The Grand Piano used for the TVBO is a Yamaha C7. One of the most popular studio grands. Well known for its detailed, rich, full sound.

The recordings took place at OAL studios in Stockholm, Sweden and we used two types of microphones, Neumann SM2, a stereo microphone and a pair of Neumann U89.

The SM2 model is a stereo microphone that’s essentially a pair of KM56.  It was introduced in 1956 and was at the time, (and for quite many years), the only stereo microphones available. Its been used in a plethora of recording situation, and has been dubbed ”the piano saviour” by many.

The SM2 was set up above the strings, close the hammers, to capture a detailed, bright sound that would work well in a mix where you need detailed

Neumann U89 The U89 was considered to be a follower to the famous U87. The demand for the older model was so great, that Neumann decided to keep both models.

The U89 is universal studio microphones that very often are used on pianos.

For the TVBO we used a pair of U89 in an x/y position to capture a bit more ambience without loosing the touch with the instrument.

TVBO where recorded using two different microphone pairs. Both having their own characteristic.

You can use them separately, or mix the together using the volume faders. You can also turn each channel on/off using the button at the top.

Convoluting Reverb containing impulses from plates, spring reverb, rooms, halls and digital reverbs

• Sympathetic Resonance
• Phase Control
• Velocity Control
• Detune Control
• Hammerback Volume
• Pedal Noise Volume
• Volume for Resonance and Shimmer

There are so many sampled pianos on the market today and you as a musician have the benefit to be able to choose from the multitude of different brands and sounds.
Most, or nearly all, of the sampled pianos are great, wonderful grand pianos like Steinway's, Bosendorfer and other truly amazing instruments.
But, sometimes you need something different.
Let's face it, you wouldn't choose Pavarotti to sing rock and roll, would you?
Also, you probably would let Robert Plant sing "La Boheme"…..
Mind you, it probably would sound great in a way, but it's probably not what you're after!
Now, most of the sampled pianos on the market today are "Pavarotti's", but if you want a "Plant"-piano you don't have that many chooses, until now!

The Vertikal is a upright piano recorded and designed to do the job when you need that little extra "umpf" in your songs. It can be rock, blues, jazz, gospel or anything that needs the extra attitude. Shortly, when you need something not that "grand".

In the MkII both microphone perspectives are included so you can use them one by one, of mix to taste!

We also added hammerback and pedalnoise samples.

Then we added our True Resonance feature and used Kontakts scripting facilities to make Real Time/True Pedaling, Sympathetic Resonance and some other nifty features, and, Voila: Vertikal MkII

• 16 velocity levels
• More the 3900 samples
• TimeVel Release Technology ™
• Sympathetic Resonance
• Controllable volume for key/pedal noise
• Controllable volume for Sympathetic Resonance and True Resonance
• Two microphone perspectives
• 24 bit 44.1 stereo samples