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Vienna Symphonic Library has released Vienna Imperial, a virtual grand piano for Windows and Mac.
The venerable Bösendorfer Imperial 290-755 that our team hosted at the Silent Stage for two months was equipped with the famed piano manufacturer’s CEUS technology, which allowed for the most precise and by far most extensive piano sample recordings ever conducted in the history of music technology. 1,200 recorded samples per key represent a magnitude of sampling detail that has been unthinkable up to now.
The innovative implementation of meticulously recorded pedal-up and pedal-down notes in up to 100 velocities, comprehensive sympathetic resonances, and multiple release samples make the Vienna Imperial quite honestly the most realistic sampled piano ever created.
Vienna Imperial features
- Up to 100 velocities per key, 1,200 recorded samples per key.
- Audience, player, and close microphone recording positions.
- Powerful proprietary piano engine.
- Multiple release samples for different note lengths (supports authentic staccato/staccatissimo performances).
- Repetition samples for pedal-sustained notes.
- Sympathetic resonances for sustain pedal up and down positions.
- Adjustable pedal noises.
- Easy to use interface with unique velocity histogram.
- Convolution reverb featuring three halls of the famous Vienna Konzerthaus.
- Equalizer.
- Dynamic range control.
- Lossless sample compression for using less hard disk space.
- RAM Optimizer to unload unused samples out of RAM.
- 24-bit/44.1kHz, stereo.
Vienna Imperial is available for Windows and Mac (VST/AU/RTAS) at a price of $875 USD. A purchase also entitles you to download the free Vienna Ensemble 2 mixing and host software.
Visit Vienna Symphonic Library for more information and audio demos.
Overkill is an understatement! I hate library’s that simply want to eat up disk space with no relevant payoff.
When I bought Battery3… It stated it had like 10,000 samples. I was impressed before buying but quickly found out the samples were a bit limited in variety because of so many variations of the same sounds. I was certain the library had practically ever drum sound nearly produced. Also, the kits were just repeats of prior versions. It’s a good thing that I’m into programming and sound design.
The same can be said for the Kontakt 3 library as well. Both programs are great though.
The funny thing about this Vienna library is… unless you’re doing solo piano tracks or playing it live… all the so called extensive sampling gets lost in the mix when drums, keys and other elements are added!
Vienna Imperial with up to 1,200 recorded samples per key may not be practical. I dont think that this Grand Piano has commercial viability as it is a little bit of an overkill in terms of its specification.
>”1,200 recorded samples per key represent a….”
level of detail no one will ever use.