Live Grand
designed for realistic practice
and performance preparation
Release date: September 8th 2026
Live Grand Modern D is a virtual piano VST instrument based on our own recordings of a Steinway Model D concert grand, designed for realistic practice and live performance.| Modern D | Modern D Light (just the differences) | |
|---|---|---|
| Recordings | Tutti Corda, Una Corda | Tutti Corda (demo), Una Corda |
| Microphone perspective | Player (Mics used: 4x Sanken CO-100K, 2x Sanken CUX-100K, 2x Schoeps MK22, 2x Coles 4038, 1x Royer SF-24V, 1x Sanken CU-51, 1x AEA R88, 2x Schoeps Grenzfläche) | |
| Velocity layers | 20 layers | |
| Seperate pedal-down samples | 20 layers | |
| Release samples | 6 layers + 6 layers staccato | |
| Round robins | 2x 20 layers | |
| Una corda samples | 20 layers | |
| Repetition strike samples | 20 layers | |
| Sympathetic resonance | Sample-based | |
| Sample optimization | Player-perspective microphone mix and AI-assisted sample optimization for balanced spectrum, reduced resonances, warmth and clarity. | |
| Authentic tone shaping | Tone changes naturally with the pianist’s touch | |
| Silent key samples | ||
| FX Samples | ||
| Reverb | Kontakt Player presets + Custom IRs | |
| Effects | Funk-Resonance, Wah-Wah, Synth-Hall | Funk-Resonance (demo) |
| Modern D | Modern D Light (just the differences) | |
|---|---|---|
| Velocity calibration |
Precisely measured presets for popular devices (natural touch with wide dynamic range, up to Δ 55dB) |
|
| Low-latency performance | 32-sample audio buffer with all features enabled (recommended hardware) | |
| Pedal support | Half-Pedal + Re-Pedaling + Mechanical Vibrato | |
| Sostenuto | ||
| Tuning & temperaments | Transpose + Scala presets (Equal Temperament, Well-Tempered, ...) + Tuning presets (International 440, European 442, ...) | |
| Mechanical noises | Pedals + Mechanics |
| Modern D | Modern D Light (just the differences) | |
|---|---|---|
| Kontakt version | Free Kontakt 8 player (Download via Native Access) | |
| User interface | Custom UI + NKS | |
| Library size | 15 GB lossless compression |
For a natural playing response, the velocity characteristics of the keyboard must be precisely matched to the sampled piano. We therefore measure the MIDI velocity response of different keyboard actions and create dedicated calibration curves for Live Grand.
Modern D can be played with any suitable MIDI keyboard. The devices listed below are those for which precisely measured velocity calibrations are available. The dynamic range indicates the usable range achieved with the corresponding calibration.
| Live Grand | |
|---|---|
| Disk space | approx. 15GB free disk space (delivered via Native Access) |
| OS | Mac OSX 10.11 or greater or Windows 7 or higher and 64bits only |
| CPU | Intel Core i5, AMD Ryzen 5 or M2 (Mac) |
| Hard drive | Solid State Drive (SSD) |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Plugin formats | Standalone application, VST2, VST3, AU, AAX |
| Audio interface | Low-latency audio interface recommended (ASIO on Windows) |
The free light version and the trial versions are identical. Presets not included in the Free Light version are deactivated once the trial timer expires.
Live Grand Light and the free Kontakt 8 Player can be downloaded via the Native Instruments download portal, "Native Access". By providing your name and email address, you will receive a serial number via email.