Modern D is a concert grand piano sample library by VI Labs, capturing a 2021 Steinway Model D with 34,615 samples, five microphone perspectives, and fully sampled resonance and una corda.
Instrument and Core Sound
Modern D samples a 2021 Steinway Model D concert grand, chosen for its strong fundamental and wide dynamic range. The library captures over 50 dB of dynamic range per note and sustains lasting more than two minutes, preserving the instrument’s power and tonal depth.
All sounds are derived from 34,615 samples, including release trails, sympathetic resonances, and muted strikes. The interface provides five phase-aligned stereo microphone pairs, letting you blend close and distant perspectives. Legendary microphones like the M49 and 4006 were used to capture the piano’s character.
Pedals and Resonance
The library includes fully sampled una corda with its own release samples, offering a softer attack and distinct tonal color compared to normal sustain. Repedal, adjustable half-pedal, and sostenuto are supported, with MIDI CC control for expressive performance.
Sympathetic and pedal-down resonances are sample-based, responding naturally to held keys and the sustain pedal. The resonance volume is adjustable, and a polyphony setting for sympathetic resonance is available. This scripting recreates the complex harmonic blending of a real grand piano.
Workflow and Interface
The interface presents a menu-based mic mixer with an interactive display, letting you load and mix any combination of the five stereo pairs. Time-correction and phase alignment ensure no delay between mics, even with distant room perspectives. A MIDI panel offers split controls for timbre and volume.
Customizable response curves are possible via high-resolution tables, and many presets are included for quick setup. The library includes 37 convolution reverbs with deep controls, plus imaging tools for stereo width, tone, and timbre shift. A tuning panel supports micro-tuning and various presets.
Practical Applications and Performance
Modern D suits studio production and live performance requiring a versatile concert grand. With a dynamic range from soft pianissimos to aggressive fortissimos, it handles classical, jazz, pop, and cinematic scoring. The multiple mic options allow tailoring the sound from intimate close miking to ambient room captures.
The library is efficient, compressing 118 GB of wave data into an 18 GB file via lossless FLAC, reducing load times and CPU usage. Activation is computer-based, allowing installation on up to three machines without a dongle. This makes it practical for multi-studio setups.
Key features
- 34,615 pristine samples from a 2021 Steinway Model D
- Five phase-aligned stereo microphone pairs with interactive mixing
- Fully sampled una corda and sympathetic resonance
- Half-pedal, repedal, and muted strikes support
- Customizable MIDI response and tuning presets
- 37 convolution reverbs included
- Lossless compression reduces library to 18 GB
Best for
Modern D is best for composers and producers needing a high-quality, expressive concert grand that can range from delicate to powerful. Its detailed sampling and adjustable mics make it suitable for detailed studio work and realistic piano parts in any genre.