Said to be more than just another piano library, the latest arrival to the Spitfire Audio range captures the sound of the Steinway grand housed at the legendary Château d'Hérouville (Strawberry Studios) in Northern France. Aptly named Château Piano, the library promises to deliver a bright, punchy pop-style sound when played hard, while offering a surprisingly delicate tone when played with a lighter touch.
The historic studio has played host to artists such as David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac and The Bee Gees, with its characterful sound playing a key part in numerous hits, most famously Elton John’s Honky Château’, ‘Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player’ and ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’. Built in 1740, the Château was left abandoned for 30 years, and has recently been restored and reopened by a team of four friends and music industry professionals. As well as renovating the space itself, the piano has also been treated to an overhaul by technician Bastien Herbin, before being captured by the Spitfire team in the studio’s George Sand live room.
In true Spitfire fashion, the library boasts a versatile selection of microphone signals, and also includes a collection of built-in effects, allowing users to craft everything from “pure, unadulterated tones” to “richly processed vintage textures”. The onboard mixer offers a choice of Close, Room, Hammers, Mix, Tape, Punchy Compression, Chorused and Distorted signals, while additional processing and tonal shaping can be carried out with reverb, chorus and flanger effects and both high- and low-pass filters. The library comes loaded with 37 presets organised into six categories.
Signals
- Close: A detailed and intimate perspective, capturing the direct sound of the piano strings.
- Room: A spacious stereo signal to blend the acoustics of the George Sand room with close mics for the perfect room balance.
- Super Close: An even more up-front pop sound, with microphones placed left and right on the hammer end of the piano.
- Mix: A beautifully balanced, production-ready mix, scooped and brightened for instant shine.
- Tape: Analogue tape effect for classic warmth, saturation and subtle compression.
- Compressed: Parallel compression to add weight, power and aggression.
- Chorus: A lush, wide signal processed through a vintage Roland Dimension D for an instant 80s-style shimmer.
- Distorted: A gritty, characterful signal driven through outboard gear for texture, harmonics and bite.
Presets
- Natural: The pure, unadulterated, and stunningly authentic sound of the Steinway B, as it exists in the legendary Château. Perfect for delicate melodies and true-to-life performances.
- Classic: Evocative and emotional textures that effortlessly transport you back to the golden era, invoking the iconic sounds of the 70s and 80s records made in this very studio.
- Intimate: Delicate and nuanced presets, designed for close-up, heartfelt expression. Perfect for subtle underscores, melancholic ballads or gentle, reflective passages.
- Lush: Rich, warm, and expansive sounds with generous reverb and chorus. Dive into big, spacey textures that fill the sonic landscape with beautiful ambience.
- Driven: Bold and assertive sounds, leveraging the Distorted & Tape signals. These presets offer an overdriven, characterful edge, perfect for cutting through dense mixes or adding raw energy.
- Effected: Explore heavily processed and creatively manipulated piano sounds, pushing the boundaries of the instrument with unique textures and experimental washes.
Compatibility
Château Piano is supported on PCs running Windows 10 and above, and Macs running macOS 11 and higher. VST2, VST3, AU and AAX plug-in versions are available.
Pricing & Availability
Château Piano is available now, and is being offered at an introductory price of $127£103 / €119 until 18 August 2025, when it will increase to its full cost of $159£129 / €149. GBP prices include VAT.
