Authorized Steinway Piano sample-based software instruments

[Kent Swafford]

from

http://www.synthtopia.com/news/06_01/Garritan_Piano.html




Garritan Intros New Steinway Software Piano Venture

Steinway & Sons and Garritan have announced a new venture to create a  
series of Authorized Steinway Piano sample-based software instruments.
The Authorized Steinway Piano sample library is a new sample-based  
software instrument that accurately captures the sound of a Steinway  
& Sons concert grand piano. This new software instrument will allow  
the musician to play a virtual Steinway Model D concert piano with  
unprecedented authenticity and musicality. The library will offer  
more than seven different listening perspectives, including a player  
perspective from the bench, a classical recording perspective, an  
under the lid perspective, and a 5.1 surround sound hall perspective.

"This was a very important project for Steinway & Sons", states Gary  
Green, Vice President of Business Development and Customer  
Satisfaction. "We have long recognized the need for a Steinway  
sampled sound set that would best reflect the complex architectures  
of the Steinway sound. We also understand the importance of quality  
samples and their use by amateur music enthusiasts, as well as,  
prominent producers, composers, recording studios and other venues.  
We were extremely lucky to have Gary Garritan work with us on this  
technically and musically complex project. Although both Steinway &  
Sons and Gary Garritan recognize that nothing can replace the actual  
Steinway piano, we are extremely delighted that there is now a  
sampling product that comes closest to capturing the distinctive  
Steinway sound that we are proud to endorse."

"Steinway pianos have set the bar of excellence in pianos," said Gary  
Garritan. "Our goal is to develop with Steinway & Sons the highest  
quality piano sample library ever produced, one that will once again  
set the standard in quality and innovation."

At the heart of the Authorized Steinway Piano sample library will be  
the sound of the instrument. To realize the full, rich essence of a  
Steinway piano, extreme care was taken in the recording process. The  
Steinway concert grand piano that was recorded is one of Steinway's  
finest Model D pianos, newly voiced, regulated, and tuned by an  
expert technician. The perfect instrument was hand-picked by Steinway  
& Sons and delivered to the concert hall for recording. The site for  
the recording was also selected by Steinway, and the choice was clear.

Not many are aware that one of the greatest concert halls in the  
world is located in downtown Troy, New York. The Troy Savings Bank  
Music Hall is a National Treasure and is world-renowned for its  
acoustics, particularly for piano performances. Designed by George  
Brown Post, and opened in 1875, the 1,250 seat Troy Savings Bank  
Music Hall has hosted many of the world's finest pianists including  
Steinway artists: Sergei Rachmaninoff, Vladimir Horowitz, Ignacy Jan  
Paderewski, Myra Hess, and Artur Rubenstein, among many others. The  
wonderfully strong, rich and clear sound of this concert hall is  
unparalleled.
Steinway & Sons provided one of their best concert technicians for  
the recording sessions. Eric Shandall, Administrator of Technical  
Training, attended all the sessions monitoring each note to ensure  
the best possible sound from the instrument. Eric Shandall has  
traveled extensively giving classes for technicians, and tuning for  
concerts by Steinway artists such as Evgeny Kissin and others.  
Classical recording engineer Brian C. Peters was in charge of  
recording. Peters brings over 18 years of classical recording  
experience - including over 400 records for the award-winning  
audiophile record label Dorian Records.