Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX Concert Grand - Virtual Instrument, Download

We placed the awe-inspiring Yamaha CFX Concert Grand Piano in Abbey Road Studio One, where award-winning engineers used the world's greatest microphones and equipment to create a stunning virtual instrument library.Every facet of this project reflects the perfection that only the most passionate can produce: the instrument, the room, the engineers, and the mics. Experience the passion reflected in every detail.The Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX Concert Grand sound library is AAX, RTAS, VST, and AU compatible, and is proudly powered by the ARIA Player. There's no need to purchase a separate sampler.A truly remarkable virtual pianoThe Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX Concert Grand places the user on the bench before the Yamaha CFX, an incredible concert grand piano characterized by a wide palette of tonal colors and the ability to create the most subtle, expressive nuances. This beautiful instrument is matched with the stunning acoustics of Abbey Road Studios' legendary Studio One and the finest collection of microphones in the world.All facets of this project - the instrument, the room, the mics, and the recording expertise - work together to create the finest sampled piano ever captured. Experience the passion reflected in every detail.EngineeringThe sound of the Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX piano was captured by a team of highly experienced Abbey Road recording engineers, each contributing decades of knowledge in recording pianos for a variety of applications.Microphone set-ups, also referred to as perspectives, have a huge effect on the overall sound of the recorded instrument. Each set of perspectives speaks specifically to various musical settings.The set-ups are a hybrid of classic techniques handed down from generation to generation of balance engineers within Abbey Road Studios since the 1930s, mixed with more contemporary and experiential arrays that perfectly complement each other. These set-ups have been and are continually used by the finest recording artists in the world and have been presented here for use as a sampled instrument for the first time ever.Microphone PerspectivesTo expand your creative possibilities, Abbey Road Studios' engineers created three discrete microphone perspectives: Classic, Contemporary, and Player.ClassicThe Classic perspective most faithfully captures the natural tonal character, clarity and nuance of the instrument.Close - 2 x Neumann M49 and 2 x Neumann KM184 MicrophonesAs every piano, recording venue, repertoire and pianist are different, the M49 and KM184 are used to capture a close detailed sound, which is especially good for chamber music.Mid Field/Wide - 2 x DPA 4006 MicrophonesThe DPA 4006's placed at each end of the piano create a wider and more spacious sound picture.Main - 2 x Neumann TLM50 MicrophonesThe Neumann TLM50 are placed 2m away from the instrument and at 2.6m in height. This captures the overall complex frequency response and dynamic range of a grand piano.ContemporaryThe Contemporary perspective creates a piano sound that is bright and hard with lots of attack from the hammers, but also maintains the piano's warmth with intimate ambience.Close - AKG C12 & D19 MicrophonesThe AKG C12 is a bright sounding valve microphone with bite and some nice valve warmth.The mono D19 placed in the centre over the hammers was run via a classic REDD.47 valve microphone preamp, adding central focus and 'poke' to the close sound of this set up.Ambience - Schoeps MK 2H MicrophonesFor the Ambience microphones Schoeps MK 2H are used in a close position. They are able to bring the sound of the room to the mix, without losing too much of the definition of the piano's initial attack.PlayerThe Player perspective offers the experience of playing the CFX, from the piano bench, in Studio One, particularly when reproduced over high quality headphones.Close - 2 x Neumann KM84 MicrophonesThis is a straight forward stereo pair placed closely and directly over the hammers. It provides an immediate sound of the piano with little coloration from the room.Player - Neumann KU100 Dummy HeadThe Binaural KU100 Dummy Head was placed directly behind the musicians head. This provides an intimacy to the instrument mixed with the unmistakable sense of playing the instrument in the acoustics of Studio One.The Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX