Studio Special Keyboards

^{previously "SYNCHRON-ized Special Keyboards"}

Studio Special Keyboards allows you to play our wonderful harpsichord, harmonium, and prepared piano, now available not only for Vienna Instruments, but also for our groundbreaking Vienna Synchron Player.

The instrument Presets comprise all recorded Articulations in separate slots, with an additional open/secco option for two of the prepared piano's sounds.

The path of your Special Keyboards Collection in the Synchron Player's browser window is “Studio Collections\36 SYzd Special Keyboards".

Articulations are enabled by default. Disabling a slot means that all the slots dependent on it will be deactivated, too, so if you happen to be short of RAM it is possible to deactivate anything you don't really need (you can always add more stuff later) - which will probably be unnecessary with this rather RAM-friendly Library.

Since the Articulations of these instruments are quite straightforward, there are only keyswitches for the stops and the piano's various preparations. There are only two instances where the modwheel is used as a dimension controller for changing between open and secco variants.

The Patches used for every instrument are listed right after their Preset information.

The Harpsichord (or Cembalo in German/Italian) has a very bright sound rich in overtones. Its tone can be changed in character by the keystrokes, but unlike the piano it cannot be played louder or softer. A typical Baroque instrument, the harpsichord hardly played a role in classical and romantic music. In modern literature, however, it has been rediscovered (an early example being Francis Poulenc's Concert Champêtre), and also is used poignantly and effectfully in film and TV music.

• Strings:
  • 8'
  • 8' with double strings
  • 8' double + 4'
• Keyswitches: C1-D1
• Range: F1-E6

01 Cembalo 8-feet

8' stop

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Release samples
• Alterations: 4
• Samples: 271

02 Cembalo 8-feet double

8' stop, double-stringed

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Release samples
• Alterations: 4
• Samples: 271

03 Cembalo tutti

Tutti: A combination of two 8' stops and one 4' stop

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Release samples
• Alterations: 4
• Samples: 271

The Harmonium is a free-reed instrument - air streaming past reeds of different length causes them to vibrate. Contrary to organ pipes, the harmonium's reeds produce more disharmonic overtones, creating a special, undulating sound. The harmonium was used as a substitute for the middle voices in orchestrations, but also as a home instrument and in choral church music when an organ was unavailable. It could even be regarded as a predecessor of the Hammond Organ, as it was sometimes played by eminent jazz musicians like Fats Waller.

• Stops:

  • Aeoline
  • Bassoon-Hautbois
  • Clairon-Fifre
  • Clarinette-Bourdon
  • Flute-Cor anglais
  • Voix-Celeste
  • Grand jeu
  • Percussive

• Keyswitches: C7-G7

• Range: C1-C6.

01 Harm Aeoline

Aeoline

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0-88 mf
  • 89-127 f
• Release samples
• Samples: 244

02 Harm Bassoon-Hautbois

Bassoon-Hautbois

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0-88 mf
  • 89-127 f
• Release samples
• Samples: 244

03 Harm Clairon-Fifre

Clairon-Fifre

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0-88 mf
  • 89-127 f
• Release samples
• Samples: 244

04 Harm Clarinette-Bourdon

Clarinette-Bourdon

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0-88 mf
  • 89-127 f
• Release samples
• Samples: 244

05 Harm Flute-Coranglais

Flute-Cor anglais

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0-88 mf
  • 89-127 f
• Release samples
• Samples: 244

06 Harm Grandjeu

Grandjeu

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0-88 mf
  • 89-127 f
• Release samples
• Samples: 244

07 Harm Percussion

Percussive notes

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Release samples
• Alterations: 4
• Samples: 305

08 Harm Voix-Celeste

Voix Celeste

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0-88 mf
  • 89-127 f
• Release samples
• Samples: 244

The Prepared Piano was made famous by John Cage in 1949, when he first used it to expand the piano's sounds for his compositions. He worked with objects like erasers, nails, wire, paper etc. inserted between a piano's strings of the same pitch in certain places, causing them to produce additional tones, flageolets, or percussive sounds. For our recording sessions, we used a Bosendorfer grand piano, which was also treated bare-handed (e.g., for glissandos over the strings) and with drumsticks in order to get a multitude of creative sounds and colors. While generally keeping to Cage's directions for preparing the piano, thus paying homage to the great innovative composer, we extended all preparations to cover the full range of the piano, so that you can use them in the register which suits your composition.

• Items/Articulations:
  • Chain on strings
  • Screws between strings
  • Harmonics (fingered)
  • Aluminium foil
  • Waterglass
  • Drumstick
  • Drumsticks roll
  • Glissandi (strings)

Harmonics and rolls have an open/secco option which can be controlled with Dim.Ctrl/A (CC1, modwheel).

• Keyswitches: C0-G0
• Range: F1-E6

01 PP Chain

Notes are played with a metal chain placed on the strings.

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0-88 p
  • 89-127 f
• Alterations: 2
• Samples: 208

02 PP Double-screw

For this effect, screws are inserted between the strings.

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0-88 p
  • 89-127 f
• Alterations: 2
• Samples: 208

03 PP Harmonic

Harmonics are created damping the string with a finger.

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Alterations: 2
• Samples: 104

04 PP Harmonic secco

Harmonics, secco; here, the finger pressure is so strong that the string is not allowed to vibrate freely.

