In the world of music, where timeless charm and contemporary innovation intersect, the D Concert Sound stands tall. A pinnacle of music technology, this plugin is an embodiment of precision, passion, and painstaking attention to detail. This meticulously sampled product breathes life into the majestic Model D grand piano, specifically the revered 1939 Steinway D274, transmuting its unparalleled richness and vintage tones into the digital sphere.
This model, which hails from the illustrious workshops of Steinway & Sons in Hamburg, has cast a spell over countless international classical and jazz maestros. Now, the baton has been passed to you, offering a unique opportunity to command the instrument’s unique sound and conjure magic with your music. The D Concert Sound presents an opportunity to experience and integrate the soul of this legendary piano into your compositions. It is not just a product, but a gateway to optimum performance, a portal into a realm of authentic musical expression.
Every musical instrument has a unique narrative, and the Steinway D274 is no exception. This magnificent piano has graced the stages of multiple Italian venues, serenading audiences with its profound, resonant sound. Over time, this concert piano model matured, with each note played shaping its tonal character, evolving it into the perfect instrument under the meticulous hands of time and music.
While this piano aged gracefully, Italian technicians, the unsung maestros behind the scenes, were vigilant, preserving its distinct tone and unique personality. Through careful restoration and maintenance, the piano’s pristine tonal quality was preserved, frozen in time under the traditional satin lacquer. This vintage character was meticulously retained during the sampling process in a medium-sized hall, a setting chosen to enhance and magnify the Steinway’s sonic strengths.
Our quest to capture the purity of the Steinway’s tone led to an exploration of various microphone combinations. We experimented tirelessly, scrutinizing each possibility until we discovered the perfect array. The selection process yielded four distinct microphones – a pair of Schoeps CMC6 with MK4 cardioid capsules, Neumann KM184s situated at the edge of the open lid, a single AKG C12 tube mic placed to mirror the listener’s position, and Neumann M149s at a medium distance.
This ensemble of microphones, each adding its unique characteristics, crafts a rich tapestry of sounds that encapsulates the Steinway’s tonal spectrum. To preserve the tonal balance, a meticulous phase alignment process was undertaken with each microphone, ensuring an authentic and holistic capture of the instrument’s rich auditory texture.
At the heart of the D Concert Sound lies an intuitive and potent mixer, offering you the controls to your unique sonic landscape. The features – volume, panpot, mute, solo, and stereo width – can be manipulated to carve out your unique sound. A 3-band EQ and reverb send for each microphone pair, add depth and personality to your mixes, letting you orchestrate your masterpiece with your personal touch.
Additionally, the master chain comes packed with a tailored 3-band EQ with specific frequency centers, a compressor, and a tape emulator. These tools let you shape the sound, allowing your creativity to flow unhindered, offering you complete control over your musical expression.
Designed for music producers who appreciate simplicity without compromising on quality, the D Concert Sound boasts 34 main presets. Each preset serves as a starting point to a world of endless sonic possibilities. You can modify each one, tweak parameters, and design the sound that perfectly fits your musical narrative.
The reverb section, vital for accurately replicating an acoustic piano’s ambiance, is stocked with an exclusive collection of 101 high-quality impulse responses. These are sourced from actual spaces and a blend of respected vintage and contemporary studio hardware, adding a layer of realism and depth to your sound.
With the D Concert Sound, you can immerse yourself in the vintage warmth and unmatched versatility of the Steinway D274. It’s more than just a music plugin; it’s a musical time machine that lets you integrate the soul of this historic piano into your compositions. You’re not just making music; you’re crafting stories that resonate with listeners, stories that only you can tell. So, step into the shoes of concert pianists who played this piano, leave your indelible mark on the world of music. The stage is yours.