Studio Bösendorfer 280VC
by Vienna Symphonic Library · Keys · Sampled Bösendorfer 280VC grand
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Studio Bösendorfer 280VC is a sampled Bösendorfer 280VC "Vienna Concert" grand, the company's modern concert piano, recorded on Stage B of the Synchron Stage Vienna.
It has a clear, colorful tone and wide dynamic range, with six main and 21 FX presets; the Standard Edition is €285 (Full €445).
Best for: Acoustic Instruments, Keys & Synths. Genres: Jazz, Acoustic & Classical, Ambient & Cinematic, Pop.
Keywords: grand piano, sample-based, modern, colored, tube, cinematic, clean, film & game audio, sound design.
What it does
Studio Bösendorfer 280VC is Vienna Symphonic Library's sampled version of Bösendorfer's modern concert grand, recorded on Stage B of the Synchron Stage Vienna. VSL calls it a "true all-rounder", with a clear, colourful sound and a huge dynamic range.
- Close mics: Close 1, a condenser ORTF pair (Sennheiser MKH 8090), and Close 2, a Neumann M-149 tube pair.
- Mid mics: Mid 1, a Sennheiser MKH 8040 ORTF pair, and Mid 2, a pair of AKG 414s.
- Room and surround: a Decca Tree main/room in stereo and mono, plus surround mics (Sennheiser MKH 800).
- Presets: six main presets and 21 FX presets that push the piano towards ambient and sound-design use.
- Pedals: soft, sostenuto and sustain pedal control.
- Synchron Player: Play, Mix and Edit views for switching mics, adjusting reverb and dynamic range, plus NKS support for Komplete Kontrol and Maschine.
- Two editions: Standard has 81,504 samples; Full has 142,632 samples and more mic positions.
It plays in the Vienna Synchron Player.
Source: Vienna Symphonic Library product page
When to use it
The 280VC is the pick for a single, deeply sampled modern concert grand that is clear in the top and uncluttered in the low end. Compared with VSL's own Studio Bösendorfer Imperial, it is brighter and more modern rather than dark and classic. Compared with Keyscape or Addictive Keys it is one piano rather than a collection, and compared with Pianoteq 9 it is sampled, so it gives you the recorded Synchron Stage room and seven mic positions. The FX presets make it more flexible than most concert-grand libraries for ambient and electronic work.
- Best for: a versatile grand for classical, jazz, pop and film, and expressive playing that uses the full dynamic range.
- Genres: classical, jazz, cinematic, pop and ambient.
- Look elsewhere if: you want many pianos in one product (Keyscape), low RAM use (Pianoteq 9), or a darker classic Viennese sound (Studio Bösendorfer Imperial).
- Tip: the Close 2 tube mics and Mid 2 pair are the main reasons to choose the Full Edition, according to Sample Library Review.
What producers say
Sample Library Review rated it a top pick, calling it "possibly the most versatile, clear, dynamic grand piano you can buy".
- Sample Library Review (Nathan David Carlton, 2021, reviewing the earlier Synchron Pianos release) praised the clarity of the upper register, the clean low end and the many finely spaced dynamic layers, which make it especially good for jazz.
- Versatility: the reviewer liked the 21 FX presets for taking it into ambient and electronic music.
- Criticisms: the large disk footprint.
Where to buy
- Vienna Symphonic Library: $323.62 (Standard Edition listed at €285 (Full Edition €445, about $505.3); converted at €1 = $1.1355 (ECB rate, 29 Sep 2026))
Tutorials and reviews
- Studio Bösendorfer 280VC
- Synchron Bösendorfer 280VC - Trailer
- Vienna Symphonic Library Bosendorfer Imperial vs 280VC - Synchron Piano Sound Engine
- Synchron Bösendorfer 280VC - Improvisation by Rabih Rihana
- Bösendorfer 280VC - Jordan Rudess performs "Now and Forever"
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