Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Ravenscroft by VI Labs… First Look and Sound

Prices of USED software are VERY negotiable, so I think it would be interesting to post both asking and paid prices.

It is a little ODD that "used" software depreciates so rapidly, although it doesn't "wear out" in the same way that hardware does.
Sure, it tends towards obsolescence, but in many/most cases it is upgradable to the latest and (alleged) greatest version, often at low/no cost.

The bloom appears to have gone off this particular rose anyway, so I would expect a December sale of the intro pre-release price, or $99.xx

I'm not aware of any sold prices for 2nd user software. RC has had a mixed reception so maybe that fact alone will exert downward pressure on the resale price.

I'm not so sure if it's broadly lost its favour or we've just gone quiet on it. I've been using it for the last few days and I'm still taken by it, particularly the 'close' setting only - I can't find a use for the other mic options. I've no idea what the real RC sounds like but its sample library is particularly consistent and convincing as a piano - even if not everyone is convinced by its timbre.

Yes, I can see deals coming up again. Maybe this is the advantage of dealing with an outfit like VIlabs who are direct to buyer. Unless I'm mistaken, the Garritan is sold through a network of agents who also want their cut.

I agree Dire Tonic, I still am very happy overall with RC. It just sounds so 'regal' to me I don't feel as if I'm missing out on something better, though eventually I'll prob bite the bullet and swallow my pride and get Ivory AG for a fuller sound when desired.

I'm trying to figure out how to emulate the resonance of the strings...like when you hit a key on an AP, the sound/resonance lingers. The only aspect I've found that sounds like this is the 'reverb'. Is this the only way to affect the resonance?

Thanks!

Hold the pedal down. I'n not sure what is implemented in the P105, damper and/or string resonance, I suspect the former only (resonance with pedal down, but not with keys down);'but on most entry and mid level DP's there is no possibility to extend it.

I am confused. I thought Chrisl was trying to figure out something related to the Ravenscroft software piano. What does how what is implemented in the P105 have to do with that ?

Yes dmd, I was hoping to have that option in RW. I have lessons on a Steinway, and love the sustained note on the strings after pushing and letting go of the key, and I have my 105 with RW that I practice on...so I was just hoping to get it to be more like the Steinway.

Well, the little I know about it ... would seem to point in the direction of the SYMPATHETIC RESONANCE. I would fool with that setting some.

Of course, you might get your best advice by calling VILabs for support.

I appreciate the info., PianoManChuck. About the Ravenscroft VPC. I haven't seen any more info. Look forward to more.

I haven't seen any more info either, other than their website for acoustic pianos! You might want to contact them.

Something that might help this thread.
All the discussion of metallic sound.
The first thing I think of with this is acoustics of the room you're listening in. As well as the speakers. Metallic usually indicates what they call: "early reflections". Those are close reflections from the speakers to you. They reflect so quickly. They sound as the original note played. They can create a metallic sound.
I've been working on the acoustics with my VPC. I don't hear any problem with metallic in the recordings from VILabs.
You don't need another 2 cent's worth opinion. I will admit I'm going to buy it.

This is my first post, but first let me say that I recently purchased the Ravenscroft 275 virtual piano. I love it! The sound, miking options, and player friendly approach is tremendous. This is the first piano software that I would consider using to record a solo piano album with. I still use my old Yamaha KX88 keyboard controller (no problem using with Ravenscroft) because of the wonderful action.

Unfortunately I have some negative feedback with regards to VI Labs. Before I purchased the software on July 12, I had a couple of questions regarding my computer's hard drive's speed compatability. When I couldn't find the exact answer, I emailed VI Labs through their website using the "contact" fill-in form. After waiting about a week, and no answer, I cautiously went ahead and downloaded the software. Thankfully there were no problems once everything was downloaded. A couple of days later I had a couple of more questions about EQ and mike settings, and again contacted VI Labs through their website. Again, no response. I tried two more times for a total of four times, and to this day, July 28, 2014, I've had no response. Unless I am doing something wrong, this is totally unacceptable! Has anyone else experienced this? I certainly hope not.

Again, don't hesitate to buy this piano software. The customer support...you will have to judge for yourself.

It could be that the messages you sent did not reach VI Labs, or that the messages VI Labs sent have not reached you. Perhaps check the Spam folder of your email account, just to be sure.

James
x

I checked. No spam items on my end. I just don't want this to happen to others. Here is the page link that I filled in with my questions.

http://www.vilabsaudio.com/index.php?route=information/contact

If anyone can think of another way to contact VI Labs, I would greatly appreciate knowing. In all fairness, maybe VI has a glitch in their mail system? Hopefully a representative scans this forum, and can offer a solution?

I contacted them last february when my HD crashed and I needed a new ilok license. I am pretty sure they replied within 1 day. I used the contact page on their website. There is a user here, Lance VI Labs, here who works for VI, maybe you can try sending him a PM. You

That's good to know about Lance at VI on this forum.

Thank you!

only one word for Ravenscroft...

Beautiful!

VILabs did a really good job of sampling - it's consistent, clean, without bumps or clangs but maybe the Ravenscroft itself isn't quite to my taste. Better for jazz, maybe, than anything else?

I wish VILabs would have another go at a Steinway, I'm sure they'd have a winner.

I'd rather they do a Yamaha CFX. I'm not counting on Garritan to ever finish theirs.

Between the Vintage D, Ivory II American D, and their own True Keys American (which isn't bad) I've got enough Steinways. If you don't like either the Vintage D or Ivory II American D, I wonder what you are looking for? I don't hear many flaws in either. It's more a matter of which original piano I like better.

I'd be interested in their CFX also.


I wasn't bowled over by anything I heard of the TK American but I sensed that VIlabs got into their stride with the Ravenscroft, better methods maybe (I'm guessing) so I'm hoping they've sharpened their tools, their know-how.

I've just bought Ivory American so I'm still messing about with it. That and the vintage D are both good - and strikingly different from each other - but they could be better. I don't like Vintage D's una corda, and at the moment I find Ivory a bit on the woolly side. Other than eradicating obvious flaws It's not easy to pin down and specify what I'm looking for but I think I'll know it when I play it and hear it.