Studio Bösendorfer Imperial

The Studio Bösendorfer Imperial brings the unmistakable Viennese sound of one of the world’s most revered concert grands straight to your studio. Recorded in the controlled acoustic environment of our second studio, the Silent Stage, this virtual instrument offers an intimate and highly flexible sound, perfect for a wide range of musical styles. The recorded concert grand, a Bösendorfer Imperial 290-755, is a different instrument than our “Synchron Bösendorfer Imperial” which was captured on the large Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage. Thanks to its dedicated recording setup at the Silent Stage, this studio version delivers a unique sonic character with maximum flexibility for placement in any acoustic environment.

• Captured in the controlled ambience of the Silent Stage

• Bösendorfer’s CEUS technology for stunning clarity, detail, and precision

• Up to 1,200 samples per key

• Up to 100 velocities per key

• Close, Player, and Audience perspective

Using Bösendorfer’s state-of-the-art CEUS technology based on solenoids installed under every key, we recorded even the subtlest key movements with extraordinary accuracy. Every nuance of the instrument’s behavior is preserved, with up to 1,200 samples per key and up to 100 velocities per key. Thanks to this comprehensive method, the Studio Bösendorfer Imperial delivers an incredibly dynamic and authentic playing experience that faithfully mirrors the responsiveness and richness of the original grand piano.

Unlike the other Studio Pianos, the recording sessions for this instrument did not take place at Synchron Stage’s Studio B, but at our erstwhile recording facility, the renowned Silent Stage. The Studio Bösendorfer Imperial was recorded from three distinct perspectives: close microphones for a direct, detailed tone; player microphones that capture the authentic perspective of the pianist; and audience microphones that add natural ambience and a sense of spaciousness. In the mixer these signals can be blended seamlessly and effects added to tailor the piano’s sound to your project’s needs.

With its focus on pure stereo recordings, captured under ideal conditions, the Studio Bösendorfer Imperial offers a beautifully balanced sound that shines both as a solo instrument and in ensemble settings. The included Presets are intended to help you achieve what you’re aiming for, and paving the way to your ideal sound. Six of these presets are always visible on the preset bar right above the virtual keyboard, the others can be selected by clicking on the "More" button in that bar or on the folder button in the top menu bar.

For designating pitch, the Vienna Symphonic Library uses International Pitch Notation (IPN), which was agreed upon internationally under the auspices of the Acoustical Society of America. In this system the international standard of A=440 Hz is called A4 and middle C is C4. All pitches are written as capital letters, their respective octave being indicated by a number next to it. The lowest C on the piano is C1 (the A below that is A0), etc.