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Originally Posted by CraiginNZ
I agree that it's odd Ravenscroft didn't partner with VILabs on this. That would be about as close to a sure thing as you get in the sampling world, I imagine.
Yes. From the first not so favorable responses here on this 220, it seems to be a huge missed opportunity for Ravenscroft Pianos and (perhaps) VI Labs. Of course we don't know what is going on in their minds and/or what VI Labs currently is up to.
Cheers and happy playing,
HZ
Yeah, I have to assume there was at least a sensible reason not to go with VI Labs on this one. Or it might've been something as simple as the fact that Prime Studios ordered a Ravenscroft 220 and figured "why don't we sample it?"
I have been speaking to Arthur Collins recently via email who is of VI Labs Support and he did confirm to me that they are currently working on an update for the Ravenscroft 275 although they cannot confirm an official release date.
So, something is definitely in the works which is long overdue in my opinion as the Ravenscroft 275 has needed an update for some time. I hope they actually record in the same space as the Modern U to be honest with you as I feel the Modern U has the perfect balance of room and dryness needed to make it versatile in any playing scenario.
That would be a complete redoing of R275? Or a completely new virtual instrument of a different piano?
In any case, yes the way and the room in which the U3 was sampled works a treat and technically (scripting for instance) it should at least have Modern U quality.
Modern U is great -- it is the only virtual instrument so far that I can actually use for my everyday playing and have the illusion of a real instrument with. Without it, digital just wouldn't have gotten feasible for me.
I have been speaking to Arthur Collins recently via email who is of VI Labs Support and he did confirm to me that they are currently working on an update for the Ravenscroft 275 although they cannot confirm an official release date.
So, something is definitely in the works which is long overdue in my opinion as the Ravenscroft 275 has needed an update for some time. I hope they actually record in the same space as the Modern U to be honest with you as I feel the Modern U has the perfect balance of room and dryness needed to make it versatile in any playing scenario.
That's amazing news! I cannot wait to see what it is. I wholeheartedly agree with HZPiano that the Modern U is the most convincing "I'm at the piano" VST, besides perhaps some binaural recordings
The Modern U has the best sympathetic resonance engine of any sampled piano I've used, so I'm hoping that is maintained for VI Labs' next project.
I have been speaking to Arthur Collins recently via email who is of VI Labs Support and he did confirm to me that they are currently working on an update for the Ravenscroft 275 although they cannot confirm an official release date.
So, something is definitely in the works which is long overdue in my opinion as the Ravenscroft 275 has needed an update for some time. I hope they actually record in the same space as the Modern U to be honest with you as I feel the Modern U has the perfect balance of room and dryness needed to make it versatile in any playing scenario.
The new scripting from Modern U into the R275 would be fantastic it really is a superior vat on every level and the Mites Strikes are phenomenal, they really are. The Modern U has such am organic feel to it. Whilst it still has that raw sound to it it is still very well rounded and full and it can be used for so many different styles of play.
The biggest problem for the R275 is the other mics aside from the close mic, they sound and feel a little off and the soundstage doesn't feel right even more so when blended together, that is its biggest downfall for me. The CPU usage on the R275 is more resourceful though as I find the Modern U can be a little CPU hungry for some.reason....
I am also in the market for a new controller... I have a Roland A88 but I am finding a little too gummy as of recent and want something with a better action... I am currently in between the A88 MK2 or the VPC1 which I used to own but swapped it out for the A88 when I bought Keyscape haha oh the irony eh... So I am familiar with the VPC1 but I have heard the VPC1 does not work too great with Keyscape....
The fact that it is a Kontakt (incl. Player) instrument also puzzles me. The really superb pianos all run on/in other platforms.
No sound examples, no videos to be found.
One of my favorite virtual piano is Bechstein Digital Grand and it is a Kontakt library… (however, I prefer to use a separated reverb instead of its).
Kontakt has a long list of high quality piano libraries with unique sound from 8Dio, Bechstein, Chocolate Audio, Best Service (Galaxy), Fluffy Audio, Embertone, Orchestral Tools, Impact Soundworks, NI, Wavesfactory, Production Voices.
Non-Kontakt list is much shorter - VSL, Garritan, EastWest, SONiVOX, Synthogy (Ivory), VI Labs, Whole Sounds.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. (falsely attributed to Plato) Vlad, Adult beginner
The "Lite" version pictured costs €154.80, runs in Kontakt or free Kontakt Player, 25GB size, 12 velocity layers, 16,000 samples at 16 bit 44.1kHz (down-converted from 32 bit 192kHz), based on Ravenscroft 220 model 7 foot 3 inch grand piano. Does includes Sympathetic String Resonance and Pedal Resonance so it might be a serious contender. So far only the "Lite" version is on sale. Presumably at some future point they will release their more expensive Prime Studio Ravenscroft 220 full version (listed on website, but TBA, price unknown) which should have a few more mic positions and probably more velocity layers. Interesting...
YouTube demos... (it's the same short jazz excerpt each time, rendered with 4 different factory tone settings...)
seems like this is not popular at all as nobody else has bought this? Ravenscroft should have partnered up with VI Labs... I'm sure it would have resulted in more customers :P
Aha! And there's a little more background presented there now as well.
All in all, I'm still far from sure what to think of it.
I'd like to again extend the message to most sample-based piano VI producers that a decent, friendly way to thoroughly try/test before committing to a purchase is essential. Even more so at this price level.
Aha! And there's a little more background presented there now as well.
All in all, I'm still far from sure what to think of it.
I'd like to again extend the message to most sample-based piano VI producers that a decent, friendly way to thoroughly try/test before committing to a purchase is essential. Even more so at this price level.
I have been speaking to Arthur Collins recently via email who is of VI Labs Support and he did confirm to me that they are currently working on an update for the Ravenscroft 275 although they cannot confirm an official release date.
So, something is definitely in the works which is long overdue in my opinion as the Ravenscroft 275 has needed an update for some time. I hope they actually record in the same space as the Modern U to be honest with you as I feel the Modern U has the perfect balance of room and dryness needed to make it versatile in any playing scenario.
Thank you very much for this good news. I like the R275 more than Modern U.
Yamaha P 525 VSL D-274 , BI and CFX, NI Komplete Ultimate, VPS Avenger, Gig Performer IK loud MTMs, Motu M4, DT 990 pro, AKG702, Macbook pro M1
Aha! And there's a little more background presented there now as well.
All in all, I'm still far from sure what to think of it.
I'd like to again extend the message to most sample-based piano VI producers that a decent, friendly way to thoroughly try/test before committing to a purchase is essential. Even more so at this price level.
Cheers,
HZ
Agreed. We’ve seen companies with standalone like VSL do it, and companies who use services like Kontakt do it, such as Embertone. I don’t see any reasonable issue preventing people from offering demos for their products, especially at these price points.
I’d say very few people are inclined to spend this kind of money if there’s no way to try it and no way to return it, especially after buying a few stinkers that have great demos but limited playability.
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