Steinway B piano from 1901, famously featured in albums by Elton John, David Bowie, and Fleetwood Mac, now replicated by Spitfire Audio in their newest instrument offering, the Strawberry Studios collection.
In a significant move for the music industry, Spitfire Audio has released a new instrument, "Château Piano," which meticulously samples a 1901 Steinway B grand piano from Strawberry Studios, a renowned recording venue in France.
Strawberry Studios, also known as Château d'Hérouville, has a rich history, having hosted some of the most iconic artists and producing landmark albums throughout the 1970s. This prestigious studio, often referred to as "France’s Abbey Road," has played host to the likes of Pink Floyd, Elton John, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, The Bee Gees, Iggy Pop, and Rainbow, among others [1][2][3][5].
Located in rural France and housed in an 18th-century château, Le Château d'Hérouville, Strawberry Studios boasts a unique atmosphere and history that has contributed to the distinctive sound of its recordings. The 1901 Steinway B piano, which is at the heart of Spitfire Audio’s Château Piano, has been painstakingly restored by master tuner Bastien Herbin to preserve and enhance its soulful tone and remarkable playability [2].
Château Piano captures this historic instrument’s character with great detail, using 8 microphone signals and offering 37 presets to accurately reproduce the piano’s rich, vintage sound. The software library reflects the piano’s use on era-defining albums by Elton John, David Bowie, and others [1][2].
What sets Château Piano apart is not just the sound of the piano, but the unique acoustic character of the studio space. By preserving the ambiance and historic personality of this 124-year-old grand piano, the instrument boasts a distinctive warmth and presence, reminiscent of the legendary sound of Abbey Road’s studio plugins by other companies [1][2].
This collection offers musicians the rare opportunity to access a meticulously restored historic piano sound that is inseparable from the legendary studio and its musical legacy [1][2]. Compatible with macOS and Windows operating systems, Château Piano is now available for purchase on Spitfire Audio's website, currently at an introductory discount of £103/$127.
In an interesting twist, it was studio owner Thierry Garacino who stated that the unique sound of Elton John’s recordings was inspired by Strawberry Studios. The Steinway B grand piano from Strawberry Studios can be heard on many of Elton John's famous tunes like "Crocodile Rock," "Rocket Man," and "Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road."
After closing in 1985, Le Château d'Hérouville spent several decades in disrepair before being purchased in 2015 by musicians and sound engineers Jean Taxis and Thierry Garacino. The duo has since restored Strawberry Studios and its Steinway B grand piano, and Le Château d'Hérouville reopened in 2020 [5].
It is worth noting that Splice acquired Spitfire Audio in a rumored $50m deal, which is not directly related to Strawberry Studios but is included for completeness.
References:
[1] Spitfire Audio. (n.d.). Château Piano. Retrieved from https://www.spitfireaudio.com/products/a-z/chateau-piano/
[2] MusicTech. (2021, May 14). Spitfire Audio releases Château Piano. Retrieved from https://www.musictech.net/news/hardware/spitfire-audio-releases-chateau-piano/
[3] Future Music. (2021, May 14). Spitfire Audio releases Château Piano. Retrieved from https://www.futuremusic.co.uk/news/hardware/spitfire-audio-releases-chateau-piano
[4] Synthtopia. (2021, May 14). Spitfire Audio Releases Château Piano. Retrieved from https://synthtopia.com/content/2021/05/14/spitfire-audio-releases-chateau-piano/
[5] MusicRadar. (2021, May 14). Spitfire Audio releases Château Piano. Retrieved from https://www.musicradar.com/news/spitfire-audio-releases-chateau-piano
- The historic 1901 Steinway B grand piano, carefully restored and meticulously sampled for Spitfire Audio's Château Piano, shares a polished stage with popular artists like Pink Floyd, Elton John, David Bowie, and Fleetwood Mac, who all graced the halls of Strawberry Studios.
- Much like the prestigious Abbey Road in London, Strawberry Studios, home to the Château Piano, has become a beacon for music producers and recording artists, showcasing the charm of entertainment history, and the soulful melodies of classic music.
