Our Montclarion Hall Grand Piano is a classic Steinway 1926 parlor grand.
It was captured in three microphone positions (close, mid and far), to allow custom and surround mixing. It has a crisp, solid tone ideal for classical composing, as well as soul, jazz, rock and pop. It also contains a broad string effects section including glisses, sweeps, slams, plucks and more.
The Montclarion Hall Piano was recorded in a steep A-framed long hall that truly resonates with us. It was the same room that we recorded Mars, Venus and the Apocalypse Percussion Ensemble in. It has a lush, rich, clear and yet well-defined and well-controlled natural sound. In our ears, something about this magical room combined perfectly with this piano, creating the right holistic balance that felt both instantly inspiring and somehow unique. The true instrument here is the piano and the hall, as one singular being.
We recorded sustains and release samples, as well as pedal sfx, bench, lid and sheet music sounds. Then we popped the hood and went to work, capturing a decent selection of sweeps, scrapes, glisses, rumbles and other effects. Then we prepared the piano for a little special treatment, capturing 3 buzzy, resonant and raw tuned string percussion sets. Finally, we decided to to a little bare-handed 3-man ensemble percussion at the piano’s expense. Montclarion was recorded in an acoustic hall, which means there are subtle ambient sounds in the recordings giving a better and more rich expression to the instrument.
*This library was originally published as “Montclarion Hall Piano” by Tonehammer.