Steinway & Sons D-274 is a shining example of how to “do it right the first time”. This magnificent flagship from the world-famous piano manufacturer has retained its authenticity since the end of the 19th century, standing the test of time thanks to its rich, powerful and voluminous sound. With a soundboard area of almost two square meters, the instrument is equally impressive in solo parts and in the orchestra, conquering with a limitless dynamic range.
Generations of outstanding musicians have chosen the Steinway D, from Sergei Rachmaninoff, Vladimir Horowitz, Arthur Rubinstein and Glenn Gould to modern stars such as Emanuel Ax, Hélène Grimaud and Lang Lang. In the world of film music, composer Ramin Djawadi (Iron Man, Game of Thrones, Pacific Rim) is a devoted fan of our digital version! Recorded in the famous Vienna Synchron Stage, proven by Hollywood standards, this instrument brings the legendary sound and versatility of Steinway directly to your studio.
The perfect choice for flawless projects
At 274 cm long and weighing around 500 kg, the Steinway D-274 impresses with a sound power worthy of its size, maintaining a key position in the global music industry. Nine out of 10 concert grand pianos on stages around the world are Steinway D-274 models.
Our D-274 is an elite “Hamburg model” that has undergone the strictest selection: from eight Steinway D grand pianos, it was personally selected by Stefan Mendl, the legendary pianist and founder of the Vienna Piano Trio. Even in Vienna, where magnificent instruments are not uncommon, this grand piano is considered a benchmark. Its sound has captivated every performer whose fingers have touched its keys.
The instrument is permanently located in one of the climate-controlled studios of the Vienna Synchron Stage complex, where the acoustics are distinguished by a particularly warm, rich and natural sound.
Precision sampling
To digitize this instrument in all its nuances, our engineers used a high-precision system based on a solenoid that controls a silent “robotic finger”. A microcontroller moves the finger with jewelry precision, ensuring a smooth pressing of the keys and their natural release. The MIDI-controlled system reproduces over 100 gradations of striking force (velocity) and different variants of the sound (release) depending on the duration of the previous note and the speed of key release.
An unprecedented 4,000 samples per key and up to 20,000 samples per microphone position: this version of the concert grand piano offers stunning sonic authenticity.
To record this magnificent instrument in one of the best acoustic spaces in the world, our engineers used a set of premium professional microphone systems. This provides unlimited possibilities for creating a unique sound: there are 11 different microphone positions to choose from. Even if you are not working with surround sound, the library allows you to achieve incredible spatial depth and acoustic richness – just add the room microphone signals to your stereo mix.
- Steinway & Sons D-274 (Hamburg Model)
- Hyper-realistic feel of a real concert grand piano
- 11 microphone positions for tonal flexibility
- Half-pedaling and re-pedaling support
- Sympathetic resonance effect
- Body resonance effect
The original library was released for Synchron Piano Player and has iLok protection.
This release is an adaptation of the library for work in Kontakt.
Version 1.2.1
Added:
- Middle (CC#66) and Left (CC#67) Pedal NoiseFixed:
- Pedal Noise
Version 1.2.0
Added:
- Original Release
- Pedal NoiseImproved:
- User InterfaceFixed:
- Bit depth reduced from 32 to 24 bit
Version 1.0.1
Added:
- Adaptive Release