Synchron Bösendorfer Imperial

Bösendorfer Imperial - Grand Passion

Key Features

• Full 8 octaves in tonal range – 97 keys (with bass extension)
• Warm, orchestral sound, rich in depth and tone color
• Powerful bass
• Six pre-configured Main Presets: Concert, Intimate, Player, Pop, Ambience, Mighty
• Proprietary Vienna Synchron Pianos engine with adjustable sympathetic resonances, pedal noise, key noise and so much more
• Per-note EQ, volume, dynamic range and tuning
• Advanced Release Sample Technology
• Recorded at Stage A of Synchron Stage Vienna

The Vienna team is always striving to improve and optimize their products and procedures – a special challenge, having set a very high bar with the grands they've previously captured at Synchron Stage Vienna. Listening back to the virtual representation of the brand-new Bösendorfer Imperial, we believe they've created a new milestone in the art of piano sampling.

The Bösendorfer Concert Grand 290 Imperial represents the apex of the famed Austrian piano manufacturer's precious heritage. Its nine additional sub-bass notes extend the instrument's key range downward to the low C – for a total range of eight octaves. The extra bass strings create additional harmonic resonance with every key you strike, providing warmth, richness and depth across the entire instrument. The massive soundboard projects an unusually broad frequency range, evoking a sonorous, orchestral timbre.

The Imperial's magically unfolding tonal character, especially apparent in the pianissimo to mezzoforte range, was meticulously sampled in finely calibrated velocity steps using Vienna's proprietary piano "robot", which was further developed and perfected for this effort. To guarantee a consistent sound over all keys, velocities and note lengths, the total recording production time was scheduled as tightly as possible to minimize even the smallest changes in the instrument's sonic behavior. A sufficient block of time was reserved at the Synchron Stage, but after recording nearly 24 hours a day it still took several weeks to capture the 290 Imperial in its entirety.

What's more, the proprietary Release Sample Technology was even further refined, allowing the Synchron Player to automatically match hundreds of individual and finely stepped release samples per key to your played notes in real-time. The result is a hyper-realistic playing feel and 100% timbral authenticity.

As with all the instruments of Vienna's Synchron Pianos series, this Bösendorfer 290 Imperial enjoys permanent, climate-controlled residency at Synchron Stage Vienna, whose main hall is characterized by its particularly warm and natural ambience. The large 5,813 sq.ft. Stage A has lent its acoustic signature to numerous international productions, from classical chamber music to international, large-scale orchestral film scores.

The Vienna Synchron Pianos software player offers multiple options for shaping your sound and the playing experience. Hosting a high-performance playback engine, the software provides a musician-friendly user interface that allows for quick and easy timbral control. Create your sound intuitively by filtering particular key ranges or even single keys, adjust the body resonance of the instrument or add just a touch of algorithmic reverb to refine the overall sound.

Standard vs. Full Libraries

The Standard Library versions of the VSL Synchron Pianos feature an essential set of close mics plus the classic sound of a Decca tree stereo array. The Full Library versions add more close mic options and include all available room microphones for a wide variety of stereo and surround possibilities.