familiar with Bösendorfer sound. I do remember hearing Valentia Lisitsa play one once in a video and it was stunning so maybe something I should revisit 😛 I wonder if we can make a joint suggestion to VI Labs for a Yamaha ;) ahaha

[@DJIncendration]

​@@HenryNewbury I actually have an amazing Yamaha piano library: Production Voices 300 Grand. It's a wonderful Yamaha CFX piano, with up to 36 velocities for pedal up and down samples. Nine controllable mic perspectives are included, half pedaling and repedaling (or catch pedaling as they call it) are supported, and it's for the free Kontakt Player.

[@pocouturier]

bro i just discovered you but you are an absolutely incredible player. do you have any video of you just improvising and playing for like an hour long?

[@HenryNewbury]

Ah mate thanks so much! ♥️ Made my day :)) done a few livestreams that were about an hour 😅😛 shall do more!

[@markfowlermusic]

You don’t get any latency with headphones so it doesn’t matter what you set buffer size to… also you are one of the best players I’ve listened to you are an outstanding musician don’t put yourself down.

[@HenryNewbury]

Ah it may be my misunderstanding how latency and buffer sizes work! And thanks so much Mark, that means a lot!!! ☺️

[@justin1603]

In short The vlabs modern d iw indeed the best vst piano

[@HenryNewbury]

👀👀👀 maybe so! (Definitely imo for a grand piano sound compared to others I've tried!)

[@bgamer251]

btw I've been waiting for something like this ever since I got my piano..

[@HenryNewbury]

It's such a good sound! It seems so silly to review a sound ahahaha but I guess not if you're going to spend most days playing it for years 😛

[@drewaustin]

How does this compare to the new Native instruments Claire vst? Both sound great

[@HenryNewbury]

I haven't tried NI's Claire yet, but I've heard good things. Pretty sure off the top of my head it's a Steinway D too, and I think Ivory has a new Steinway out too. Definitely lots of new stuff on the market. The VI Control forums seem to sway toward the Modern D but I'd have to get back to you!

[@DMCPraiseSoundOficial]

Versus IVORY 3 STWINWAY D?

[@HenryNewbury]

Not yet tried! If I can get a hold of a copy I'll let you know!

[@DMCPraiseSoundOficial]

@HenryNewbury excelente

[@bgamer251]

Hi!!! New video

[@-musiclee-]

Henry. You prefer this Model D over Noire ? And how about the new Claire?

[@گلنوشناظمی]

i bought the Claire a few days ago and it's not a very good piano for players, it doesn't have half pedaling and sostenuto pedal, and its resonances are wired but a very good production piano cause it sounds great, but nothing to be compared to the modern d, the MD is a revolutionary piano vi😊

[@acoustistudio]

@@گلنوشناظمی thanks, and how about the Noire? and spectrasonics pianos?

[@گلنوشناظمی]

@@acoustistudio noire is a good one, not of course as good and realistic as the vilabs modern series but still a very good piano, the spectrasonics keyscape is a great all rounder as well but not very good for players, it doesn't support any professional pedaling and resonance effects, so it's more of a production tool.

[@HenryNewbury]

Over Noire I honestly do, however saying that the Noire is brilliant. The particle engine is stunning, which the Modern D obviously doesn't have, but in terms of pure piano sound, the Modern D feels like it has more to give - plus more mic positions and customisation.

[@HenryNewbury]

Ah! Haven't tried the Claire yet! Will report back 👀

[@Ankerre]

Hi Henry, tell me, how many hours are you practicing a day - your playing just gets better and better!! Well done.

[@HenryNewbury]

Ah thanks so much Ankerre ☺️ It really depends - tbh I am not great at structured practice but sometimes just sit and play something for 5 hours until it sounds okay. Structured and well thought out practice is probably much more effective with less time input! I find it's also good to have time off to maintain motivation sometimes. Everyone is different and for me I like doing a few really long sessions rather than lots of small ones. Maybe two or three 3 / 4 hour sessions a week :) and then the odd half hour here and there.