Gran Concerto 278, the latest addition to IK’s groundbreaking Pianoverse virtual instrument, which combines the world’s finest concert-grade pianos with inspiring, cinematic effects. For subscribers, Gran Concerto 278 is included with the Pianoverse update released today through the IK Product Manager or may be purchased separately.
Pianoverse lets users explore a breathtaking sonic range, from the most true-to-life acoustic piano experience to the wildest atmospheric and interactive creative textures, all in a single plug-in. And all with incredible ease of use and an inspiring workflow.
Gran Concerto 278 is based on a robot-assisted deep multisampling of a 9.5’ Fazioli F278 Concert Grand piano manufactured by Fazioli Pianoforti of Sacile, Italy. Made from the finest materials, this masterpiece of craftsmanship uses wood from the same red spruce forest where Antonio Stradivari cultivated his rare and celebrated violins. It’s considered by many jazz and classical players to be the finest piano in the world.
With its rich and distinctive sound, the Fazioli F278 was an obvious choice to capture for Pianoverse, letting users experience the same responsive action and wide dynamic range used by many of the world's leading pianists, including Herbie Hancock, Lang Lang, Yuja Wang and Daniil Trifonov.
The F278 was tuned and prepared by a master technician and then sampled in Italy within the walls of a 15th-century convent so the whole world may enjoy this specific instrument in all its unique glory in the Gran Concerto 278.
Capturing Treasured Pianos
IK’s team spent years sourcing treasured pianos from the most prestigious manufacturers. Each instrument is hand-tuned and prepared by a master tuner and then sampled using multiple microphone setups and IK’s custom-built robotic system. The result is unprecedented realism across the entire dynamics of each Pianoverse piano without flattening it or simplifying it too much, which regularly happens with traditional sampling.
A Powerful New Engine
The IK sound design team then used subtle techniques perfected over 2 decades of virtual instrument programming to bring these thousands of samples to life. Pianoverse’s groundbreaking new engine uses completely redesigned round robin, voice management and other techniques to deliver a seamlessly authentic experience.
Beyond Accuracy and Sound
Pianoverse also shines with a unique combination of performance controls for both stage and studio work. To customize each piano’s sound, Pianoverse offers adjustable lid position, harp resonance, pedal noise or even the noise of the piano mallets, all things that are usually only available in modeled instruments. For live use, all three pedals offer continuous control, including half- and catch-pedaling and una corda, to deliver an unmatched performance experience.
Must-have Studio Processing
Pianoverse provides two sets of microphones per piano so the user can choose if they prefer a more modern and in-the-face sound or a more classical sound. On top of that, for traditional sound-shaping and mixing, the Pianoverse engine also offers a comprehensive suite of must-have effects tools and a dedicated master channel with EQ and a VCA-style limiter for final mastering polish.
Generative Spaces to Explore
Where most piano instruments end, Pianoverse is only getting started. Using a new generative reverberation engine, Pianoverse transports any of its concert-grade pianos to 30 sonic destinations. These go from traditional concert halls and studio spaces to less traditional ones like a warehouse or vault, and otherworldly cinematic environments like an iceberg, desert or even Mars. Plus each space includes flexible controls to further shape and create never-heard-before cinematic sounds and textures.
Unique Creative Effects
In addition to custom-created Spaces, Pianoverse also offers 12 new creative effects to design sounds. These effects range from new cinematic spatial effects to must-have studio effects and can be inserted on 3 simultaneous slots: the first slot being a parallel send effect, while slots 2 and 3 are insert effects.
Then, unique to Pianoverse, users will find 4 modulation sources – 2 envelopes and 2 LFOs – that may be assigned to various parameters in these 3 effects slots to further animate and move the sound and create extreme effects when desired. Together these effects offer an arsenal of sound-sculpting tools that cannot be found in any other piano instrument.
A Series of 8 Pianos
With the Gran Concerto 278, there are now 5 pianos in Pianoverse based on a Fazioli F278 Concert Grand, a Yamaha CFIII Concert Grand, a Yamaha U5 Professional Upright, a Bösendorfer 280 Vienna Concert and a Steinway & Sons New York D-274. With more coming soon on a recurring release schedule, featuring models based on a Bösendorfer 200, a Steinway & Sons Hamburg D-274 and a Koch & Korselt Upright, users can discover new inspiration as they need it.
Options, Pricing and Availability
Pianoverse Gran Concerto 278 is available free to all all-access subscribers, as will all future Pianoverse pianos. Users can subscribe now for $/€14.99* per month or $/€149.99 per year. Gran Concerto 278 is also available for purchase at a special introductory price of $/€99.99 (instead of $/€129.99) alongside the other individual Pianoverse pianos from the IK Multimedia online store and from IK authorized dealers worldwide.
*Pricing excludes taxes
For more information about Pianoverse and the new Gran Concerto 278, please visit: www.ikmultimedia.com/pianoverse