Modern D vs Concert Grand

Modern D and Concert Grand both feature deeply sampled Steinway D grand pianos, but they differ significantly in their sampling depth and size. Modern D focuses on intricate detailing of piano mechanics with a 34,615-sample library, including specific samples like 2,500 release trails per mic, sampled Una Corda, Muted Strikes, Half Pedal, and Silent Strikes. Concert Grand, however, distinguishes itself with an exceptionally larger sample base of 185,000 samples and a massive 1100 GB library size, driven by 20-23 velocity layers for pedal-up samples and 16 for release samples, along with more microphone perspectives.

The technical approaches to capturing the Steinway D result in different strengths. Modern D prioritizes a "Natural Response" method, aiming for a true dynamic range within each mic, and supplies extensive samples for nuanced pedal and key behaviors. Concert Grand, by contrast, emphasizes a greater number of velocity layers across its samples, including separate pedal-up and pedal-down recordings, and provides nine microphone perspectives compared to Modern D's five, offering more sonic flexibility in terms of microphone blend.

Choose Modern D if your priority is a balanced, modern piano with highly detailed mechanical sampling, including specific pedal and key effects, within a more manageable library size. Choose Concert Grand if maximum sonic detail, an extensive range of velocity dynamics, and a wider variety of microphone perspectives are essential, and your system can accommodate its exceptionally larger storage footprint.

Products Compared

Insights from Real-World Use

Modern D

  • The Claire had a nice upper range, but it really felt dead in the lower mid range. The Modern D sings throughout all the registers. IMO, it's the best virtual piano on the market today.
  • I just picked up the Steinway D, I must say, I was veeery hesitant. I own some other vilabs pianos, The Ravenscroft among them, and feel like those instruments did not live up to their hype. That said
  • I purchased it today after listening to this excellent demo. It sounds pretty realistic and may work better in my pop-rock tracks than Ivory American D or the Keyscape C7 I've been using. I had to bri
  • It sounds very nice, but (to my ear) not as good as my custom C. Bechstein DG preset on Pianoteq, so... for now, I'll keep my wallet in my pocket.
  • Modern D's playability is awesome and better than Garritan CFX and Fazioli.

Concert Grand

  • The pre-attack noise was really noisy. I had the samples but decided to hold off given the size of the library. Maybe I'll add them back in in a future update...
  • My ideal setup for Concert Grand is basically Balanced Robust, but without the room mics.
  • While Noire does sound good, I have one that's so much better: Production Voices 300 Grand... concert-grand-virtual-piano/ · Psychotic_Member69. • 2y ago. Fl

Explore PianoVST