A prepared-piano virtual instrument based on a Bösendorfer from 1891, offering four distinct playing techniques and hybrid sound design possibilities. Ideal for ambient, cinematic, and experimental music.
What It Is
EKX Cinematic Grand is a virtual instrument built around a Bösendorfer grand piano from 1891, recorded in four configurations. Each offers a different sonic character: Bowed (horsehair used to bow the strings), Plucked (strings struck by hand), Damped (preparations creating a muffled tone), and Harmonic (exaggerated overtones for an ambient, soaring timbre).
These configurations can be used individually or blended together in preset combinations, then processed through sound-shaping effect chains. The result is a hybrid instrument that goes beyond traditional piano colors, providing unique textures for soundscapes, soundtracks, and experimental music.
Key Features
The instrument includes 40 mix-ready presets (34 are described, with additional variations) that combine the four piano configurations with various effects such as reverbs, delays, rotary speakers, pitch effects, and distortions. Each preset offers specific knob controls that let you adjust parameters like diffusion, rotor speed, or detune, allowing for real-time performance manipulation.
The presets range from subtle ambient pads like ‘Cloudy Sky’ to aggressive, distorted textures like ‘Distorted Sky’ (inspired by a certain TV series). Some presets emphasize key noise, while others use the bowed strings as a lead voice. The variety covers moods from intimate and nostalgic to dark, dystopian, and creepy, making it a versatile tool for composers and sound designers.
Workflow & Control
The presets are designed to work with MIDI, allowing you to play or program performances using this unconventional piano. Knob controls within each preset let you shape the sound further—for instance, ‘Organize’ routes mics through a Hammond-style amplifier with adjustable rotary effect, while ‘Synthetic’ adds artificial pitched layers under a ‘Detuner’ knob.
You can blend the four piano configurations in custom ratios to create your own hybrid timbres. The instrument is likely hosted within a plugin that supports MIDI input and preset recall, though specific host compatibility is not detailed. The focus is on immediate playability and sonic exploration rather than deep editing.
Practical Applications
This instrument excels in ambient soundscapes, cinematic scores, and creative sound design. Use it for building atmospheric backdrops with long, reverbed notes (e.g., ‘Stargazing’, ‘Dream Pad’), for adding unique textural elements to modern music productions, or for creating tension in horror or suspense scenes (e.g., ‘Drama Plate’, ‘Unpleasant’).
Its unconventional sounds also suit experimental genres, where prepared piano textures can serve as lead instruments or rhythmic layers. The presets are mix-ready, meaning they are designed to sit well in a mix without heavy additional processing. This makes it a practical tool for composers needing fresh, evocative piano colors quickly.
It can also be used for key noise and percussive effects, and the bowed configurations can mimic string textures, expanding your palette beyond traditional pianos.
Key features
- Based on a Bösendorfer piano from 1891, recorded in four configurations: Bowed, Plucked, Damped, and Harmonic
- 40 mix-ready presets combining the four configurations with various effect chains
- Each preset offers unique knob controls for real-time adjustment (e.g., diffusion, rotor speed, detune)
- Ideal for ambient, soundtrack, and sound design applications
- Allows blending of the four piano configurations for custom timbres
- Includes presets that layer key noise, pitched effects, and reversed reverbs for varied textures
Best for
Best for composers and sound designers seeking unconventional piano textures for ambient music, cinematic scores, and creative sound design. Its prepared piano sounds fill gaps where traditional pianos are too clean, offering dark, ethereal, or dystopian colors that add instant atmosphere to any production.