Mix
The Mix page is where the two stereo channels are balanced. One of them is the couple of microphones positioned near the hammers (Close), while the other one is the mix of all the ambient microphones (Room-Mix).The close take is very incisive. It captures an immediate and brilliant, very metallic, attack, which can give the piano that typical bell-like sound. The other channel is a stereo mix of all the ambient microphones, composed of a Decca tree hanging above the instrument, a pair of distant microphones, and two surround pairs (which also pick up reflections from the ceiling and walls). Gradually increasing the volume of the ambient channel gives the piano body and presence, with a very evident natural reverberation.
The simple, powerful mixer of the Vienna Synchron Piano Player.
The two channels include a flexible equalizer, which allows for sculpting the sound with extreme subtlety.
The width of the stereo field of each channel can be adjusted with an advanced Pan control, very useful for choosing whether the source should be more diffuse or focused on one point on the stage.
The channels also include a delay, that can be used creatively, but can also be used to smooth the sound for a typical "ambient”, cinematic underscore tone.
The Mix page also contains the algorithmic reverb controls, of which decay, initial delay, level and timbre can be adjusted. If the recorded natural reverb adds realism to the sound, artificial reverberation enhances it, smoothing the corners and immersing the instrument in a hyper-realistic ambience.