The concept behind the C. Bechstein Digital Grand represents a completely new and modern approach to the DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) oriented digital grand piano. All existing solutions and concepts on the market have been completely put to the test and questioned before even the first note was recorded.
This sounds a bit crazy? Well, maybe it is. But it was well worth the effort …
In contrast to the common approach recording a grand piano for sampling, the C. Bechstein team preferred a rather minimalistic method. Instead of recording dozens of microphone signals, which usually are mixed together at the postproduction stage much later in the process, they decided to focus on recording from just 3 classic listening positions. These were captured with only 5 microphones (24 bit/ 192 kHZ). Additional stereo signal capturing the direct and close “aura” of the grand piano can also be accessed by the software instrument fully in phase.
The sonic performance of the software instrument speaks for itself: playing with high polyphony throughout all registers, even in pianissimo each note remains clearly defined within all arrangements. In particular, the M/S signal shines in detail, making the individual notes tangible throughout the entire dynamic range.
Bechstein spent several weeks at the acclaimed Teldex Recording studio in Berlin, which continues the great tradition and history of Telefunken and later Teldec Classics and their recording teams. Since its modernization in 2003, the Teldex Studio in Berlin is one of the largest private recording studios in the world. The famous recording hall, the state-of-the-art equipment – including a unique collection of vintage microphones – and the experience of the Grammy-awarded producers and engineers ensure first class productions, no matter what style of music.
Under supervision of 3 time Grammy winner recording engineer Tobias Lehmann, each and every note of the D 282 piano was recorded in numerous variations, articulations and under perfect acoustic conditions – also utilising the M/S microphone technique, the sound engineers’ and sound designers’ method of choice for capturing acoustic instruments for the first time.
Due to the different recording techniques, the software instrument excels in all kinds of musical styles. Classic arrangers will appreciate the fine, extremely nuanced recording quality of the samples. Jazz and pop musicians relish in the innovative sound tools of the Digital Grand.
“As the focus of the instrument is the use within a DAW, we decided to create this instrument with the fewest possible room reflexions or even reverb. This makes the C. Bechstein Digital Grand incredibly flexible for any kind of productions as the users are able to choose freely the room or reverb which best suits their music and arrangements during the mixing stage of the creation process!”
“… the real highlight, however, is the sound of this incredible concert grand, the meticulous implementation at the highest conceivable technical level and its different microphone perspectives which fit perfectly into a DAW work environment.”
C. Bechstein is known for its non-compromise attitude when it comes to the touch and tone experience of the acoustic instrument. Therefore, with the same effort, more than 10,000 carefully selected sample zones were voiced individually! Both software developers and piano makers worked hand in hand to create a large variety of presets for the Digital Grand, providing an impressive range and a natural sound for each sound setting.
For this purpose, the controller ranges of the innovative GUI were programmed in a way that possible sound modulations always value “the original” – the unique character of a C. Bechstein concert grand piano remaining recognizable at all times.
“C. Bechstein is known for its non-compromise attitude when it comes to the touch and tone experience of the acoustic instrument. Therefore, with the same effort, more than 10,000 carefully selected sample zones were voiced individually – all samples in every microphone position!”
Full Light Guide-support: the innovative STRING-EQ shows if a note is modified with it´s individual color.
NATIVE MAP® Control-knobs: direct access to important parameters.
Tagging of all snapshots in the NATIVE BROWSER
Use the 2. Touch-Strip e.g. for Una Corda.
The KOMPLETE KONTROL S-series keyboards from Native Instruments are fully supported.
Check out the innovative Light Guide technology: in the Digital Grand, the LEDs are visualize the string-based sound shaping. With NATIVE MAP® you can modify features such as character, Mid-/Side level and much more!
The C. Bechstein Digital Grand user experience and its user interface now are optimized for both the enthusiast musician and the sound design expert, providing easiest possible access to the C. Bechstein sound, its touch and access to the innovative instrument parameters.
“It was as though the instrument knew what I wanted before I did.“
Almost all controllers at hand in the Digital Grand have a very subtle effect on the sound and intentionally they should not affect the piano’s primary tonal quality. But why is that so?
Behind this implementation stands our desire to present you a flexible tool for your DAW. What we have avoided, however, is extremely bending the typical sound of the C. Bechstein concert grand piano – being highly satisfied with it, as it is.
Nevertheless, the control ranges allow extensive sound adjustments. Two aspects were important for us: