VI Labs Modern D Review | Comparison VSL Steinway D

In this video I review the Modern D virtual piano and compare it with the Steinway D from VSL. Some of the pieces I played individually on both plugins, so can hear the differences in sound. In my opinion the Modern D is a great instrument that lives up to the hype.

0:00 Modern D Example
4:30 Steinway D Example

8:54 Introduction to the instrument
13:10 Playability
15:57 Una Corda
19:00 Note connectivity
22:00 General remarks

27:09 Schütt example
29:13 Una Corda example
29:31 Same piece with VSL

31:45 Parfenov, romantic example
34:22 Bossa Nova
35:50 Beethoven
37:45 Squiban, relaxing example
39:55 Regarding note repetitions , staccato..
41:32 Big phrases

43:16 Video game
48:51 And with VSL

54:13 oops i forgot to cut, please skip!
55:07 here it continues

56:40 Kapustin
58:18 Dreyschock
1:00:36 Alkan
1:02:28 Schütt (staccato)

[someoneone]

Hey Gamma. You're a very good pianist, and you play very nicely in my opinion. I'm wondering, have you tried Production Voices' 300 Grand? It's a CFX Kontakt library and it has 9 mic perspectives. If you have, do you think it's worth it? And if not, do you think you could make a video reviewing it and comparing it with Garritan and/or VSL? I like your Chopin playing and honestly would really enjoy seeing you play more Chopin in your reviews. I'd like to thank you for the detailed reviews you make, also your recordings for obscure music which I think is an underrated thing you do.

[hatsunemikusleftnostril]

As a huge Hikaru Utada fan, I was totally shocked to hear a rendition of Passion at the beginning of this video 😅 your rendition is wonderful, which comes as very little surprise!

[Comfort_One_Another]

Great job demonstrating the Modern D in varying styles and techniques. I'm interested to see if it replaces the Garritan CFX and becomes your number one after you get more time with it.

[JonathanGarcia-thou]

Nice Review. I largely agree with your assessment, although I've never been quite as fond of the actual sound of the Garritan CFX as you seem to be - Modern D and VSL D-274 are both more to my taste. But this is largely personal preference.

By the way, I would really suggest investing in a bluetooth page turner for your tablet. You can just mount it underneath the base of the keyboard and tap it with your knee to turn the page instead of having take your hand off the keyboard or foot off the pedals. It was a game changer for me.

[peterdahl-bredine]

thanks for this great review! 🙏 I’m wondering if you can tell me which of these 2 pianos has more fff ‘bite’ in the upper range…wanting something that lets me really dig into louder dynamics & especially in the upper range.

[RA-elzj]

Nice review! Useful to me, since I love the vsl d-274.

In this comparison, both sound great to me. I think still noone beats vsl when it comes to pure sound quality, they really get that right. Others often sound a bit muffled in comparison to me.

But the vi labs sounds great as well, and the piano itself seems to have a softer voicing. Also the una corda samples is a plus over the vsl. I'd love to add it to my collection and ill probably buy it when the time is right.

These are probably the best 2 steinway vst's around right now.

Great playing btw! 🙂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[viktor]

Do you recrod whole pieces or some parts and then connect them? I am impressed, I am professional pianist, playing my whole life, but I always make many mistakes while playing. I listened some your recordings today, you almost not doing mistakes. Its great!

[geraldgleeson]

Thanks as always, gamma - so helpful. Is that a VCP1 you are using? Do you find it better than the ATX hybrid I think you used to have?

[گلنوشناظمی]

finally❤ been waiting for a year (no it's been a month or so😂)

[pinheiroartur]

Great piano player…the piano modern d …for me sounds better…more warm sound…many colors…my favorite.

[xkriva]

Are you familiar with Oeser 1877, which features samples from a vintage Viennese action piano? I think it might be a nice fit for some pieces you play, although I’m not sure how playable you would find it.

[ArgoBeats]

You should try Synthogy Ivory, I'm pretty sure you'd like it.

[craigsimmons-yk]

I have all the above mentioned vst's except garritan and I'm wondering is it worth me adding garritan to my collection as its expensive really. I love this Modern D and glad I purchased it

[jaketanner]

I used to think it was Guy's demos and controller that made the VSL pianos sound thin and brittle...but nope, that is just how they are. I got the Modern D. But honestly, Pianoteq's Kawai is fantastic also. I like a rich sounding piano...VSL is just too bright, I have no idea why.