Vienna Symphonic Library releases "Steinway & Sons D-274" Virtual Concert Grand

Vienna Symphonic Library has released their new Steinway & Sons D-274 virtual concert grand. This is the second piano that was recorded at their refurbished recording facility Synchron Stage Vienna. The instrument was captured with multiple microphone positions, using the company's proprietary high precision sampling technology. The Steinway D comes with its dedicated Vienna Synchron Pianos software that allows users to create their personal sound by modifying the included presets.

With a length of almost 9 ft. (274 cm), a weight just shy of 1,100 lb. and a soundboard of more than 21 sq.ft., the D-274 is the flagship model of world-renowned piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons that was played by leading artists of all eras, from Sergei Rachmaninoff to Lang Lang. The recorded instrument is a Steinway & Sons D-274 "Hamburg Model." It was hand picked from eight Steinway D models by Stefan Mendl, founding member and pianist of the Vienna Piano Trio.

Vienna's D-274 enjoys permanent, climate-controlled residency at Synchron Stage Vienna. The recording hall's 5,813 sq. ft. "Stage A" has lent its acoustic signature to numerous international productions, from classical chamber music to international, large-scale orchestral film scores. The D-274 was captured with multiple high-end microphone arrays, providing a total of 11 microphone positions (Full Library), 4,000 samples per key and almost 20,000 samples per microphone position. The close microphones give users a choice of three types: condenser mics (Schoeps MK 4), ribbon mics (Royer SF-24) as well as a tube mic (Neumann M-149). Room mics include Sennheiser MKH 800, DPA 4006, DPA 4011 and AKG C-414, giving users a great variety of sources for selecting and mixing their desired sound.

To capture the instrument with all its subtleties, a motion-control system based on a solenoid controlled a noise-free "robot finger". This proprietary technology represents the pinnacle of Vienna's long-term sampling robotics development. The micro-controller moves the finger with precision, providing flexible curvatures for down-strokes and release movements. The MIDI controlled system delivers more than 100 velocities and various release samples, depending on the preceding note length and various release speeds.

Price: The Standard Library includes 5 microphone positions, while the Full Library provides 11 microphone positions (including surround mic signals). Both versions are currently offered at special introductory prices. The Steinway D Standard Library is available at $282 (reg. $328), the Full Library is available at $529 (reg. $621) through December 31, 2018.