NEW! Studio FX Piano – The Well-Prepared Piano
Tradition meets innovation: Painstakingly captured over the course of more than four months in the pristine, controlled environment of Stage B at Vienna Synchron Stage, this unique collection redefines what a piano can be – and sound like. Expanding significantly on the “prepared piano” concept popularized by avant-garde composer John Cage in the 1940s, The Vienna team transformed their Yamaha CFX into a groundbreaking instrument of sonic exploration. By manipulating its strings with objects such as screws, bolts, rubber, felt wedges, chains, and paper, or utilizing an EBow for infinite sustain, it now produces a myriad of adventurous tones far removed from its classical origins. The controlled ambience allows you to shape your custom FX sounds any way you want, while the optional convolution reverb derived from Vienna MIR Pro 3D adds space and even more creative versatility. A wide array of dedicated FX patches and mixer presets takes this sonic adventure to entirely new dimensions, inviting you to push the boundaries of sound design.

Prepper’s Delight
When it comes to high-performance music, preparation is key – and in this collection, that concept takes on a whole new, literal meaning. Synchron Stage Vienna’s very own piano tuner and specialist Max Kubizek conducted extensive research to unlock the unique sound possibilities he and Synchron Stage chief conductor Gottfried Rabl envisioned for this exceptional product, which is vastly more expansive and versatile than the previously released prepared piano in Vienna’s Studio Special Keyboards collection. The results give you incredible freedom for experimentation.

During the recording sessions, no boundaries were set: the bass strings were slapped by hand or plucked with a guitar pick, the piano body was struck with a mallet, metal screws and bolts created sharp metallic overtones, while rubber and felt dampened the vibrating strings to produce muted, drum-like beats. These unconventional techniques and non-traditional approaches generated complex and unexpected sound layers, ranging from mystical drones to sharp, percussive hits that are as inspiring as they are unique.

Beyond Recognition
Behind every keystroke lies a realm of sonic exploration – from the weird and eerie to the innovative and avant-garde. Is it a piano or a percussion instrument? A key instrument or some sort of alien noise generator? Sometimes, it’s hard to tell – and that’s precisely the appeal of this unique instrument. The possibilities are as vast as the materials used to manipulate and transform its sound.

Expanding on the classic “Cage Template,” special FX mixer presets enable instant sound shaping, empowering you to break free from convention. Perfect for film scores, contemporary compositions, and experimental music, the FX piano’s cross-genre versatility is unmistakable. Custom articulations broaden its expressive range, making it indispensable for those seeking the unconventional and unpredictable.

Pure Experimentation
The relatively dry Stage B is perfect for capturing prepared and FX piano sounds that feel as direct and pure as if you were sitting right in front of the instrument while the sound-altering materials are applied. With both algorithmic and convolution reverb options, this prepared piano adapts seamlessly to any musical setting and can be placed in any acoustic environment you desire – ranging from tight, intimate studio spaces to richly reverberant surroundings. Whether you’re crafting cinematic soundscapes or experimental avant-garde compositions, this instrument equips you to explore world of previously unheard piano tones.

Preparations includes a plethora of items such as screws, felt wedges, erasers, chains, aluminum foil, sheet metal, glass plate, leather, brushes, various mallets, EBow, fishing line, different picks for strumming, fingernails, and even a bicycle inner tube! Additionally, the Standard Library and Full Library of Studio FX Piano both include the same articulations. The difference lies in the number of provided microphone positions.

Full

Stage B

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)

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