Crow Hill Releases Free VAULTS Harmonic Piano Instrument
The Crow Hill Company has announced VAULTS – HARMONIC PIANO. It is the latest drop in the VAULTS… series. The instrument is free to download. It samples two lidless grand pianos playing harmonic tones. Therefore, it offers an experimental sound. This sound differs from conventional piano libraries. The company is based in Edinburgh, UK.
An Unusual Sampling Approach
The recordings took place at Castlesound Studios near Edinburgh. The production team removed the lids from two grand pianos. They reached inside each instrument. They lightly touched each string at around a quarter of its length. Then they struck the corresponding key. As a result, beautiful bell-like harmonics emerged. These sounds are almost impossible to produce consistently in performance. For that reason, The Crow Hill Company wanted to explore their full potential.
Sound Design and Controls
The two pianos appear in ultra-wide stereo antiphony. This arrangement gives the instrument depth, space, and character. Moreover, a SYNTH activation control sits at concert pitch. It adds support to the piano sound. Similarly, a DELAY control is available for ambience. In addition, a PITCH SHIFT function pulls the two pianos in slightly different directions. Co-founder Christian Henson suggests adding extra reverb. Otherwise, the instrument can feel unusually close and reverberant.
Part of the VAULTS… Series
VAULTS… releases are free for six months. After that, they move to the paid shop section. However, anyone who adds HARMONIC PIANO to their account during the free period keeps it forever. The instrument requires The Crow Hill App for installation and activation. The app is free. It handles download, integration, calibration, and organisation.
Features
- Samples two lidless grand pianos using harmonic playing techniques
- Ultra-wide stereo antiphony creates depth and space
- SYNTH activation control at concert pitch
- DELAY effect for ambience
- PITCH SHIFT separates the two pianos
- Free to download for six months, then keep forever
- Requires free The Crow Hill App
Price
Free download via The Crow Hill App
This release suits composers looking for unusual piano textures. It is not a conventional piano instrument. Instead, it provides an experimental and atmospheric alternative. Anyone can download it from The Crow Hill Company website.
👍 Pros
- ✓ Rare harmonic piano sampling technique captures elusive sounds
- ✓ Ultra-wide stereo antiphony creates depth and spatial character
- ✓ Free to download and keep forever if claimed within six months
👎 Cons
- ✗ Requires The Crow Hill App for installation and activation
- ✗ Experimental sound may be too unconventional for traditional piano parts
