Described as the imperfect upright, the latest addition to UJAM’s range of virtual instruments is said to provide the perfect sound for song accompaniments and lyrical rhythm elements. Virtual Pianist RELIC includes five distinct ‘character’ options and three voicing modes, and as with the other instruments in the Virtual Pianist series, comes packed with adjustable phrases that make quick work of creating new parts.
UJAM say that they spent months preparing the piano for recording, as well as experimenting with a range of different mic positions and techniques. The interface presents users with five Character settings: Subtle, Round, Full, Room and Tonk, as well as a trio of voicing modes (Simple, Universal and Complex) that each feature different harmonic complexities, allowing it to be blended seamlessly into a wide range of production styles. It also comes equipped with a selection of sound-design tools and onboard effects that can be used to create more unusual ambient sounds in addition to its close-up piano character.
A standout feature of the instrument, however, is its ability to essentially play itself! Thanks to the built-in Player mode, RELIC is capable of generating performances from a single-note input, and comes packed with hundreds of phrases that boast adjustable harmony, style and dynamics properties. Realistic accompaniments can be created using just a single finger, and there’s control over chords and articulations for those who want to customise the results. Of course, if you’d prefer to play yourself, then you can switch to Instrument mode and RELIC will behave as a conventional virtual instrument/sample library.
“First off, our team selected a beautiful, well-burnt-in upright piano and kept it in our studio for months. Weeks went by just tweaking the tuning, playing with microphone setups and other things until everyone was happy. Only then it was meticulously recorded and added into the Virtual Pianist instrument framework. There’s a reason why Virtual Pianist isn’t called Virtual Piano, and that is the sophisticated built-in Player, which is at least as important as the piano itself. Our style and piano expert, Derek von Krogh, created a signature collection of bespoke style performances for RELIC — as he's done with every Virtual Pianist before. The moment we married the piano and the pianist was a true revelation, as both elements just clicked together beautifully — you’ll be able to experience that in every phrase, in every preset.” - Peter Gorges, co-founder of UJAM
Compatibility
Virtual Pianist RELIC is supported on PCs running Windows 10 or above, and Macs running macOS 10.15 and higher. VST2, VST3, AU and AAX plug-in versions are available.
Pricing & Availability
Virtual Pianist RELIC is available now, and is currently (6 August 2024) being offered at an introductory price of $79£69, reduced from its full cost of $149£130. Prices include VAT.
