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Why would you want to create sub bass for upright piano ? Just use Noire or buy some other big grand piano vst. Maybe you can use some EQ on Modern U.

Here is a nice demonstration of the Modern U. I don't know who this is, but I like his style and he demonstrates some different mic combinations. It's worth viewing if you're interested in the Modern U. The Modern U still remains my favorite piano VST.



God Bless,
David

Ah yes, Alfonso has been producing some fantastic virtual piano demo videos for years. A fine pianist with a great touch.

PS: I can sense I may be $160 USD worse off (and the AUD exchange rate is woeful at the moment) if I keep hearing more of this sampled piano!

Thanks a ton for the review, David B.

I started looking into the Modern U based on your review, however, when they started mentioning iLok, red flags shot up...

I don't think I want any association with iLok... a quick search confirms that hunch. Is iLok the nightmare it sounds like?

I never heard of iLok until i started using products from ViLabs. I've never had any problems using it and I am unaware of any negative feedback concerning it.

God Bless,
David

I never had any problems using Ilok with Ravenscroft, it works great actually.

Just install the Ilok software and activate your License. No usb dongle required, and you don't have to do anything ever again, perfect.

If vsl would use Ilok instead of their licencing dongle their library's would be more attractive to me.

I was playing along with David's video with the Ravenscroft 275 (the player perspective) and felt that the two pianos share striking similarities in the staccato portion of the notes.The biggest difference probably lies in the sustain. The Ravenscroft is more suited for jazz than for classical music.

I’m very tempted to buy this one. I got the Garritan CFX lite that I think sounds superb but sometimes get some crackling sounds due to wanting minimum delay and also the really low volume output.

The modern u really has an amazing sound to me from the demos I heard.

Thanks David for a great review!

Simeon Amburgey's wonderful playing and walkthrough.

The Modern U is a sampled piano done right. It doesn't have the power of the Bösendorfer Imperial because the Modern U is an upright, but it has the accouterments that the VSL Bösendorfer Imperial does NOT have.

The Modern U has silent key strike, sampled sympathetic resonance, and a Midi touch curve and gain editor. These features along with the large sound (52"/131cm) and superb sampling by VI Labs makes this a very unique piano. These guys know how to do it right.

I'd be happy to sell all my other VSTs and keep two: VI Labs Modern U and the VSL Bösendorfer Imperial.

God Bless,
David

Hi All,

David, I've really been enjoying your reviews. I agree with you. The Modern U has a richness, clarity and playability that I haven't found in the other VSTs I own - Ravenscroft, Grandeur, Keyscape C7, Noire, Garritan, Hammersmith, Giant, etc. The ability to dial in a beautiful, bright, deep and full sound without any harsh (mid/upper-mid) frequencies is wonderful. I've been searching a long time for these characteristics in a VST and VI-Labs nailed it. These settings are working well for me atm for a bright, rich tone:

[img]https://imgur.com/sJovWxw[/img]


[img]https://imgur.com/JLISvZx[/img]

(Not sure if those images are showing in this post - maybe you need to click the links...)

There's just one thing I miss when I'm playing the Modern U: the timbre of the bass strings of a grand piano. I hope VI-Labs will sample another nice grand sometime soon using the same sampling approach and interface features of the Modern U. Then I think I'll be in virtual piano paradise.

The Bösendorfer Imperial is my second favorite as well - really good. Still having trouble achieving the same satisfying tone and feeling of being right up close to the piano that I can get with the Modern U and it doesn't feel quite as smooth to me for playability. But there's still a lot of tweakability I haven't explored yet.

-EJ

I still play the Modern U daily. It's either the Modern U or the VSL Bösendorfer Imperial depending on what song I'm playing.

God Bless,
David

re the Modern U lacking the timbre of a a grand in the bass, maybe a carefully crafted hybrid would be good. I'd kind of enjoy a hybrid Yamaha C7 (or similar) and Bosendorfer - the Bosendorfer would just be used for the bass notes. Could be tricky to get it to sound coherent - i.e - just like a single piano without any abrupt changes.

Greg

Here is an example where the Modern U really shines (IMO). This is a song covered in a piano course I'm studying (Duane Shinn Praise and Gospel Course). It's a fun upbeat song, O How I Love Jesus. I've tried this song with various VST's that I own and none of them sound as good with this song as the Modern U does. I think it's because this is a chording song and it really requires precision and clarity otherwise it sounds muddy. Detailed clarity is where the Modern U shines.

The big concert grand VST's that I own (especially the ones with more ambient reverb) seem to muddy things up too much with this song. The Modern U provides great clarity and note separation. Also, the bass is strong enough in the Modern U to carry the heavy rhythm with power. It's very enjoyable to play this song with the Modern U. Have a listen.



God Bless,
David

That's really what I'm wishing for - a new grand sampling with everything they've learned and all the aspects of the Modern U. Maybe just revamp their True Keys line, at least the Steinway. That for around $150 would be epic. The only thing I don't like about the Modern U, is that it can sound a bit... twangy, sometimes? Lowering the tone can help with that, but not entirely. I find that I often prefer the tone of my Baldwin upright, which was certainly cheaper than a Yamaha U3.

*I noticed in your images you don't have half pedaling, key noise, or silent strike on - might want to consider using those.

Half pedaling, key noise, and silent strike are on.



God Bless,
David

Ah, I was referring to MajorNinth's images.

Oh, I see. Sorry about that.

God Bless,
David

No problem! I like your videos -