The Steinway & Sons D-274 is the flagship model of world-renowned piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons. This beautifully hand-crafted instrument with its laminated wooden housing and its poured iron frame has not changed much since it was first developed at the end of the 19th century. With a length of 274 cm (almost 9 ft.) and a weight of almost 500 kg (1,100 lb.), the Steinway D-274 continues to play a significant role in the global music industry. An estimated 90% of all concert grands on the world's stages are Steinway D-274 models, delighting its players and audiences alike.
The reasons are obvious: Especially when competing with orchestras, the D-274 impresses with its tremendous assertive sonic volume and power – which is not surprising considering its soundboard of almost two square meters (21.5 sq.ft.)!
Leading artists of all eras have appreciated playing a Steinway D, from Sergei Rachmaninoff, Vladimir Horowitz, Arthur Rubinstein, and Glenn Gould, to today's top-notch pianists, such as Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Emanuel Ax, Hélène Grimaud, and Lang Lang, just to name a few.
The instrument features a room mix of the multi-microphone recording set-up, as well as the close microphone samples. The piano is thus not only ready for integration into compositions with other Synchron Libraries, but also offers the intimate sound often desired for solo or chamber pieces.
The included Mixer Presets put typical situations at your fingertips.
Our very own Steinway & Sons D-274 is a "Hamburg Model" and was hand picked from eight Steinway D models by Stefan Mendl, founding member and pianist of the Vienna Piano Trio. In a city rich with glorious instruments, it is ranked among the best sounding grand pianos in Vienna, and has been endorsed by all artists who have had the opportunity to play it. The instrument enjoys permanent, climate-controlled residency at Vienna Synchron Stage, which is characterized by its particularly warm, intense, and natural ambience. The hall has lent its acoustic signature to numerous international productions, from classical chamber music to international, large-scale orchestral film scores.
The essence of the Steinway sound
Steinway & Sons D-274, Hamburg Model
Realistic playing feel, full of expression
Hollywood proven ambience of Stage A at Vienna Synchron Stage
Mix-ready sound with Room Mix and close mic
Pre-configured presets: “Concert”, “Intimate”, “Player”, “Pop”, “Ambience”, “Mighty”
Sympathetic resonance and body resonance
Upgrade path to Synchron Concert D-274
The Concert D is a masterpiece of both sound and design. To capture its full range of nuances, Vienna’s engineers developed a highly precise motion-control system featuring a solenoid-operated, noise-free “robot finger.” This micro-controller moves the finger with superhuman precision, allowing for flexible curvatures in both key down-strokes and release movements. While offering fewer velocity layers than the premium Synchron Concert D-274 collection, this “Essentials” version delivers breathtaking realism.
Recorded in the exceptional acoustics of the expansive main hall of Vienna Synchron Stage – renowned for its warm, transparent, and natural sound – this space serves as the perfect backdrop for the majestic D-274.
Concert D-274 Essentials comes with our free Vienna Synchron Pianos Software that 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 pinch of algorithmic reverb to refine the overall sound.