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0-88 p;
  • 89-127 ff
• Alterations: 2
• Samples: 208

05 PP Foil

Notes are played with aluminum foil put on the strings

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0-88 p
  • 89-127 f
• Alterations: 2
• Samples: 208

06 PP Glas

A waterglass is placed on the strings to create this effect.

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0-88 p
  • 89-127 f
• Alterations: 2
• Samples: 206

07 PP Stick

Played directly on the strings with a drumstick: Single notes Pedal down/up noise at C9/D9

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0-88 p
  • 89-127 f
• Alterations: 2
• Samples: 208

08 PP Stick roll

Played directly on the strings with a drumstick: Rolls

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Release samples
• Samples: 156

08 PP Stick roll secco

Played directly on the strings with a drumstick: Rolls

• Velocity Layers: 1
• Release samples
• Samples: 156

10 PP Glissandi

Glissandi, up and down, var. 1-10. The glissandi are performed directly on the strings, variations go from low range to high range

• Velocity Layers: 2
  • 0-88 p
  • 89-127 f
• Range: C4-A5
• Samples: 40
• Mapping:
  • C4-A4: upward glissandi
  • C5-A5: downward glissandi

The specially designed FX Presets make use of various combinations of the three Special Keyboards in up to five layers, and effects such as delay, chorus, etc. to create unusual and inspiring sound structures. Here are brief descriptions of these Presets, but of course it is best to listen to them!

A stable sound to hit some chords.

• CC1: Delay and Chorus lead into distance.
• Layers: 01 Harpsichord 8-feet, 01 Harm Aeoline, 01 PP Chain
• Range: C1-B6.

A plucked sound with a pacific island flair.

• CC1: Switch the volume of Layer 1 and Layer 2 combined with Humanize.
• Layers: 03 PP Harmonic, , 06 Harm Grandjeu, 06 PP Glas
• Range: C1-B6.

An electric (lower) sound.

• CC1: A phase effect combined with a filter.
• Layers: 01 Harm Aeoline, 01 PP Chain, 01 Harpsichord 8-feet
• Range: C1-B6.

A rough sound to fill your mix.

• CC1: Filter.
• Layers: 06 PP Glas, 07 Harm Voix-Celeste, 05 PP Foil
• Range: C1-B6.

A rough sound with a blurry release.

• CC1: Autogained Amp.
• Layers: 08 Harm Percussive, 01 Harpsichord 8-feet, 05 PP Foil, 01 PP Chain
• Range: C1-C7.

Short attack with a modulating sustain.

• CC1: Filter.
• Layers: 09 PP Stick roll secco, 08 PP Stick roll, 05 PP Foil, 01 PP Chain, 03 PP Harmonic
• Range: C1-C7.

Deep pulsing bass.

• CC1: Filter.
• Layers: 01 Harpsichord 8-feet (2x), 04 Harm Clarinette-Bourdon
• Range: C1-C3.

Bass sound with stereo FX.

• CC1: Filter.
• Layers: 05 Harm Flute-Coranglais, 04 Harm Clarinette-Bourdon, 08 PP Stick roll
• Range: C1-C3.

Nervous evolving pad.

• CC1: Filter.
• Layers: 03 Harm Clairon-Fifre, 03 PP Harmonic, 05 PP Foil
• Range: C1-C5.

Resolution to preset nr. 9.

• CC1: Filter.
• Layers: 03 Harm Clairon-Fifre, 02 Harm Bassoon-Hautbois, 06 PP Glas
• Range: C1-C6.

Creepy sound from an abandoned fun fair.

• CC1: Adds depth.
• Layers: 04 Harm Clarinette-Bourdon, 05 Harm Flute-Coranglais, 03 Harm Clairon-Fifre (2x)
• Range: C1-C6.

Harsh piano with glitch effects.

• CC1: Lowpass filter.
• Layers: 07 PP Stick, 03 PP Harmonic
• Range: A0-C8.

Music box with motor noise.

• CC1: Adds more noise.
• Layers: 03 PP Harmonic, 03 Harm Clairon-Fifre, 09 PP Stick roll secco (2x)
• Range: C1-C6.

Kind of like an electric guitar.

• CC1: Lowpass filter.
• Layers: 07 PP Stick, 02 Harpsichord 8-feet double, 03 PP Harmonic
• Range: C1-E6.

Piano from the underworld.

• CC1: Lowpass filter.
• Layers: 05 PP Foil, 04 PP Harmonic secco, 02 PP Double-screw
• Range: A0-C8.

Recuerdos de la Hammond.

• CC1: Adds reverb.
• Layers: 02 Harpsichord 8-feet double, 01 Harm Aeoline, 03 PP Harmonic
• Range: A0-C7.

A toothless piano morphs into hyperspaces.

• CC1: Blend between both.
• Layers: 07 PP Stick (2x), 05 PP Foil
• Range: A0-C8.

Mostly a toy piano.

• CC1: Adds some delay.
• Layers: 02 Harpsichord 8-feet double, 01 Harm Aeoline, 03 PP Harmonic
• Range: A0-C6.

Another broken guitar.

• CC1: Thin or fat.
• Layers: 01 PP Chain
• Range: A0-C8.

Whether it is broken or untuned -

• CC1: You decide.
• Layers: 06 Harm Grandjeu (3x), 06 PP Glas, 07 PP Stick
• Range: A1-C6.