Studio FX Piano from Vienna Symphonic Library features unconventional techniques and nontraditional approaches you can use to generate complex and unexpected sound layers, ranging from mystical drones to sharp, percussive hits that are as inspiring as they are unique. AU, VST, VST3, AAX Native plug-ins are supported on Windows and Mac systems.
Preparations
- Screws inserted between two of the three strings at octave position
- Screws inserted between two of the three strings at fifth position
- Screws with loose nuts inserted between two of the three strings at octave position
- Felt wedges normally used for tuning inserted between strings
- Eraser parts cut to size are inserted at half string length, resulting in a flageolet sound
- Chains of about 30cm length with 5 to 7mm link size put on the strings
- Paper strips threaded between the strings behind the damper to inhibit their free movement
- Aluminum foil lying on the strings is caused to vibrate when they are struck
- A small piece of sheet metal centered on the string and bouncing along
- A glass plate put on the bass strings makes enormous noise
- A water glass pressed onto the strings and moved after the keystroke, similar to a guitar bottleneck
- A hard glockenspiel mallet was used to play the strings from above for a dulcimer-like sound
- A rubber mallet was used to play the strings with screws inserted between the strings
- Timpani wool mallets were used to perform rolls on the strings
- Single strings were plucked with a Wegen Gipsy guitar pick
- Strumming all three strings of a note with the Gipsy guitar pick, with dampers on the strings
- Leather pick glissandos
- EBow string stimulation for pad-like sounds
- EBow with a nut put on the oscillating strings
- A fishing line was rubbed with rosin and threaded between the strings several times so that they are bowed like a cello
- Fishing line crescendos
- Fast and slow up and down glissandos played with a leather pick between the trusses
- Rasping bass strings with the fingernail
- Glissandos played with percussion brushes in several positions
- Dragging the inner tube of a bike across the strings to achieve something like whale song
- Hits with the open hand on the bass strings in several positions
- A gong mallet was used to play on the trusses from the side and from above. The hits gain a lot of body and reverb by pressing the pedal.
- The piano body is hit with a timpani mallet in several positions
Mics
- Condenser - Close 1 (Neumann KM 184)
- Ribbon - Close 2 (Royer SF-24)
- Tube - Close 3 (Lewitt LCT 1040)
- Mid 1 (Lewitt LCT 540S AB)
- Mid 2 (Sennheiser MKH 800 ORTF)
- Main/Room Mic - Decca Tree Stereo (L/R)
- Main/Room Mic - Decca Tree Mono (Center)
- Main Surround - Stereo (L/R)