Concert Grand sound library is AAX, RTAS, VST, and AU compatible, and is proudly powered by the ARIA Player. There's no need to purchase a separate sampler.PresetsGarritan has worked closely with Abbey Road Studios to develop presets that are both functionally useful and inspiring to play. Research included artists and genres as well as notable recordings, cinematic settings and live performance examples to make the CFX as flexible and versatile a musical instrument as possible.ClassicDefaultThis is the default preset for the Classic microphone perspective of the CFX.Classic RockThe M49s and KM184s combine with some EQ and a custom velocity curve to make a "Close" solid rock piano sound with depth for the classic perspective.Dark CinemaThis preset is designed to emphasize a darker tonal pallet. This has been paired with the "Dark Pad" convolution preset to add a moody and ethereal flavour to the piano.Dull ResonanceThis highly resonant sound is muted with a closed lid position. Minimal dynamic range and a custom velocity curve give this muted sound some sudden timbre changes.GlimmerThe piano has been set to have a sharp cutoff when a note is released. This has been combined with "Vintage Algo" convolution reverb to create a glimmering after effect in the reverb.Goldberg 1981A famous recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations was used as a reference. There is a clear and direct mic position mixed with a more distant and quiet ambient response.Paul's Perfect PianoBoth sustain and sympathetic resonance are boosted in this very ambient preset.Solo Piano 1A slight emphasis on the Close Mic make this an ideal setting moody classical pieces.Solo Piano 2Both close and ambient channels are set with short releases give a different shade of the CFX classic tone.Solo Piano 3This is a classic sound with the soft pedal engaged and a slight emphasis on the Ambient Mics.Vintage EvansSmooth, balanced and classic vintage jazz piano.ContemporaryDefaultThis is the default preset for the Contemporary microphone perspective of the CFX.BBBBennieThis lively preset puts you on stage for a 70's style pop hit.Big and BOLDSaturation and ambient bass are pushed to limit in this bombastic sound.Bright PokeThe D19 and C12 microphones in the close channel with some eq boost create a hot saturated pop sound good for comping and stabs.Brighton RockSet up to bright and taught, this preset has a light touch and is EQ'd to cut through the mix.Chicken WireAn alternate tuning, a slightly lighter touch and a closed lid give the piano a raw, moody flavor.Dark and DistantThis spooky preset is darkened with EQ and given extra space for a lingering suspenseful haunting sound.Mirek's Rock SoundSaturation and lower dynamic range with an easy velocity curve puts this piano right in your face.Newman BeautyA melodic and ambient preset that is useful for a cinematic sound.Paul's Pokey PianoThis whimsical preset cuts the bass and decreases stereo width while placed in a jazz club ambience. Great for that in the other room sound.Soft and moodyA warm atmosphere is created with the D19/C12 combination. Hi EQ is pulled back and a custom velocity curve restricts play to the quietest samples.PlayerDefaultThis is the default preset for the Player microphone perspective of the CFX.Big Head SpaceThe KU100 dummy head is soloed here with cuts in mid and low EQ. A light sound is created that echoes through a deep reflective reverb.Soft PlayerThis is KU100 with the soft pedal engaged for a soft and delicate touch and some "Deep Space" optional reverb loaded.Mad HatterA very dynamic and spritely feel that is great for various jazz and dance styles.CutnRunRelease Decay and Release Volume are set to 0, Release Crossfade is set to 3 and EQ's are sculpted to give the piano a tight and lively flavor.Edward's ReflectionOnly the KU100 is engaged to capture the most natural ambience of Studio One from the bench of the CFX.JamamatsuHighs, Lows and Mids are sculpted with an adjustment to the velocity curve to give the piano a warm and open characteristic.LatelyThe piano is set up to have a warm tone for chords and a shine for stronger lines.Village GrinderAn emphasis on the KM84 over the KU100 with a "half-stick" combined with some saturation and convolution reverb give this preset the flavor of a "working" piano in a Manhattan jazz club.WendyhouseFeaturing a dramatic Scala tuning, this preset has an erie effect perfect for texture and mood.