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Vienna Symphonic Library announces the release of Synchron Harpsichord (Blanchet), a meticulously sampled two-manual harpsichord that brings the refined sound of an 18th-century French instrument into modern music production. Recorded on the expansive Stage A of Vienna Synchron Stage, this new addition to the Synchron Series offers exceptional clarity, brilliance, and detail – ideal for historical repertoire, film scoring, and contemporary crossover projects. Synchron Harpsichord (Blanchet) is currently available at introductory prices of €69 (reg. €99) for the Standard Library and €99 (reg. €139) for the Full Library. Standard and Full Library differ in the number of available microphone positions.
Free new features of the Synchron Piano Player include a MIDI recorder and player (stand-alone mode), MIDI demos by composers such as Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven, and Schumann (also available in plug-in mode), velocity curve presets for a wide range of keyboard controllers, the option to lock a user’s preferred pedal noise volume per piano, and more improvements.
To mark the occasion, all of the company’s Synchron and Studio Pianos are available at discounts of up to 45%. Flagship instruments and historic gems from renowned piano makers such as Bösendorfer, Fazioli, Steinway & Sons, Yamaha, Bechstein, and Blüthner have been masterfully captured in unique acoustic environments: the majestic Stage A of the Vienna Synchron Stage, the more intimate Stage B, and the controlled precision of the Silent Stage.
At the heart of Synchron Harpsichord (Blanchet) is a two-manual instrument from the collection of Viennese doctor and musician Kurt Gold-Szklarski. Built by Eckehard Merzdorf in 2010, it is a faithful copy of a 1746 original by François Étienne Blanchet, the renowned French “facteur des clavessins du Roi”. With a range of FF – g?, this instrument reflects the golden age of Blanchet’s harpsichord building, combining elegance with tonal richness. Masterfully prepared and tuned at Vienna Synchron Stage by renowned Sicilian instrument maker and musician Sebastiano Calì, this harpsichord reveals a beautifully balanced and characterful sound – true to its historical roots, yet perfectly suited for modern production environments.
Synchron Harpsichord offers a versatile palette of six registrations, derived from the instrument’s authentic stop configuration. The lower manual features 8' and 4' stops, while the upper manual provides 8' and a distinctive lute stop, enabling registrations such as 8' low, 8' up, 4', 8'+8' (coupled), 8'+8'+4' (tutti), and lute. Each registration is instantly accessible, complemented by several mixer presets ranging from intimate to ambient, allowing users to shape their sound with ease and authenticity. Recorded with an extensive multi-microphone setup, including condenser, ribbon, and tube close microphones, as well as Decca Tree and surround configurations, users can seamlessly blend perspectives from focused stereo to full spatial immersion.